Lssued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Ave., NW. V. 4
Copyright, 1909, by STREET & SMITH.

No. 441 NEW YORK, OCTOBER 23, 1909.

 

 

 

 

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a
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PS
aS

 

 

While Old Nick and the troopers closely pursued the Indians, Buffalo Bill sprang from his charger
and with quick slashes of his knife released Molly and Dan and their mother.

 
 

 
   

 

 

 

 

be ad: Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. Y. Post ‘Office, éy STREET & SMITH, 719-89 Seventh Ate Hy. ¥.

Copyright, 1909, dy STREET & SMITH.

{33" Beware of Wild West imitations of the Buffalo Bill Stories. They are about fictitious characters. The Buffalo
Bill weekly is the only weekly containing the adventures of Buffalo Bill, (Col. W. F. ray) who is known all

over the world as the king of scouts.

 

 

NEW YORK, October 23, 1909.

BILL AT CLEARY

OR,

AT

  

Scouting with Old Nick Wharton.

 

s By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.”

 

GCHAPTER f.

THE NIGHT PLIGHT,

“There. he goes again.’
The words that fell from oe of Buffalo Bill were

excited by the sight of a streak of fire that seemed to

shoot up against the horizon and, like the track of a
-tocket, to circle skyward, and then down again to the
earth,

Tt was not a skyrocket, as the scout ae only too
well. Had it been only that its significance for him would
_ not have been so serious. A rocket might have been a
- signal from a camp of soldiers on their way to that lo-
cality. But the streak of fire against the sky, though a
signal, was sent up by the ee foe instead of from a
military camp.

But it was not a signal—of this Buffalo Bill was just
as sure then as he was a moment later when a third,
fourth, fifth flaming arrow followed one another in swift
succession, falling near the same point with a precision

which indicated that the first had been shot to show the
_ way for the others.

Buffalo Bill was standing on the open prairie, and his
horse was feeding at a little distance. Except for the
flash of the burning arrows across the sky, the scout and
his horse showed the only signs of life to be seen in the
vicinity. He stepped back to his mount and leaped into
the saddle. From that vantage point, sitting motionless,
he gazed toward the spot where the blazing arrows had -
faller. In a- moment he was rewarded by the sight of a
bright tongue of flame that illuminated a broad space

‘around it, where all before had been obscured by the

blackest darkness. :

~“An old trick,” muttered Buffalo Bill, “and it is the
work of that redskin mystery who has just shown up as
the worst co that the white settlers have had to butt
against in years.”

One of the irregular line of - ricks had been ignited
by the flaming arrows. Beyond these were the cabins of
the settlement, an unlucky thirteen in number, strung
along the curved line of the creek, which was marked
by a twisted belt of timber.

The scout knew every bend of that creek; he knew .
almost every tree in that timber for miles up and down.

   

Price Five Coat
2 THE BUFFALO.

He was acquainted, too, with the inmates of nearly every
cabin in the settlement. :

Later on that day a whisper of danger to the settlers
had come to his ears—a rumor, merely, so vague and in-
definite, that one less keen than he would have thought
nothing of it. But to him it meant so: much that he had
strained every nerve, and ridden his horse to the poist

of exhaustion in the effort to ie a warning oF the

threatened danger.

Now, as he again sat in the saddfe, he could feel the
quivering sinews of the tired horse. The animal stood

with drooping head, now atid then nipping at the grass. —

3

‘Bear Paw,’ spoke the scout softly.

The horse lifted his head but did not move his quiver- s

ing limbs.

“I’m afraid, old chap, that you can’t do. it. - Well, T
reckon my legs are better able to finish the journey than
yours are: All I think of is that I hate to leave you to
shirk for yourself. But the humans have to be counted
first—you‘know that, Bear Paw.”

While he was speaking, Buffalo Bill was looking to-
ward the burning rick. The light flared from it so
brightly “itr. the foreground that he could see nothing
beyond.

But there came no more ee arrows. er were
not needed. A strong breeze was blowing just right to

carry blazing wisps of hay to the nearest stack. That

was ignited already, and the smudge that rose from it
was reddening with the glow of the flames beneath.

The scout slipped from the saddle to the ground again
and, after bestowi ing a caress upon the horse, he started
at a trot toward the northerly end of the hay stacks.

Suddenly he halted, and up went his rifle, for a horse-
man loomed between him and the firelit background.

