z Bn eS Re SS ww Issued Weekly, By subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. V. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 19-89 Seventh Ave., N.Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1908, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D, C. (43 Beware of Wild West imitations of the Buffalo Bill Stories. They are about fictitious characters. The Buffalo q Bill weekly is the only weekly containing the adveatures of Buffalo Bill, (€ol. W. F. Cody), who is known all over the world as the king of scouts. No, 381. NEW YORK, August 29, 1908. Price Five Cents. Buffalo Bill’s 3 Clean-up; — » leader with his whip-lash. | : a | OR, THE LAST OF CAPTAIN LAWLESS. \ By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.” CHAPTER I. oh THE STAGE FROM MONTEGORDO. “What’s yer name, anyhow?” asked Lonesome Pete, of Sun Dance Cafion. : -The man in the “boiled” shirt, the red vest, and the tight trousers coughed and looked embarrassed. “T almost hate to tell you,” said he. “Whoa-up, thar, yeh gangle-legged Piute!’ yelled Chick Billings, the stage-driver, reaching for the off- “Calls hisself a hoss, that critter does,” he added to Pete and the stranger; “but he acts more lie a blame’ coyote.” “Thar’s a hull lot o’ folks out hyer as kinder fergits what their names useter be,” went on Pete, addressing the stranger. “A feller’s got a right ter change his name when he crosses the Missoury, comin’ West, if so be he thinks proper.” “Not me—not on your life!” exclaimed the stranger hastily. “My record is clear of : * “Every ole hardshell in these parts, some on ’em with half a dozen notches, ‘ll say that,” cut in Pete, with considerable sarcasm, | oh “ fe. The stranger laughed. He had a pink-and-white com- plexion, and his laugh was mixed up with a vivid blush. “Sakes alive!’ muttered Pete dismally. “If ye had on a sunbunnit, ye’d look like er schoolgal.” _ “You see,’ and the stranger’s laugh became a trifle more masculine, “my name is Reginald_—” “Wow!” grunted Pete.” “De Bray, Reginald de Bray,” finished the speaker. “TJ don’t think. there’s much in a name, you know, but everybody out in this country sort of pokes fun at mine.” “Lonesome Pete threw back his head, filled his lungs with air, and released his voice with a roaring “He-haw, he-haw!” after the fashion of a restive mule. ay Chick Billings laughed. r Reginald de Bray pulled a little note-book from his | pocket and made a mark in it with a lead-pencil. “What's that fur?’ asked Chick Billings. “I’m just keeping track,’ answered the young man softly, as he put away the pencil and the book, ‘Keepin’ track o’ what?’ asked Lonesome Pete dis- trustiully. “Why, of the number of times that ‘he-haw’ racket — has been worked on me when I’ve told my name. Your | - performance was the thirty-sixth time.” Se THE BUFFALO Reginald de Bray heaved a long breath of patient ‘resignation. \ The Montegordo stage—which was nothing more than a mountain-wagon drawn by four horses—was well on the road to Sun Dance. Pete and De Bray were riding with the driver. On the seat behind was a woman—a slender figure of a woman she was, with her face closely veiled. The woman’s seatmate was a rough-and-ready miner named Hotchkiss. The seat behind the woman and Hotchkiss was occu- pied by an Indian boy. This Indian boy looked like a small-sized picture of the redskin at his best, for his buckskins were finely wrought and in good repair, his face was of handsome mold, his black hair shimmered like jet, and a magnificent eagle-feather rose straight upward from his scalp-lock. These six-the driver, Pete, De Bray, the woman, Hotchkiss; and the Indian boy—-comprised the load. Around the Indian was heaped a carpetbag, two grips, anda matl-pouch. The woman had not spoken a word since leaving Montegordo. Hotchkiss was almost as silent, being thoughtful and busying himself with his pipe. The In- dian was like a graven image, so far as talking was concerned; but, unlike an image, nothing in his vicinity escaped his keen eyes and ears. Conversation was confined entirely to the three on the driver’s seat. y “Ho-hum!” yawned Lonesome Pete, stretching his long arms. “This hyer ride is plumb tiresome. Mister De Bray,’ he added, with elaborate politeness, “the sight o sucha gent as yertself, in these parts, is almost as uncommon as the sight of a lady,’ and his eyes shifted over his shoulder significantly. “Mind tellin’ what yer bizness is in this section?” — a “Just looking around the West, that’s all,” replied Reginald de Bray buoyantly. “Ain't seen much of it yit, hev ye?” “Just started.” “So I reckoned,’ mvtttered Lonesome Pete. “Them clothes 0’ your’n is a danger-signal. A real collar an’ a Diled shirt, say nothin’ of a red vest, is purty nigh a death-warrant fer a man in these parts. The cimiroons what inhabit this hyer waste don’t like sich displays. As soon as we git ter Sun Dance, I’d advise ye ter duck inter a store an’ git inter a rig less noticeable.’ “Why—why,” fluttered De Bray, “I hadn’t any idea atthe | coe. “Course ye didn’t,” interrupted Lonesome Pete sooth- ingly. “Ye’re plumb tender in the feet, an’ yer clothes give ye away. Arter takin’ yer sizin’, the hull camp would want ter hev fun with ye, an’ ye kin bank on it - that it ’u’d be rough fun,” I ane “TI heard that Mr. Buffalo Bill was in Sun Dance,” said De Bray, “and I have long wanted to meet him. That’s principally why I came this way from Monte- gordo.” s j i ; j ee ; 1 tie's thar, all right.) said: Pete, That's, one o- tis pards on the back seat—Leetle Cayuse, they calls him.” “By Jove!’ muttered De Bray, turning squarely around and staring in awe at the Piute boy. “I’ve: heard of _ that Indian,” he went on, facing about. “He don’t look very dangerous, though, does he?’ ea “He’s retirin’, an’ about the size of a minner, when. , BILL STORIES. thar’s nothin’ doin’, but when he digs up:the hatchet an’ hits the war-path, he looks like er whale.” “Is Dauntless Dell in Sun Dance, too?” “Big as life! Wild Bill,” en oo “Oh, oh!’ murmured Reginald de Bray, in a spasm of excitement. “I wonder if the king of scouts would take my little hand in his and lead me off to where the reds and the white outlaws are thickest? Do you think he would ?” There was something in the words that brought Pete’s eyes, with a start to the tenderfoot’s face. “Give it up,” said Pete gruffly. “Pears ter me, Mis- ter De Bray, that the best place fer you is. behind a bomb-proof shelter some’r’s. S’posin’, now, we was ter meet up with a lot o highwaymen? S’posin’ they was ter come out from behind the rocks, reg’lar fire-eatin’ handy-boys that ye dassen’t say ‘No’ to. . How'd ye like that?” : “Br-r-r!? shivered Reginald de Bray. “You—you don’t think there’s any* chance of that happening, do your” ms : “As long as that pirate, Cap'n Lawless, is loose in the +2 country, anything’s li’ble ter happen oS _ The woman on the seat behind leaned forward, and asked, with some apprehension: ee “Robbers? Is it possible, sir, that we shall meet with any?’ : “T don’t want to alarm ye none, madam,” answered Lonesome Pete, who was merely talking for the effect his words would have on De Bray, “so don’t take what I say too much ter heart.” “I have a hundred dollars with me,” faltered the woman, “and—and if I do not find the—the person I am lodking for in Sun Dance, I shall have to use the money to take me to some other place. 