But no shot was fired. Instead, Cody lowered. the

weapon and waited for the other to approach.

later he called out cauticusly : a
“Ts it Nick Wharton ?”
“Til be tarnally plunked!’ came back in a voice that

Buffalo Bill would have recognized anywhere, although

it had been a long time since he had heard it last.

The next moment the two scouts were clasping hands
and looking into ‘each other’s faces in the fire glow, aoe
now spread far out on the prairie.

Nick Wharton was a border scout and Indian fighter
of the old school. It had been more than two years since
he and Buffalo Bill had scouted together. Somehow,
Nick seemed never to appear before the eyes of men
except when there was an Indian peril.

He was old enough to have been the father of the
younger scout. What his age actually was no one could
ever find out from him, ‘and the guesses that were made
fell too widely apart for any two of them to be near the
per see

“A moment

- strung clear across the south end of them stacks.

BILL STORIES.

If Nick were to be asked if he was sixty, he would
answer : re

i reckon somebody must have told ye ‘that, for I’ fl be.

jest sixty-one, come October the ninth.”

The next hazard at his age, per Stance, would set it at

eighty ; and the old man would retort:

“(Um tarnally plunked if that ain't the closest guess

ever a’body made, for I was eighty the thirteenth of last
June. And in jest two months I'll score up to eighty-one
—that is, if I ain’t kicked by a hoss fust.”

And so he would go on, agreeing with every hazard at

his age that was made, and leaving nobody wiser than
before.

“Where's “yer hoss, Buffler?” the old mat asked, when -

the greetings were exchanged.

“LT left him back a little ways, played ae with a long,
hard run. I was going on to the settlement to warn
them of the threatened Indian raid.”

“IT reckon they've got a hint on’t afore this. I was
p'inting that way myself, but [ run up agin a tarnal tangle
and had to shy off or have my cerebro-geticum absquatu-
lated, as it were.”

Buffalo Bill well knew that Nick Wharton was inclined
to run on with a string of nonsense when he was the most
deeply worried about anything. It was his way of stav-
ing off an acknowledgment that he was sorely perplexed.

“How does it happen that you are coming this. way,
Nick 2” Cody asked.

“Because I ain't goin’ t’other way, that’ Ss why. a aint.
Another reason is, that my hoss smelt ye, and’was -

lyin’.
bound to come and investigate. That mare is chock full
of curiosity.. She'd climb a tree or burrer in the earth. 1!
her curiosity got stirred up, she would, by mighty.”

“Tt is lucky, anyhow, that we met each other,’ said
Buffalo Bill, knowing that he would get at the truth in
time, if he,were patient..

“T reckon,’ nodded the old man.

“You come alone, Nick ?”

“Yes. But say, ain’t yer hoss no good, Buffler?”

“I wouldn’t ask him to bear my weight for another
hundred yards.”

“Have ter laig it then, by mighty. Them Injuns are
. North
of them there are more Injuns, and there’s Injuns in the
timber. I had to come out this way to git clear of ’em,
oeg Raines go to the settlement without their smellin’
of me.’

“Then 8 don’t really know the exact situation of the
settlers?”

“Oh, ginger, yes. Borne He ’em got scared and tried
to scoot clear of the settlement. Then they was hung up

on the gue of the timber and dursen’t stir ary one ity
or t’other.”

\

 

 

ee

 
  

ee

 

fidently. 3
where he was when I run acrost him, which I reckon he

Buffalo Bill looked keenly into the face of the old man,
itying to make out whether he were telling the truth.
Sometimes the younger scout was more than a little an-
noyed by the proclivity to exaggeration on the part of
old Nick, which made it hard, at times, to sift out the
sober truth. Yet it was useless to try to persuade Nick
Wharton to narrate anything except in his own way.

“You mean me to understand, Nick, that some of the
settlers tried flight from the settlement when they got
wind of the danger?” Buffalo Bill demanded,

“They sartainly did.”

“More than one family of them ?”

“Jest one family—the Keltons. There’s the young lad,
Danny, and his sister, Molly, with the mother, and Hiram,
the old man—blame his picter.”

A sudden gleam flashed from the eyes of Buffalo Bill.
He seized Nick Wharton almost fiercely by the ari.

“What is this you are telling me?’ Cody demanded.

“Jest the facks, that’s all, Bufflér. The truth is mighty,
and the Wharton family was famous for tellin’ of it.
They’d shell out a grist of facks, even if they had to
make ‘em up as they went along.”

The younger scout hardly heard the last words of his
companion, for what had been said about the Keltons
was to him a significant matter. Thereby hung a mys-
tery. Like a cloud, that mystery brooded over the settle-
ment of Clearwater Creek—a mystery enshrouding the
character of Hiram Kelton, who had been the last of the

_band of settlers to put\up a cabin on the cae section

near the creek.

“How did you learn all of this, Nick, if you weren't
able to get to the settlement?” Cody demanded.

“T seen Kelton, that’ s how.” |

“When ?”

“Jest before I sighted you. He sneaked through the

‘lines of the Injuns jest like a tarnal snake.”

“Did you speak to him?” Cody eagerly pursued.

“I sartainly did. But he wa’n’t extry sociable. He
said his family was hidin’ over in the timber.”

“Come Nick, if you will show me to Kelton I’ll count
it as one good stroke for this night’s work.” -
“Tl show ye Kelton, Buffler,” said Nick Wharton con-
“That is, if he was fool enough to stay right

ain’t. But Pll git ye onto his trail, anyhow, and that
may be worth somethin’ to ye. T’ll have to leave my hoss
with your’n, jest for comp’ny. Ye see, that-hoss of mine
has a sort of hankerin’ after Kelton.”

The two scouts crept side by side along the level
ground, the brain of Buffalo Bill strangely excited by
what Nick had told him. For it seemed to him that the
' Keltons had been deluded into making a hopeless night
flight from one great danger into the teeth of a greater.

THE BUFFALO

sipcienia ‘i Sit Sehaares 25 So, < ieee ey) wes: USE oer eer. Ne Sas
a Dacre act AS ea) i LR A Sa LS SO a i EN Aaa REE Tt oe Te

BILL

CHAPTER: IT:
THE AMBUSH.

Out in the timber belt Danny Kelton stood with his
head bent in a listening attitude. His light rifle lay in
the hollow of his arm, scout fashion, as he had seen a
gun held by old Nick Wharton one time when the scout
paid the Keltons a visit in their cabin.

Through the interlacing branches of the trees he could
see the glow from the burning haystacks. He could see,
too, the outlines of their own dwelling, deserted now, and
soon to be embraced by the flames—if he were to take his
father’s word.

There had been a time when Don Kelton believed
everything his father told him, as he believed the
words of his mother. But gradually doubts began to
assail him, and at sixteen the lad’s mind was overshad-
‘owed by a distrust of his father.

Not so with his mother and sister. They believed still
in the word of the man who, silent and morose of dispo-
sition, had ruled his home by fear instead of love.

‘When he had come into the house just at nightfall and
ordered them to leave it and seek refuge in the timber,
only Dan had raised a word of remonstrance.

The man told them an attack was to be made on the

settlement by White Raven and his bloodthirsty follow- _

ers, in such overwhelming numbers that there could be no
hope for the settlers except in flight.

Dan had asked his father if the warning had been
given to the other settlers, and the man had replied in
the affirmative.

But the man declared that the others would not’ be-
lieve the danger was so great as he represented, and they
were determined to stick to their homes.

Whether this were true or not, of course the lad did
not know. But he doubted it, and for the first time in his
life he was inclined to refuse oo to his father’s
commands.

He yielded, however, for the man’s face hae become
black with anger when the boy hesitated. Then the word
of h& mother, gently spoken, persuaded Dan to silence
his misgivings.

So the little party had beaten a hasty retreat to the
shelter of the forest. And there the man had left them,
saying that he would go out to reconnoitre, and, if pos-

sible, to persuade more of the settlers to abandon the —

homes which might soon be burned over their heads.

That was barely an hour after sunset.

Iwo hours had dragged their weary length along since,
and yet Hiram Kelton had not returned, seine to his
promise.

So they had seen the flaming arrows as they circled
against the black sky and fell upon the haystacks.

Then Mrs. Kelton and Molly were sure that Mr. Kel-
ton had told them the truth, although Dan, with a per-

 
 
 

STORIES 2 , 3

     

      
  
 
   
    
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  

|

  

        
 

a. 20° Sa BUREALO

versity which they did’ not understand, continued to
‘doubt.