32 ! “That’s sol” averred Lonesome Pete sympathetically. “Pete, thar, is only gassin’,” struck in Hotchkiss, ... knocking the ashes from his pipe and slowly filling it again. don’t be in a takin’.” j “But my money!” murmured the woman. I will hide it, just to be on the safe side.” . . “He’s tryin’ ter string the Easterner, mum, so “Tve got a hundred dollars, too,” said Rea a Bray. “When I get through looking around in Sun- Dance, and travel back to Montegordo, there'll be a draft there for me; but it would be mighty awkward to lose. that hundred.” The woman, taking a handkerchief from the bosom of her dress, had untied one corner and removed a roll of crumpled bills. For a few moments she sat thought- fully, the bills in her hand. At last she lifted her hands, removed her hat—at the same time being very careful not to displace the veil that covered her face—and took the hat on her lap. The hat was covered with millinery folderols, none too new and all very dusty. In among. the feathers and artificial flowers she stowed her hundred dollars, and Hotchkiss chuckled as he watched. “Good place, mum,” averred Hotchkiss, “Purvidin’ thar was really goin’) ter be a hold-up, ye couldn’t. find a better,” “How would you like to put my money with yours, : madam ©” asked Reginald de Bray, An’ Nick Nomad is thar, an’ likewise It would be hard for a woman to find herself without funds in this. - dreary country an “I believe. ni gw ence hi _ shifted disquietly. fora good half-hour. THE BUFFALO — ) shall be glad to oblige yeu, sit,’ answered the woman. “ Hotchkiss’ glared at De Bray, and Lonesome Pete The woman had a soit, low voice, and it looked rather brutal for the tenderfoot to unload the responsibility of caring for his own money upon - such a person. : However, De Bray’s hundred was passed over, and the woman tucked it into the foliage and replaced the hat on her head. “Now,” she said, with a relieved sigh, “if the: worst ‘should happen, I have done what little I could to save my money. Vo a “JT don’t think ye need ter worry none,” said Hotch- kiss, glaring at Pete for having started the talk about road-agents. : After this there was silence in the mountain-wagon De Bray lighted a cigarette. He also tried to talk, but his attempts were met with chilling silence. Pete, Chick Billings, and Hotchkiss had marked him down in their minds as about the poorest specimen of a tenderfoot they had ever met, and they wanted nothing further to do with him, At the end of a half-hour.a surprise was sprung. The stage-trail, winding along toward the rim of Sun Dance - Cafion, entered a stretch where great heaps of boulders massed themselves along each side. Suddenly a shout, grimly menacing, rang from behind one of the boulders. “Halti: ‘ Everybody in the stage gave a startled jump. The unexpected had happened. Over the tops of the boulders, on ‘each side of the trail, appeared masked faces and leveled rifles. Chick Billings, recovering from the first shock of sur- prise, seized his lines in a firmer grip and raised his whip. - “Don’t be a fool, driver!” went on the voice of the unseen speaker. “The leaders are covered, and you and every one in the stage are under our muzzles. You can’t fight, and you can’t run away. Throw up your hands, all of you!” ! Lonesome Pete swore under his breath; Hotchkiss mut- tered angrily; Chick Billings, with a resigned oath, dropped the lines and shoved his hands into the air; De Bray was queerly quiet—considering fhe fact that he was a recent importation; and the woman, collapsing “back in her seat, made not a sound. As for Little Cayuse, he had vanished from the rear seat, but in the general excitement this fact had not been noticed. ° CHAPTER IL Tee Pee Ae TNC ED ESN, T. Immediately following his last command, the leader of the road-agents presented himself, riding around a barricade of boulders. He was well mounted, and, taken altogether, was a striking figure of a man. His face was concealed by a silk handkerchief, tied just under his eyes. He wore a black sombrero, short, black velvet jacket, with silver-dollar buttons, dark cor- Ai ‘BILL: STORIES. | ) @ duroy trousers, and knee-boots of patent. leather, with silver spurs at the heels. A gaudy sash about his waist supported a pair of revolvers. With the guns on each side of the trail drawing a bead on the leaders of the team, and on those in the wagon, the chief of the highwaymen did not find it necessary to draw his own weapons. Pulling his horse to a halt at one side of the wagon, opposite the front seat, the leader’s black eyes calmly surveyed those whom the rest of his gang held at his mercy. “Cap’n Lawless!” muttered Lonesome Pete. With a low laugh, the leader of the robbers pulled the silk handkerchief from his face and thrust it into his pocket. ‘ - “T see that I am recognized,” said he coolly. “Very well. It will neither help nor harm matters, as I should - probably he suspected of this hold-up, anyway. Throw your property out here in front of me, beside the trail.” “You ought to know bloomin’ well,” said Chick Bil- lings, “that the driver of this ’ere stage hasn’t any one ‘about his clothes. I got a bar o’ chewin’, u i “I wasn’t referring to you,’ cut in Lawless, “but to the others. The man on your left, who seems to have met me before—Id like to hear from him first.” “Shucks!” returned Pete; “I’m just comin’ back from Montegordo, whar I’ve been,ter see the sights. How kin ye expect me ter hev any money?” _ Lawless pulled out a watch and studied its face, — _“Tve got just three minutes to make a clean-up,’ he scowled; “and if I’m not done by that time, my men will’ open up on the lot of you. You ought to have some consideration for the lady, seems to me.” “See how much consideration you've got fer her!” snapped. Hotchkiss, throwing a well-worn wallet on the ground, in front of Lawless. © “Any jewelry?’ asked the robber. _ “Do I look like a feller that kerried\it?” sneered the miner. | Pete pulled a handful of silver money out of his pocket, and threw it after Hotchkiss’ pocketbook. “Now, you,’ went on Lawless, nodding to De Bray. “Honest,” quavered De Bray, “I haven’t got more’n a couple of dollars about me!” “What the blazes is a man dressed like you doing in this country with no more than that? That won’t do. li you don’t want to be sent back East in a box, you'll strip yourself, and be quick about it. It looks to me as though you thought I didn’t mean business.” Lawless’ passive face twisted itself into a demoniacal expression, and he jerked one of his six-shooters from his sash and leveled it. “Tl give you just a minute, my friend,” he © added, “before I shoot you off that seat!” “Don’t be too quick with your shooting,’ begged De Bray, and immediately began pulling his pockets inside- — out. ' One of the pockets contained two ‘silver dollars. De Bray flung them down at the trailside. ‘t teld youl he exclaimed, “You've got more than that!’ snapped Lawless. “Fork over, or Vl shake a load out of this gun!” _ De Bray’s eyes grew glassy, and he shivered. . “II did have a little more,” he answered; “but—: but——”’ ; ay 2 ae oi i a eae 4 | THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. “But what?’ roared Lawless. | going to stay here all day, palavering with you?’ He made a threatening gesture with his six-shooter. “T gave it to the lady behind me,” said De Bray des- perately. ‘She hid it among the flowers in her hat, along with . Hotchkiss swore ‘a great oath. “Kill him, Lawless! He ain’t fit ter live!” | Lonesome Pete reached over with a clenched fist, and Chick Billings turned half-around in the seat, with the evident intention of hurling De Bray into the trail. “Steady, there, all of you!” ordered Lawless. “Keep your places, and hold up your hands. Who's bossing this game, anyhow? I don’t care a rap what you do with the tenderfoot after I get away from here, but just now it’s my innings. The Easterner has saved his life -—-yau can’t blame him for that.” He spurred his horse ‘a step forward. “Madam,” he added, to the trembling woman, “I'll trouble you to take your money from the hat and throw it into the road. Did this tenderfoot speak the truth? s “Y-y-yes!’ gasped the woman. “Then give me the money.” “Oh, sir,” pleaded the woman, stretching out her hands supplicatingly, “let me keep what’s mine, and——” “Tm a man of business, and not of sentiment,” said Lawless harshly, “and I may add that [’m not in this dangerous business for my health. The money, quick!” With a sob, the woman lifted her shaking hands to her hat, tore away the roll of bills, and dropped it be- side the rest of the plunder on the ground. “The meanest coyote thet ever skulked around these hyer hills,” cried the indignant Hotchkiss, “stacks up purty high alongside o’ you, Cap'n Lawless!’ . “Another yaup like that,” said Lawless savagely, ‘and Ill give you your ticket!” Life is dear to every man, and Hotchkiss, knowing that another word from him would spell his doom and not result in any benefit to the woman, or any one else, smothered his righteous wrath and glared at the man on the horse. Hot words had also been on Pete’s lips, but he held them back. _ “Lawless,” he said, “the rest 0’ us aire men, an’ what we got we kin lose, but this hyer happens ter be a WOMan, ans “Cork!” interrupted Lawless sententiously. Then, again facing the woman, he went on: “Any rings?” “One,” she whispered; “just one!” “Throw it after the money!’ “Have you no heart?” wailed the woman. . the ring!” “Throw it on the ground!” Lawless, when he so willed, could be fair-spoken and act the gentleman; but at heart he was a demon, and Hotchkiss’ taunt had driven him to do his worst. The ring, a plain gold band ard plainly a wedding- rig, was dropped on the ground, : a “There’s a locket at your neck,’ pursued Lawless re- lentlessly, flashing his fiercely mocking eyes at the scowl- ing Hotchkiss, “and I must have that.” The woman tore away her veil, revealing a middle- aged face that must once have been very beautiful, and “was even now comely withal the lines of sorrow and suffering that crossed it. : “Spare me Ret) >: “Do you think I’m an’ git it plenty! A pair of hazel eyes pleaded for the locket, pleaded even more than lips could have done, but- fruitlessly. Slowly the woman unclasped the golden. chain, half- stretched the round locket toward Lawless, then drew back the hand and pressed the trinket to her bosom, “No, no!” she gasped; “I would rather you took my life!” . : Leaning suddenly forward in his saddle, Lawless caught the locket away with brutal force. — “This is no time to go against my orders,” he snapped, as the woman, utterly unnerved, sank back in her seat and covered her face with her hands. “Drive on, you!” he added to the driver of the stage. “Don’t stop until you have gone two miles, and don’t one of you dare to look back while you are within gunshot of this place. You'll be covered as long as you're within range—mark fier we Chick Billings stooped down and picked up his lines, “G’lang, ye pack o’ buzzdrds!’’ he spat out at the horses. ‘Git us out o’ hyer in a hurry, or I'll be cuttin’ loose an’ makin’ a fool o’ myself.” Snap, snap went the whip about the leaders’ ears, and the four-horse team bounded away. Agreeably to orders, no one looked backward: but the final words of the scoundrelly Lawless followed them: “Buffalo Bill is in Sun Dance. Tell him how Captain Lawless made his clean-up; and tell him that if he wants to follow me and my men, and make a clean-up of his own, we're only too anxious for him to try!? What thosesin the wagon thought was not made known. Hotchkiss, Lonesome Pete, and Chick Billings were furious; Reginald de Bray was quiet and filled with a strange calm; the woman was crying softly in her hands, 6: | The trail made a curve at that point, to avoid a shal- low offset of Sun Dance Cafion. When the stage had got well around this curve, two miles from the scene of the hold-up, and almost opposite it, Billings jerked back on the bits, and brought his team to a stop. “Why,” cried De Bray, starting up from his seat and looking backward, “‘what’s become of the little Indian, Buffalo Bill’s pard?” But Chick Billings was not thinking of Little Cayuse just then; nor was Lonesome Pete, nor Hotchkiss, “You ornery whelp!” breathed Billings, gripping De Bray about the shoulders, “hyer’s whar ye gits yours, Thar’s a rope under the seat, Pete. Lay holt o’ it, an’ reave a noose in the end. We ain’t fur from a tree hyer, an’ 1 reckons we know what ter do!” { Without a word, the irate Pete reached under the seat. CHAPTER IV, DOUBLES CROSS Ep. “What's the matter with you fellows, anyhow?” asked De Bray. “Ye ain't fit ter live,” said Lonesome Pete. ne “That’s right,” cut in Hotchkiss. “Ye didn’t hev the _ herve ter call Lawless’ bluff, but had ter rough things up fer the little woman back hyer,” a “You don’t understand the layout, my friends,” said THE BUFFALO ‘De Bray, his eyes twinkling and the shadow of a smile - hovering about the corners of his mouth. His manner was one of cool unconcern. Billings, Pete, and Hotchkiss could not understand him, but this did not in the least tend to placate them. There had been a mysterious note in the tenderfoot’s manner ever since the stage had left Montegordo. Billings, Pete, and Hotchkiss, however, were in no mood to figure out a conundrum. Taking De Bray as they found him, he was a pretty low-down proposition. Pete, having brought out the rope, was engaged in making a slip-noose in the end of it. Hotchkiss was pushing back his sleeves in a businesslike way. Billings had firm hold of De Bray’s arm. At this point, the woman leaned forward and dropped a trembling hand on Billings’ shoulder. “You are not going to hurt him?” she pleaded, in her soft, gentle voice. ‘Tell be about as painless, mum, as sich things usually aire,” said Hotchkiss. “T am the cause of this, she went on, “and I could not bear to think that a human life has been sacrificed on my account.” ‘Fe sure looks human,’ said Lonesome Pete, trying the slip-knot with his hands, “although he didn’t act it, not noways.”’ “Anyhow,” spoke, up De Bray, “you might put this off until we get to Sun Dance—out of consideration for the lady’s feelings, if not for mine.” “The lady won’t see a thing,” said Billings. ‘The tree I referred to is out o’ sight around them rocks.” “T. can tell you something,’ pursued De Bray, “that will open your eyes, but I don’t think it’s safe to let the secret out before we reach Sun Dance.” | “Thet’s a play ter gain time,” averred Hotchkiss, “an’ it won’t go down with us.” _. “Your temper is hot just now,” said De Bray, “and all of you will feel different when you give it a chance to cool.” “T hopes,” growled Pete, “that when I see a real lady imposed on I'll allers have the sand ter take her part, whether I’m in temper or out 0’ it.” ‘Hotchkiss jumped from the wagon. “Throw him out ter me, Chick,’ said he. “Please, please do not let this go any further,” said the woman, stretching out her hands earnestly. » “He did only what any one would have done to save his life. What are a ring, and a locket, and two hundred dollars compared with a human life? What you intend doing would be a terrible thing—so terrible that I can hardly — believe you’re in earnest. For my sake, spare him!” Hotchkiss drew his sleeve over his forehead. “Pussonly,’”’ said he, “if the whelp ain’t hung, he or ter be tarred an’ feathered.” | “I ain’t never goin’ ter let it be said,’ ground out Chick Billings, who noted that Hotchkiss was wavering, “that anythin’ like what jest happened took placé on a . stage o’ mine an’ me never doin’ nothin’ ter play even.” “ld hate ter hev it said in Sun Dance,” said Pete, “that us fellers allowed sich a whelp as this Easterner ‘ter pollute the camp with his presence—knowin’ the things about him that we do.” “The hangin’,” finished Billings, “will purceed. Hotch- - kiss, ye kin help er not, jest as ye please.” ‘Tlehelp, o’ course,” said Hotchkiss; “but it's my ——— : canon: -natur’ allers ter oblige er lady, when it’s possible. Sorry, re igs BIT SVORIEG, 9 (0 (os mum,” he finished, turning to the woman, “but ye see how it is.” Reginald de Bray threw back his head and laughed. The mirth seemed untimely. “Quit it!” snorted Chick Billings. sayin’ yer prayers, ‘stead o° laffin’.”’ “You fellows force my hand,’ answered De Bray. “Take your hands off me for a minute, Billings, so I can show you something.” ‘ “An’ when I let go my hands,’ jeered Billings, “ye'll © make er break.” “ “Hold a gun on me, one of you,” suggested De Bray. Hotchkiss drew a revolver. ~As he leveled it, Billings “Ye ort ter be -released De Bray. The latter, bending down, pulled up his trousers and drew something from the top of his shoe. The object proved to be a roll of bills. De Bray opened out the roll on his knee, and the eyes of those about him began to widen. The bill on top of the pile was of the $1,000 variety. As De Bray thumbed over the rest of the bills, it was seen that they were all of the same denomination. “Waal, I'll be jiggered!” muttered Billings. “Wouldn’t thet rattle yer spurs?’ gasped Pete. ‘‘Thar’s money enough ter start a Fust National Bank,” — “commented the astounded Hotchkiss. “T was told in Montegordo,” explained De Bray, “that . it was a little bit reckless for a man to carry twenty thou- sand dollars in cash over the trail between there and Sun Dance. But I’ve got to get to the camp and see Buffalo Bill, and, inasmuch as I’ve usually been able to take care of myself, I] thought I'd risk it. “T don’t think any of us expected to meet highway- men. When Lonesome Pete mentioned the subject, though, 1 thought it a good chance to take time by the forelock, as the saying is, and make myself secure against a possible surprise. So I asked the lady’—here he turned with one of his rosy smiles toward the woman in the back seat—‘“to hide my hundred in her bonnet, along with her own. “T don’t think there’s the least doubt,” he went on, “but that the little trick saved my twenty thousand for me. As soon as we get to Sun Dance I shall reimburse. the lady for the money and jewelry she lost. All 1 can say at the present time is that “ De Bray stopped suddenly. The attention of every one in the mountain-wagon was focused upon De Bray and his pile of bills. Abruptly a movement of swift feet was heard, followed by a frightened jump on the part of the leaders of the team. On the instant all eyes were lifted; A masked man, with a rifle slung from his shoulders by a strap, was holding the leaders by the bits. Beside the masked man stood Captain. Lawless, he having reappeared on that ‘part off the trail as if by magic. Six masked men, with rifles at their shoulders, had sprung up around the stage as though out of the very ground. — “Sorry to bother you again,” said Lawless, “but I changed my plans somewhat when I| saw that gold locket, and I and’ my men have scrambled across the arm of the Tf you hadn’t stopped here so long, we shouldn't have been able to overtake you. Lucky thing we did, as twenty thousand is something of a haul. Right here is where you fellows are going to get the double-cross.”’ This second surprise was even more telling than the first had been. Billings and the rest had not dreamed of encountering Lawless and his gang a second time. se ee 6 ‘THE. BUFFALO It is popularly supposed that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, yet here was proof to the contrary. What was there about the woman’s locket to bring the road-agent and his rascally followers across the arm of the cafion? Whatever it was, the change in Lawless’ plan had worked out badly for De Bray. De Bray had his $20,000 on’ his knee, and no subterfuge could now avail’to save the funds. | Billings, Pete, and Hotchkiss realized that they them- selves were to blame. If they had not halted so long on the road for the purpose of palavering with De Bray, and if they had not forced him to an explanation, his money might have been saved. Hotchkiss had his revolver in his hand. The hand had dropped at his side, and he was pondering the ad- visability of-resistance. There were eight of the road- agents—eight against three, and if resistance was offered, the fight which followed would surely imperil the woman. Hotchkiss, brave though he was, hesitated to do anything that would endanger one of the gentler sex. Lawless came closer to De Bray. “For a tenderfoot,” said Lawless, “you're a fine speci- men of a fox; but here’s where I call you. Fork over!” He held out his hand. “Bound to take what I’ve got, are you?” queried De Bray. His tone was noticeably cool and his manner steady: “The pickings were slim before,” flung back Lawless. “This will be a raise worth while, and——” At that instant something happened. Dropping the money into the bottom of the stage, like lightning De Bray flung himself across the forward wheel, gripped Lawless by the throat, and bore him to the ground. CHAPTER IV, THE SECOND RAID. ¢ For an Easterner, inexperienced in Western ways, Reginald de Bray showed an abnormal amount of pluck and rough-and-ready incentive. : Pete, Billings, and Hotchkiss were not slow in follow- ing up his attack. Hotchkiss, already on the ground, sprang to the side of the wagon and pushed the woman into the bottom of the box. “Down!” he cried, and no sooner had he placed the woman in comparative safety thanvthe rifles of the road-. agents began to talk. Bullets slapped into the side of the wagon, sang through the air, and in other ways made their presence disagreeably apparent. Lonesome Pete fired his six-shooter, and one of the masked men dropped his rifle and fell face-downward; before he could fire again, a piece of lead caught him in the shoulder and flung him down against the dashboard, dazed, helpless, and out of the fight. Y - Billings, plying his whip frantically, tried to drive the leaders over the man at their heads. The robber, al- though lifted from his feet with every jump of the fright- ~ened horses, managed to keep his hold. One of the robbers rushed to theespot where De Bray was struggling with the leader of the gang, and