The boy, in those grim hours, seemed to grow older
by many years. The care of his mother and sister de-
volved upon his shoulders.

After watching apart for some moments the boy re-
turned to the little hollow where Molly and her mother
awaited him.

The night was warm, the air damp, the sky overcast.
Now and then a raindrop would patter upon the foliage.

“Well, Danny?” Molly questioned in a low voice.

“They haven't attacked the cabins yet, and nobody
seems to be stirring. I reckon father never warned
them.”

Dan spoke in a tone too low for his mother to hear.
The girl laid a hand softly on his arm, and her eyes, as
they looked into his, shone like stars. _

“Vou think he would lie to us, Dan?’ the girl whis-
pered.

“T think he did.
my mind that father is a mighty queer man.
to us before this, and 1 know it,”

Do you know, Molly, I’ve made up
He has lied

“T don’t like to hear you say that, Danny,” protested
the girl.

“But you don’t know, Molly, that it’s so. And, some-
how, I think it’s worse for a man to lie than it is for a
woman or girl. You pretend to believe that he tells the
truth, but I own up straight that I don’t believe him. It
is because you are more afraid of him.”

“You are getting to be a man now—and, Dan, mother
and I have got to depend on you for protection. I feel it.
I'll own up to it—I do know that he has deceived us in
many little things.”

“And in a mighty big matter to-night, Molly,’ mumbled
Dan, under his breath.

“What is that you said?”

“He got us to come out here like this, knowing we
would have been safer if we had stuck to the settlement.
The settlers have a strong stockade, which Buffalo Bill
urged them to build when White Raven first went on the
warpath. We would have been better off with the 'set-
tlers, for they can face the siege, and the troops will come
to help in a day or two.”

“You think father knew this?”

Pes

“Why should he do that thing? Would he want us to
become the prey of White Raven and his Indians?”

“That is what I understand no better than you do. But
there are a lot of queer things. Why did he forbid you
and mother to carry firearms? Why did he try to get
away with all of my cartridges? Why did he borrow my
hunting knife last night, and tell me this morning that
he lost it? And he had his own knife all the while.
Weil, l’ve got one, just the same, and plenty of cartridges,
and I’m a better shot than he suspects. I’m only a boy,

mother.

BILL STORIES.

as he says, but he hasn’t been fooling me mitch for quite
a while.”

This sounded like boasting, but Molly iene it was not
really a boast, for it was not like her brother to talk in
that way.

“Look, Dan, there are more fire arrows!’ Molly sud-
denly exclaimed, as a bright streak shot across the dark
cloud background.

Dan saw it, and a moment after he said:

“That was meant for the cabins. But it missed. And
I happen to know they won't make it work. Buffalo Bill
told us, long ago, if there was danger of a night attack, to
wet down the thatches, and the fire arrows wouldn't ig-
nite them. Mr, Cody is a great man. He told us how
chemicals could be mixed with water to put out the fire
when it first catches.”

The girl fell silent. The weird scene upon which she
was looking, with the sense of danger which seemed to
be hovering over them like the very atmosphere, were
conditions which Molly Kelton and her brother would
never forget.

Suddenly Dan seized the arm of his sister. He drew
her toward him until his lips were close to her ear.

“There’s somebody watching us, Molly, right in the
thicket,” whispered the boy.

The only sign that the girl gave of having heard was

a slight start, and a bending closer to her brother, as if -

for protection.

“We'll go back to mother,” Dan said a moment later,
speaking aloud.

At the same time he turned deliberately as if he would
go past the thicket, gently pushing Molly back from him.

Then, with lightning quickness, the boy’s rifle went up
and its sharp report barked into the silence.

Up from amid the foliage of the thicket a dark form
leaped with a sharp, short yell that seemed to curdle the
blood of Molly Kelton.

The Indian fell almost at the girl’s feet, and lay there
in the quivering throes of death. At the same time her
brother again seized her arm and said:

“Come quick! There may be more of ’em. This is the
way father looks after the safety of his family. This is
what we get for minding his lies.”

Dan started at a run, drawing Molly after him. Her
heart was beating loudly with terror,
seemed to be numb, so that bas staggered and almost
fell as she ran.

They reached the little hollow where they had left their
They found her awaiting them with an appear-
ance of calmness and confidence which it was hard for
them to understand. —
“Who fired that shot?” she asked,
“I did,” said Dan. “And we want to be getting out of
this, Id take you back to the stockade if it wasn’t se

— Re Pa

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THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. | 5

light out in the open that we'd be sure to be picked off by
the redskins on the watch. Come.”
“But we are to wait here for your father,”
the woman:
“Wait for Christmas!’ retorted Dan, with a short
laugh. ‘

protested

“What do you mean? He said he would soon be back.
He went to reconnoitre. Your father knows what is
best.”

“Maybe he knows, but he doesn’t act according to his
knowledge, mother. We ain’t going to wait for him
another minute, and what’s more, what he says doesn’t
go any more with Molly and me. He has lied to us, and
he means for us to fall into the hands of the Indians.”

“Danny—Danny !”

“I know it, mother. You and Molly have been blind
to his double dealing, but I’ve been catching on to it for
some time.”’

“But why should he do that? “You don’t know what

you are talking about.”

“The why, (ll find out when I have time.
tend to explain it, but I know it’s so, just the same, and
he ain’t going to make it go with me any longer. Come,
mother, or I’ll have to pick you wp and carry you, just
as if you was a baby.”

Dan was almost six feet tall, and as he spoke he half
playfully lifted his mother off her feet and then put her
down again.

The apparent unconcern of the big young fellow filled
Molly with a.sense of confidence in him which she had
never felt, in that way, before. She was proud of her
brother Dan just then, and from that moment it would

make little difference what her father might require of

her, it would be her brother’s word that would have
weight with her.

Keeping close together, and stepping so as to make but
little noise, they hurried along one of the pathways
through the timber.

At last Dan halted and said:

. We'll stop here. We have a better chance to watch
the settlement from this point, and at the same time we’re
better sheltered. Then, it takes us away from the place
where father thinks we're waiting for him.”

“Why do you distrust your father, Danny ?” his mother
asked, as soon as she could regain her breath after their
hurried flight.

“Because he promises, and never makes good. He tells
us things are going to happen, and they never conie true:
he makes excuses that ain't so; he lies about this, and
about that.”

“Danny, don’t be disrespectful ” the woman began.

But she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, and
the next moment a low cry escaped the 5 of both Molly

 

and her mother.

 

I don’t pre-.

ao

Por Hiram Keiton, tall;
their midst.

“Why didn’t you wait for me, as I told you to?” he de-
manded.
The wife opened her lips to answer, but Dan thrust
himself between them, facing the man with calm defiance.

“We didn’t care to stay there and wait for the redskins,
that’s why,” said Dan,

“What do you mean ?”

“That they knew too well where to a us in a
place, and as you didn’t keep your word, and you never
do keep it, I reckonéd we’d take care of ourselves with-
out any of your advice.”

“Oh, Danny!” breathed Mrs. Kelton,

But Molly looked at him with her eyes shining with
admiration. It was the first time she had ever heard
any one speak defiantly to her father. And yet, somehow,
she did not worry about Dan taking care of the conse-
quences.

She knew that he had come to this determination by no
meére impulse, but by deliberate judgement.

“Dan has made up his mind what to say and do, and he
won't act rashly,” was her thought.

etim, and insistent, stood in

“Boy, what are you saying to me?” the man demanded,
his voice sounding like an angry growl.

“I reckon you heard. I ain’t saying things over a dozen
times,”

“You mean to say that you defy me, your father?”

“I mean that you have played double, you’ve lied to
us, you would betray us to the Injuns. We're going to
quit. If you're in with White Raven and his crew, then
go and stay with them—that’s all I’ve got to say.”

An oath burst from the lips of Hiram Kelton and, for-
getting that Dan was taller and nearly as heavy as him-
self, he seized his son by the shoulder and attempted to
swing him around, as he had done years before.

But Dan wrenched himself. free. The father swung an
open palm for the son’s cheek; but the slap was dodged.

This time the boy did not wait for his father to push
the assault to greater lengths. He adroitly tripped the
man as the latter again plunged toward him, and Hiram
Kelton fell full length to the ground.

The man rose slowly and backed away ae he stood
half concealed among the shadows.

Molly and her mother were almost stunned by the
swift march of events. They had not dreamed of an open
conflict between father and son.

At the same time, neither of them blamed Dan for re-
sisting his father’s attack, They knew that he was right,
and the peril of their situation, the gravity of the condi-
tions which were at stake, seemed to them sufficient to

justify Dan’s open resistance.