fetched | | , BILL STORIES. the Easterner a blow with the stock of his gun. De Bray pitched forward to the ground, and lay silent. . Lawless jumped to his feet. A bullet from Hotch- kiss’ revolver whipped past his ear and struck the man at the horses’ heads. The man let go his hold with a wild yell, and the four-horse team would have sped on- ward but for Lawless. ; a The Jeader of the gang in no uncertain way demon- strated his prowess. A bullet from one of his weapons tore its way through Hotchkiss’ arm, and sent the miner reeling backward against the mountain-wagon. _ The wagon was already leaping over the ground, and Hotchkiss slid from the -revolving rear wheel and sprawled full length across the trail. Quick as thought, Lawless made a flying jump for the driver’s seat, and, as luck would have it, gained a position at Billings’ side. Ablow from the butt of his revolver sent Billings down on the crouching form of Lonesome Pete, and Lawless caught the lines as they were flickering over the dash- board. Throwing himself back on the bits with all his streneth, the leader of the robbers brought the frantic horses to a halt. . The short, sharp battle was practically over. Numbers had won. De Bray was still lying unconscious on the ground; Hotchkiss was lifting himself on his uninjured arm, and staring at his revolver, which lay at a distance from him; Pete and Billings were huddled against the dashboard, and four masked men had their rifles leveled to prevent any further act of resistance. “Take the horses’ heads, one of you!” yelled Lawless. “No more shooting; we’ve got this little game right where we want it. The woman has fainted. Two of you take her and carry her to the horses—one of. you is enough to keep track of this bunch.” While two of the scoundrels, swinging their rifles over their shoulders, advanced and lifted the woman from the place where Hotchkiss had put her, another went to the heads of the plunging leaders. The minute the man had the leaders well in hand, Lawless bent down, collected the scattered bills, and stuffed them into his pocket. The woman, limp and unconscious, was carried out of sight, Lawless, grabbing Billings by the collar and jerking him upright, stared venomously into his eyes. “See what's happened!” growled Lawless, “and you have only yourselves to blame. Here’s something else for you to tell Buffalo Bili—and it’s something more to make him take my trail and try for a clean-up. ‘That's what I want. I’m ready for the king of scouts, and we'll see how he comes out. Meanwhile, here’s something for you to deliver to Gentleman Jim, in Sun Dance—a locket, a ting, and a note. He'll understand. Tell him that Lawless never forgets his debts.” By then, the two men who had carried away the woman reappeared. They picked up the fallen desperado and likewise bore him out of sight among the boulders. Leaping down from the wagon, Lawless walked quickly to the man who had been wounded by Hotchkiss. The fellow was sitting up at the trailside. Lawless helped him to his feet and supported him toward the rocks. “That will do,” he called to the man with the oun and } eee things up with you, this wouldn’t hev happened. a THE BUFFALO to the man who was holding the horses. “Now for a . quick getaway.’ By then, Chick Billings was able to take the lines. When the horses were released, he held them where they were, and watched the robbers vanish. ; Following this, Chick Billings swore, easing his pent- up feelings after the manner of stage-drivers generally. “Pete!” he called. ea “Hyer, ’ answered: Pete. “Bad. nurt rn: ‘‘Nicked in the shoulder.” a “Waal, brace up, pard. We got ter git out o’ this. The quicker we git ter Sun Dance an’ set a posse on the track o’ these hyer scoundrels, the more show 0’ success the posse’ll hev. I say, Hotchkiss!” “Coming,” replied the miner, getting to his feet and picking up his revolver. “Thet was brisk, while it lasted,” he said grimly, walking toward De Bray. © “Tf thar’d been one or two more oO us, 39 mourned _ Pete, “we might hev had a diff’rent story ter tell in Sun Dance. How's Dé Bray?” | “Ill do,” De Bray himself answered, climbing slowly to his feet and picking up his hat. “I—-I never thought the butt of a musket was so hard,” and he put both hands to the back of his head. "Yer money is gone, De Bray,’ announced Billings. “So I supposed,” was the calm rejoinder. “Took hyer,” cried Lonesome Pete, wincing with the pain of his wound, but unable to repress his curiosity, “ve’re no tenderfoot. That dodge ye worked, an’ the 3 way ye went fer Lawless, proves thet.” “Maybe I’m not a tenderfoot,” answered De Bray; “but that’s all you lads need to know. How did Lawless and his gang manage to overhaul us here?” “They come across the arm o’ the gulch,’ explained Billings. “The stage-trail winds around the arm, an’ they made a short cut.” - “But why? My brain isn’t just as clear as it might be, and I can’t figure it out.” “None o’ the rest o’ us kin figger it out, either,” said Hotchkiss. ‘Somethin’ about thet locket sent Lawless arter us ag in—an’ arter the woman.” “The woman?” queried De Bray, startled. “Yep; the villains took her away.” “Tt’s a big mystery,’ put in Billings. “Lawless left a note, the ring, an’ the locket fer me ter take ter Gentle- man Jim.” ; ot ; --“Who’s Gentleman Jim?’ asked De Bray. “He’s erbout the only squar’ gambler 1 knows anythin’ erbout. He hangs out in Sun Dance, an’ is a friend o’ Buffler Bill’s.” “They came back to get the woman,’ mused De Bray, “and they got here just in time to see me showing you fellows all that money.” — “We're some ter blame, I reckon,” said Hotchkiss. “Tf we hadn’t stopped hyer as long as we did, roughin’ It give Lawless an’ his outfit a chance ter come up with us ae : -“T can't blame you,’ answered De Bray; “it certainly seemed pretty low-down, the way I acted. The thing looked wrong, but needed an explanation to set it right. ~The quicker we get to Sun Dance, the better.” “Right ye aire,’ seconded Pete. an’. well vamose.”. _ na “Climb in, you two, BILL STORIES. — i De Bray and Hotchkiss got into the wagon and took the second seat. oe | “I don’t reckon it ‘u’d do us any good ter try ter see whar thet gang went with ther woman, hey?’ said Pete. “Thar ain’t any o’ us in shape ter foller the whelps,” answered Hotchkiss: ‘We'll git ter Sun Dance an’ lay the hull play before Buffler Bill. He'll know, what ter do if any one will.” CMe s “You bet!’ emphasized Pete. — , _ “Besides,” struck in Billings, as he set the horses to a. gallop, “one o’ Buffler Bill’s pards is somehow mixed up TN in this. ‘“Meanin’ Little Cayuse?” asked Pete. “Who else?” returned Billings. | ‘Blame’ queer whar thet kid went ter, all of a sudden. He must hev got out o’ the wagon before Lawless an’ his- gang come down on us, thet fust time. Anyways, it seems sure Lawless didn’t see him.’ “Maybe he-was scared,’ hazarded De Bray. “Him? Scared? Pete threw back his head and laughed huskily.. “Why, De| Bray, thet leetle Piute is skeer-proof. More’n likely he got an idee in his heathen mind, an’ laid out ter kerry it through. He'll be heerd of, if I’m any prophet.” “Well,” muttered De Bray, “I’m out twenty thousand, but I’d say good-by to the money with pleasure if we could only have that little lady back in this wagon with us.” “’d have stopped a bullet with my other arm for that,” put in- Hotchkiss. — “Too bloomin’ bad!” growled Pete, trying to tie up his shoulder with a handkerchief. “Whyever did he want ter take the woman away with him, this hyer whelp of a Lawless? He wasn’t figgerin’ on thet the fust time.” “Thet locket had everythin’ ter do with it,” said Bill- ings. “That letter you're to take to Gentleman Jim may give usa clue to the scoundrel’s actions,’ suggested De Bray. “Thet’s what I’m hopin’,” remarked Hotchkiss. “Vou say this Gentleman Jim is a square gambler, and a friend of the scout’s?” “Yes. He got mixed up with ther scout-in the matter o’ the Forty. Thieves Mine, an’ it was Lawless as done the mixin’. At fust, it seems, Lawless trusted Gentle- man Jim; an’ then, bekase Gentleman Jim did ther squar’ thing, Lawless got a grudge at him. Runnin’ off ther woman has somethin’ ter do with thet grudge, an’ I'll bet money on it.”.~ ‘ ‘We'll know more,’ spoke up De Bray, through his clenched teeth, “before we’re:many hours older.” And in this De Bray was right. ae CHAPTER V. BUFFALO BILL AND GENTLEMAN JIM. Unaware of the exciting events transpiring on -the Montegordo trail, the little adobe camp of Sun Dance lay. sweltering in peaceful quiet on its “flat” half-way wp the wall of Sun Dance Cafion. ae In front of the Lucky Strike Hotel, the fat proprietor, Spangler, was dozing in the shade, wondering, whenever 8 a |. | (9) THE BUFFALO he opened his drowsy eyes and had a lucid thought, why in Sam Hill the stage did not show up. Old Nomad and Wild Bill were playing a game ef seven-up in the room of the Lucky Strike, which was called, by virtue of its function, the. ‘‘office.” Dell Dauntless,’ Buffalo Bill’s girl pard, was in a room off the office, reading a book. to.an Indian girl who was — sitting up in a chair, blanketed and pillowed. | The Indian girl was Wah-coo-tah. Captain Lawless had married a Cheyenne woman, and Wah-coo-tah was his daughter. The wound from which the girl was re- covering had been inflicted by. Lawless himself, *. Off along the straggling street of Sun Dance, the Dew . Drop, the Boston Store, the Alcazar, and the few re- maining buildings, were wrapped in profound quiet. Sun Dance slept during the day and awoke to activity only at night, when miners from up and down the gulch usually came in and made things lively. i‘ In Gentleman Jim’s private room in the Alcazar the scout and the gambler were talking. -As a rule, the king of scouts had no more use for a gambler than he had for any other robber, but there was something about the quiet, polished Gentleman Jim, and his reputation for “squareness,” that attracted the scout. Then, too, Gentleman Jim was a good deal of a mys- tery, and there is always something attractive about mystery. é Gentleman Jim had a “past,” but, up to that moment, he had never spoken to any one about it. The scout, it may be observed, was with the other at the gambler’s - own request. Evidently, Jim had something on his mind of which he wished to relieve himself, - The two men had lighted cigars, and were smoking as they talked. / “Tt’s history now, Buffalo Bill,” the gambler was say- ing, “how Lawless sent to me a deed for the Forty Thieves Mine, executed in your name, with the under- standing that the mine was to be yours if you went out to it and remained for three consecutive days and nights in its shaft and underground workings; it’s history, too, how you went there, fell into a trap Lawless had set for you, and were only saved from death by Wah-coo-tah; and it’s history how Lawless and his men escaped, and are now at large, still laying their traps to get the best of you—and me.’* “Laying their traps to get the best of you?” repeated the scout, puzzled. “I don’t understand it that way. “What has Lawless got against you? Didn’t he send that deed to you, trusting you with it, and telling you to turn. it over to me as soon as I had remained in the mine for the three days and nights? “That is why he has taken a grudge against me—for giving you the deed.” _“You only carried out his instructions.” “I know that; but there is something you do not know, Buffalo Bill, and I have brought you here to tell you about it. You thought Lawless had been seriously, per- haps mortally, wounded, at the time you and your pards escaped from the mine?” The scout nodded... _ “Well, I don’t think he was even severely wounded. *For a detailed account of the adventures of the scout and his pards at the Forty Thieves Mine, the reader is referred to No. 380 of the Burrato Brit Srories, “Buffalo Bill’s Mine; or, Cap- tain Lawless of the Forty Thieves.” : Bild; STORIES. At any rate, while you were in the mine, staying out the three days and nights, I received a letter from Lawless.” “A letter?” echoed the scout. ‘‘Why didn’t you tell me about that before, Gentleman Jim?” “Tt was a threatening letter, and I didn’t want to bother you with it. Lawless, it appears, had gigged back ‘on his proposition. He said you had gone to the mine, and you had not stayed there for the length of time he had specified. That it had not been his intention to give you two trials, and that, consequently, when you went back to the mine the second time, and stayed out the re- quired three days, you were not fulfilling your part of the contract. Of course, it was anly a quibble. Lawless had seen that he had failed to play even with you, and that he was going to lose the mine. In his letter to me, he said that if I did not leave the deed on a black boulder at the foot of Medicine Bluff on the night the letter reached my hands, he would put me on his blacklist along with you, and deal with me accordingly.” A slight smile curled the gambler’s lips. “I was not intimidated. When you had stayed in the mine the length of time agreed on, I gave you the deed; you made out another deed to Wah-coo-tah Lawless, and the Forty Thieves now stands, in the re- corder’s office at Montegordo, in the name of Wah-coo- tal. It is out of Lawless’ hands.” “The mine should belong to Wah-coo-tah,” said the scout, ‘‘and you did exactly right, Gentleman Jim. Law- less is a contemptible scoundrel, with no more heart in him than a timber-wolf. In losing the mine, he got his come-up-with for that. part of his trickery.” “T am not afraid of Lawless. But what is Wah-coo- tah going to do with the mine, Buffalo Bill? She knows no more about mining than a babe in arms.” “T have foreseen that part of the difficulty,” the scout returned. “A friend of mine in Denver, by the name of Reginald de Bray——” | “Reginald de Bray!” laughed Gentleman Jim. ‘That sounds as though there wasn’t much of a man back of te Z “Exactly ; and the name has fooled more people than I know how to tell about. De Bray looks the part, too. He is a mining-man, however, and one in a thousand. I have interested him in the Forty Thieves, and have ad- vised Wah-coo-tah to sell him a half-interest for twenty thousand dollars, and then to let De Bray go ahead and develop the property. He'll do it, and give Wah-coo-tah every cent that is coming to her. My last advices from De’ Bray assured me that he would be here on the afternoon stage. I sent Little Cayuse to Montegordo to see if he reached there, and, if he did not, to forward a telegram to him, telling him to hurry. Little Cayuse will also come in on the stage. ae “Whenever De Bray travels, he takes it upon himsel -to act as guileless as he looks, and as his name suggests him to be. This is a whim of his, but he turns it to good account, now and again. He'll be here, I’m sure, and then the matter of the Forty Thieves Mine can be wound up, and I and my pards.can take to the trail and finish our affair with Lawless.” , “You're going to run Lawless to earth?” « “I am; and I shall not leave this part of the country until I have done so.” : Gentleman Jim got up and took a thoughtful turn about the room. The scout watched him curiously. Sud- denly the gambler came to a halt in front of the scout. “Buffalo Bill,” said he, “I presume you are aware that & the gambler exclaimed abruptly. make or mar me. - swered, THE BUFFALO all gamblers are more or less superstitious and given to _ premonitions. I have a premonition that there is some- thing on the cards for me, important if not vital. What it is I do not know, but events @re forming which will If the worst happens, I have ten thou- sand dollars in the First National at Montegordo—hon-™ est money, not even won by the cards in honest games— and this 1 want you to hold in trust. 