Enis 1s aw ful, Daniel!” said the sanihee tremulously.
“And you blame oe mother, for not standing still
while he thrashed me?” retorted Dan.

 
6 THE BUFFALO
“No, no! But it is awful to fight with your own
father.” eS

“Tt is awful for your own father to side in with the
Injuns and work things so you'll fall into their clutches,
that’s what I think about it. We've trusted him and lis-
tened to his counsel till he has got us into trouble that we
‘may never get out of. Now I’reckon we'd better treat
him as we would any other snake in the grass.”
This was spoken, loud enough for Hiram Kelton to
hear. : .

But the man did not come back to renew the combat.
For a full minute he stood gazing at the forms of his wife
and children. Then, like a shadow, he stole away into
the forest.

Mrs. Kelton covered her face with her hands, overcome
by a sudden sense of their loss, a feeling that amounted to
absolute grief. —

“It’s tough, mother,” said Dan, putting one of his
strong arms about her. “But it ain’t our fault, though I
don’t understand it. Why should he turn against us like
this? Does he want us all to be slaughtered by White
Raven and-his bloodthirsty followers?”

Just then the sound of light footfalls approached in the
darkness. ae
Again Dan led Molly and his mother away from the
spot. ae

It seemed to the terror-stricken senses of Molly that
stealthy footsteps were pattering on every side of them—
that they were closing in from the right, the left, and the
tear. |. 7

“Do you hear them?” she whispered in the ear of her
brother.

Dan haltéd.
“Yes, | reckon we're tumbling right into an ambush.
Ha!” Fe

The last ejaculation was elicited by a sudden flare of
light just in front of them, a flash by which they could
plainly see each other’s faces.

Then there was a loud report and Dan Kelton stag-
gered and fell at the feet of his mother and sister.

“Now we are lost!” moaned Molly.

CHAPTER Ti,
IN THE STOCKADE,

As the despairing words burst from the lips of Molly
Kelton Dan sprang to his feet again.
gone through his hat, grazing his skull, but he was com-
paratively unhurt.

His own rifle was levelled quickly and the shot zipped
through the foliage toward the spot where the enemy
was hidden. :

A yell of pain showed that the blindly-sent bullet had

 

The bullet had

BILL STORIES. .

found a mark. Then followed a scampering of footsteps,
and they thought for a moment that the) enemy were
beating a retreat.

But the next moment a dozen dark forms closed in
upon them; one seized Molly, another secured Mrs. Kel-
ton, and four pounced upon Dan, bearing him to the
earth.

The lad realized that the struggle was really ended—
that they were in the power of the red followers of White
Raven, the mysterious foe of the white settlers.

Meanwhile, the operations of the Indians against the

“settlement of Clearwater seemed to have been suspended.

The first of the haystacks to be ignited by the fire
arrows had burned itself out, and the others were burn-
ing low.

The glare from them did not light up so wide an area
as at first. The cabins and the large structure which
served as a stockade were still plainly visible from the
point where Buffalo Bill and Nick Wharton had paused
in their approach. :

They had passed halfway around the settlement by a
detour, and were now near the timber belt. To do this
had taken considerable time, for it took great care to
avoid being observed by the Indians whom they knew
were on the lookout.

“The Indians have retreated to the timber, and they
don’t seem to be trying very hard to crowd the settlers.
IT wonder why?”

- It was Buffalo Bill who spoke.

Nick Wharton shook his head.

“You say the Keltons abandoned their cabin and took
to the timber?” pursued the younger scout.

“Yes, blame the snake. And why didn’t they stick to
the rest of ’em? Or if they figgered that it wasn’t the
safest way, why didn’t they get the rest of the settlers to

yjine ’em when they cleared ont? Hey?

“You're putting conundrums, Nick.”

“Waal, I'll tell ye. It’s because that blamed goswhop-
per of a Hiram Kelton wanted to git his family into a
tarnal tangle, that’s why. And I ain’t lyin’. No, by
mighty.”

To this statement Buffalo Bill made no reply. He had
come to the same conclusion before: for that matter, he
had been studying the character and observing the be-
havior of Hiram Kelton for some time, and long ago he
had decided that there was a mystery about the man that
it. was worth his while to probe.

What this secret was the younger scout already sus-
pected ; but he had no absolute proof.