1 have drawn a check for the amount in your name; if need arise, you will find the check here.” - Gentleman Jim stepped to his desk, and pulled out a concealed drawer. The scout nodded, and the gambler closed the drawer. “T am tc hold the money in ee whom?” Buft- falo Bill asked. A sad look crossed the gambler’s face. “For the only woman T ever loved.” he answered, sinking into a chair ; “for my wife, Alice Brisco, if she is living.” “How am I to find her?” , “We must leave that to fate,” Gentleman Jim an- with a foreboding shake of the head. “All I know about Alice you will find in that drawer, with the check. If the money is never claimed, it is to be yours.”’ “You're gloomy to-day, old man,” said Buffalo Bill. “This talk of Peas is all foolishness.” / Not im this case,’ asserted ‘the gambler, with vehemence. “Something, for good or ill, is going to happen to me and make a decided change in my affairs, — dt the worst comes, you are the one man I know whom 1 cam trust.” Seeing that Gentleman Jim was deeply impressed by his forebodings, the scout remained silent. For a long time they sat, smoking and gazing thoughtfully into the wreathes of vapor that floated about them. _ “What a fool a man can sometimes make of himself!” “Five years ago [ was a physician, in an Eastern city, with a large practise, a loving wife, a happy home—everything’a man could need to have comfort and make life a success. The gambling fever took hold of me--perhaps it was in my blood, and had to come out. Be that as it may, I neglected my prac- tise for the cards, losing—losing all the time—money, friends, reputation. My wife’s people heard how I was going, and took Alice away from: me, better, and she came back. Once more I went to the dogs, and she left me for good. Getting together the remnants of my fortune, I sent the pitiable sum to Alice, then I came West and made gambling my profession. added. I have tried to be square, and have been fairly success- ful. But what is it all worth, Buflalo: Bill, compared to the love and companionship of a woman? ‘There is no happiness for me, and never has been since I cut away from every tie that made life worth living.” -The gambler, stirred by some slumbering impulse, got up and once more began pacing the room. “This,” he went on, “is what the cards have done for me, They have robbed me of everything that made ex- istence worth while, and here I am in Sun Dance, an outcast, a pariah, a human bird of prey that wrings the wherewithal to live from the honest toil of others. [— Poe ‘He stopped, one clenched hand lifted in air. The hand dropped nervelessly, and he broke off with a bitter laugh. “What's the use of crying over spilled milk?” he “T have made my game, and I must play it I promised to do BILL STORIES. . ouch, What I have said, Buffalo Bill, is between our- selves. No other man has ever heard it from my lips be- fore—and I speak now because I trust you.” “Your trust, Gentleman Jim,” returned the scout, with. feeling, ‘ ‘shall not be betrayed.” The gambler started to say something more, then sud- denly wheeled about and peered through a window. “By Jove!” he exclaimed, startled. “The stage is com- ing into camp, and it looks as though they had had trouble of some kind.” “Ts there a stranger aboard?” inquired the scout, start- ing up. VV es “Ah! That will be De Bray, And Eide Cree fgg “1 can’t see him.” ‘The scout’s brow clouded. “His orders were to*come in with to-day’s stage, he, “and Little Cayuse never disobeys orders. right, Jim, something surely has gone wrong.” With that, the scout hurried from the room, through the deserted Alcazar and out into the street, Gentleman Jim following curiously. ” said You’re CHAP PER Vii ay THE LETTER, THE RING AND THE LOCKEL, The sides of the mountain-wagon were splintered in several places, and thé only one of the wagon’s four pas- sengers who did not show any visible signs of wear and. _tear was the mild-faced stranger ee sat in front with Chick Billings. Billings had bound a handierchiet around his head, | over the bruise made by the butt of Lawless’ revolver, and Hotchkiss wore a bandage around his arm, while Pete was similarly decorated at the shoulder. Buffalo Bill.and Gentleman Jim appeared to be the only two who had glimpsed the stage. Spangler dozed in front of the hotel, and Wild Bill and Nomad shuffled, and dealt and played, oblivious of the fact that the stage was coming, and that it had met with any trouble. “Buffler Bill, by hokey!” cried Chick Billings. “VYe’re the feller we’re lookin’ fer!” chimed in Lone- some Pete. “You bet y’u!” added Hotchkiss. - The moment Billings drew to a halt, De Bray tumbled over the wheel and grabbed the scout’s welcoming hand. “Hello, Cody!” cried the Denver man. “You're look- ing husky as ever.’ oe “Feeling that way,’ Maeve the scout, with a smile. “You appear to stack up pretty well, De Bray.” “Then I stack up a whole lot better than I feel. "ve got a lump on the back of my head as big: as your fist, and a hole in my pocket as big.as a tunnel.” “A hole in your pocket?” “It was big enough for twenty thousand to slip through.” “Why—why, I thought ye didn’t know Buffler Bill?” gasped Lonesome Pete. 1 “Vie was sayin,’ added Hotchkiss; “that he wanted | Buffler Bill ter take his little hand an’ show him the sights. Woof! Darned if he ain't deceived us all around.” “What happened to you fellows, anyhow ?” asked the 10 THE BUFFALO scout. “It’s a clear case that something went wrong. Did the stage slip over the rim of the cafon?” ~ “Worse’n thet,” said Chick Billings. “We met Law- less an’ his gang twicet.” . : _ “Fust time wasn’t so bad,’” added Pete, one hand wan- dering to his injured shoulder; ‘but the second time— wow! Say, thar was fireworks, ground-an’-lofty tum- blin’; an’ a hull lot o’ other trimmin’s.” ‘Do you mean to say you've been through a hold-up?” demanded Buffalo Bill, his brow clouding, “and that Lawless was back of it?” _ “He wasn’t back o’ it, Buffer Bill,” said Pete, “not as any one could notice. He was right up front, mighty - conspickerous.” “Did he appear to be injured in any way?’ “Injured? Him? Waal, not so’s ter interfere with his | moving about. He was mighty seople; an’ the way he got around was a caution. J know what yere thinkin’, Buffer Bill. Ye're thinkin’ how Hank Blake, from Pass Dure Cafion, allowed he’d notched Lawless, mebby fer keeps. But the whelp didn’t show any signs. He seemed as well as ever, an’ about twicet as active,’ “This is a pretty layout,” muttered Buffalo Bill. “How many men were with Lawless?” ' “Seven; but thar ain’t so many, by one,” came from Hotchkiss. “Pete dropped one of ’em, an’ I put another on the retired list.” Da ' “An? he sent word ter you, Buffler,’ spoke up Pete; -“T awless did. He said ye was ter be told he’d made er clean-up, an’ thet he was achin’ ter hev you trail arter him an’ his gang an’ try ter make a clean-up o’ yer bWwa : ely “Then he'll get what he wants,” “Ain’t got so many passengers as we left Monte- gordo with by two,’ mourned Billings. ~ *Blow’s that?’ the scout asked quickly. pecting Cayuse back on this stage, and “Waal, he left Gordo with the stage, all right, an’ he was roostin’ on ther back seat with the mail an’ ther luggage up to jest afore we hit Lawless fer the fust time. About then ther leetle Piute disappeared.” _. “Did Lawless or his men see him, do you know?” “T reckon not; Cayuse was gone when ther gang come down on us.” The scout’s face cleared. “The boy’s all right,” said he; “he scented trouble, and ten to one he’s trailing the gang. We'll hear from him. (But you spoke of two passengers. Who was the other?” “T’other was a woman———” “A woman!’ exclaimed both the scout and Gentleman Jim, becoming mightily interested. “Exactly,” said Billings. “Did the woman disappear with Little Cayuse?’ asked - the scout. Loa -“Nary, she didn’t. IJ wisht it had been thet away, but “it wasn’t. Lawless had her kerried off, second time he come down on us.” a _ “The scoundrel!” muttered the scout between his teeth, his eyes flashing. ‘““What.was the woman’s name?” “She didn’t say what her name was.” “Why was she coming to Sun Dance?” x ») “Lookm’ ter aman, 2 think, jedgin’ from somethin’ she said; an’ I reckon, also, jedgin’ from somethin’ else 3 “TL was ex- a9 she said, thet she wasn’t more’n half-expectin’ ter find the man.’ “Well,” said the scout briskly, “tell us the whole of this, gered back. said the scout grimly. BILL STORIES. and tell it quick. You, Hotchkiss. Time is scarce, and we want the important points.” ee ‘Hotchkiss jumped: into the recital, and carried it through quickly. What#made the greatest impression on the scout and the gambler was that part of the story which had to do with the ring and the locket. 39 “T'l] take them, and the letter, stretching out his hand. Billings handed him the locket. At the mere sight of it Gentleman Jim’s face went pallid. Opening it quickly, he stared with glassy eyes at two pictures the locket re- vealed, a low groan dropped from his lips, and he stag- said Gentleman Jim, “What is it, Jim?’ asked the scout, stepping toward the gambler. Gentleman Jim did not reply. Apparently beside him- self, he did not wait for the note and the ring, but turned about unsteadily and reeled into the Alcazar. Those in the buckboard, and around it, stared after him, “T never seen Gentleman Jim in sich a takin’ as thet afore,” mumbled Chick. Billings, ! ‘What ails him, anyways? asked Pete. “Mebby the woman was some kin 0’ his,” suggested Hotchkiss. : “Possibly,” answered the scout shortly. “Give me the ring and the note, and I’ll take them to him in a few moments.” i oe Billings tendered the remaining two articles to the scout, and he dropped them into his pocket. “Drive on to the post-office and the hotel, Billings,” went on the scout. “Wild Bill and Nomad are at the hotel—tell them just what you have told me, and say that I want them to get our horses ready for the trail. It’s the war-path for us, and muy pronto. First, though, | must have a talk with Gentleman Jim. This note may contain clues of some value. De Bray,” he added, to the Denver man, “you're playing in hard luck——” “That wasn’t all of my pile, though,” cut in De Bray; “remember, I’m still in on the deal as soon as I can get more dinero from home.” “We'll talk of that later, Go on to the hotel and in- troduce yourself to my pards there. Ill see you in a few minutes,” | | The stage trundled on, De Bray walking beside it, and the scout hurried into the Alcazar, through tlie big, de- serted gambling-hall to the door of Gentleman Jim’s pri- vate room. The door was open. Through it he could see the gam- bler, seated at his desk. His head was bowed in his arms, and the locket lay open in front of him. It was hardly a time to intrude on a man, unnerved by grief as the gambler was at that moment, but other matters connected with Lawless were pressing. The scout entered the room and passed to the gam bler’s side. | sy “Jim v The gambler looked up with a start. . “I’m glad you came, Cody,” said he, in a hoarse voice. “See, here.” He picked up the locket. It contained two pictures, one of a fair-faced woman and the other plain- ly that of Gentleman Jim himself. ‘“This—this,” faltered the gambler, “belonged to Alice! It was she whom those scoundrels stolé away—and to play even with me on ac- count of that mine!’ oo “We'll talk of that later, Jim,” said the scout, laying 7 tee BURPALO the ring on the table and dropping the note beside it. _ “There are the other two things Billings brought.’ Let’s read the note. It may contain something of impor- tance.” \ ; pin CHAPTER VIL. PLANS. 3 Although the note was the main thing in Buffalo Bill’s mind, and the contents of it what he wanted to get at as quickly as possible, yet he could not show impa- tience when Gentleman Jim picked up the wedding-ring first. “This was Alice’s,’ said he, in a low voice. “I gave it to her—it seems as though that was in another life and in another world. Look!”—and he held up the gold band and indicated some tiny lettering on the inside—“there’s my name and hers—‘James to Alice,’ and the date. Sad memories, Buffalo Bill,” said he, with a long sigh, drop- ping the ring beside the locket. : ; “She must have been coming here to you,’ said the scout. oe “Ves—coming to me!” Gentleman Jim’s eyes flashed ‘murderously. “And now to have Lawless strike such a blow at my happiness, to But fil find her! By Heaven, I'll follow that scoundrel to the ends of earth, if necessary, and get Alice away from him. Then I'll make him pay—pay to the uttermost.” “That’s the way to talk, Gentleman Jim,’ approved the scout. “I intend to take the trail just as soon as we can get our plans into working shape. The note «may guide us. Read it.” ~ Gentleman Jim picked up the note and read it aloud “ ‘GENTLEMAN Jim, Sun Dance. : “*VYou have probably heard, by now, how I held up the stage. I took from your wife what money she had, and all her jewelry—which didn’t amount to much. Of course, until 1 saw your picture in the locket, 1 hadn't any idea the woman was your wife. Having discovered this, my scheme is laid to take her away from the stage and hold her until a deed, properly executed to me by Wah-coo-tah Lawless, for the Forty Thieves Mine, is left on the black boulder at Medicine Bluff. The girl, under care of Buffalo Bill’s girl pard, I understand is getting well, there in Sun Dance. You can have the deed executed at once, and leave it for me at midnight, to- night, at the place stated. On the day following, your _ wife will be given a horse and sent into camp. If you do not leave the deed, as stated, you will never see your wife again, This is the last call. ) “