Now, however, he felt that he was on the eve of dis-
covering evidence of a most positive character.

The two scouts had started back on the strength of
Nick Wharton’s statement that Kelton was prowling
around the settlement alone. Nick said that he had come

 
SEE et ae Se eee Oy SERS SAMENESS OE TSS ORE oe er a

 

 

 

See

THE BUFFALO

- upon the ee man and, as he had Co . at
Kelton was.“out yender.”: oe ae

But, although they fae not found him, the younger
scout. had asked for-no explanation.

Nick, as he grew- older, became less ‘abie in the
statements eee he made about many things. It seemed
to be an eccentric habit with him, rather than a deliberate,

intention to lie.

Sometimes it was amusing ; at others, it was arfnoy-_
And now, as they found no signs of the man whom.

ing,
they had started out to look for, Buffalo Bill thought it
wisest to make no comment on the fact.

Just then Nick suddenly said: ‘a

“Ye think I lied to ye a.spell ago?”

a One Kelton being south of the settlement, and your
running onto Hiner.

wags.

“We didn’t seem to find him.”

“Waal, I seen him right at this p’int, jest the same.
Ye didn’t expect he’d loaf eround for a week in the same
spot, did ye? Oh, ginger, no. But look here.”

Buffalo Bill did net need to be told to look, for he had
observed the signs to which ee companion would have
called his attention.

For a distance of more than a hundred yards wisps

of hay lay along the ground and they all pointed in the |

on of the timber.

_ Cody had counted twenty of them, and it could have
oe by no mere chance that they were placed in | the
same position.

“Sign,” said Nick laconically.

“No doubt of it.” ;

“Injua sign,” added Nick.

“Perhaps,” nodded Buffalo Bill doubtfully. °

“Only it ain't,’ grinned Nick. “’Cause why? ’Cause
it’s Kelton’s sign, for the Injuns to foller. Oh, yes. Was
I lyin’ to ye? No. Kelton has been clear round the set-
tlement, and he left sign to tell the redskins where to
foller, That’s what. Likely ye didn’t notice till I told ye.
Old oe can see things that young on can't, some-
times.”

Nick chuckled with self-satisfaction, and Buffalo. Bill
let-him hug the delusion that he was by far the superior
in woodcraft. And yet the younger scout had noticed
the first of the wisps of hay, and would have oe
the signs just the same if he had been alone.

“It pleases him to think that he can teach me some-
thing,” thought Cody. “It does him good and it doesn’t
hurt me any. He is a grand old man, just the same, and
true-blue, even when he strings his yarns, And, old as
he is, if it came to a fight wath the redskins he would be
a terror.” :

It was so that Buffalo E Bill tL kept thinking as he ae
oe at the old. man’s heels; for ke had allowed Nick to
take the bead from. the first.

 

ugly as sin.

BILL. STORIES. 7

“You reckon, Nick, that Kelton left the sign to lead
the redskins back to the timber ?” Cody page sted.

“vies? si AOS a

“Why . should they follow ‘bine? I bunt White
Raven led this and all the other raids that the Indians.
have been making: lately.” a

“Qf course he does. White Raven is a fo: xy chied, and.
They say he used to be friendly to the pale-
faces,that he hada daughter stole by a white settler that
took a shine to her, that she killed herself because he
wouldn't let: her go to her people. That’s the yarn they're
tellin’, and that’s what. made. White Raven take to Lay
warpath... And there’s been a tarnal tangle ever since.’

Buffalo Bill nodded.

He had heard the story. .There might. be truth in it,
but Buffalo, Bill did not, believe it. a

‘There was surely a mystery about White Raven. But
the younger scout was not inclined to, believe that the

chief of the hostile Indians was avenging a real injury.

“T haven't hada square look at that White Ronn yety!
said Buffalo Bul. :

“There ain't any man that has. a square look at him.
Most Injuns-are pizen; but White Raven is worse than
pizen. He is, by mighty.”

“You have special reason to. know, possibly, Nick?

“TI ain’t saying. He hasn’t done nothin’ to me. I ak
got any relations for him to kill and scalp—nobody but
my grandiather, and he’s dead. Died of jamboree of the
syphax. Took him-off-tremenjus sudden at last, on ac-
count his normal conpendium turnin’ upside Sg as
it were.’

The old man spoke i in a reflective way, aor teins his
head as if the recollection of his grandfather’s fate on
fected him. E

“Queer old Nick 1p thought Buffalo Bill. “There isn’t
another of his kind, and there never will be one.”

The two scouts came abruptly to a halt. They were
on the edge of the timber, and the light from the burning
ricks was dying down. ee

The clouds were growing. doe overhead, but she Oc-
casional raindrops no longer fell. Hardly a breath of
wind was stirring.

Buffalo Bill saw that a wisp of hay lay for “sign” close
at the edge of the timber belt. He wondered if the arti-
ficial trail would lead eg any further, or if it stopped
there.

The silence that reigned was ominous.

No open attack had yet been made upon. the cabins of
Clearwater settlement. x

No fire arrows cut their blazing ph across. ihe a
zenith. It was as if the red foe had abenconed th
hostile purposes.

“I don’t understand ine, * Buftald Bill exclaimed at
last, in a low voice.

“Nary do I,” confessed Nick Wharton.

 

 

 
 

8 THE BUFFALO

“Tf they mean to make an attack on the settlers, what
are they waiting for? It can’t get much darker, and
“ every moment of delay maxes the chances of the os
that are on the way better for getting here.”

“Ye ought to -have White Raven here so as to advise
him what to do,” grinned Nick.

“Vd like to have him handy e cnenen sO T could a
him,” said Buffalo Bill.’

“T reckon, Buffler, that we'll push on as te as ahs ee

The wisp of hay P ‘ints in that direction, and it’s our duty

to foller the sign.” 2 :
Upon this point the younger scout was Le rently,

Among the denser shadows of the timber they had to.
It was very dark, and

advance with yet greater caution.
they were obliged to literally feel their way.

There were natural pathways through the timber, sad
they struck into one of these. They followed it in silence
until Buffalo Bill at last said ina whisper:
Ve Were close to the cies Nick, and 1 can peat -pad-
vdies :

“Close ahead, by mighty,” returned Mick

His hearing was not quite as acute as it had once been,
although he was by no means deaf.. He had not heard
thé dip of paddles until the younger scout had called his
attention to the sounds.

They pushed forward and in another moment both
were peering through the fringe of willows at the black,
eddying stream, and a perfect swarm of canoes on its
surface.

“Woof!” breathed old Nick.

Buffalo Bill gazed in silence for two full minutes and
then drew back, one hand on the arm of his companion
~ at the same time.

~ Both retreated the distance of a dozen yards from the
stream. Then the younger scout spoke:

“There were thirty-four canoes and four or five war-
riors in. each canoe. Not less than a hundred and fifty
of them altogether.”

“And more’n that out yonder on the prairie,
Nick. 2 ue

“It is the biggest war party en has come out against
the whites for a number of years,”

“It means a wipe-out for the settlement of Clearwater

unless the bluecoats show up_pesky airly,” said Nick.
. Buffalo Bill knew this was true. :

He was thinking of the unlucky thirteen cabins which ~

composed the settlement, and of several of the families
who were well known to him.

One of the families, he knew, had abandoned the set-
tlement. Now, for the first time, it occurred to him that
,liram Kelton may have been wise in advising them to
take the chances of flight, rather than to remain and face
overwhelming odds within the stockade.

But only for a moment did the Younger scout feél like
that.

a uodded ae

BILE ‘STORIES.

en Kelton had not Been the man to judge Heels
and unselfishly for his family.

- And besides—but, even in a acne Buffalo Bill
would not frame in words the suspicion which was rooted
in his mind.

“What ye goin’ to do, Buffler: ” Nick sea,

“T wanted to locate the Keltons, of course. But it is

_ like hunting for a needle in this infernal blackness.”

“Git in line with their cabins and hit their trail,” said
Nick.

“And follow the trail in pitch cars
Nick, that it’ll be slow work, even for you.”

“Mostly figgerin’ on chances, Buffler. For instance—
they made for the timber after Jeavin’ the cabin. The
woman ain’t strong, and so they wouldn’t move jast, nor
go any further than she was obliged to without hosses.
Then Kelton give ’em some orders. They might obey
’em, and then ag’in they mightn’t. The boy ain't no mule,
but I’ve got a notion that he had begun’ to buck agin’-the
bossin’ of the old man. It’s all a matter of figgerin’ on
chances, as I said before, Buffler.” :

Buffalo Bill could not see that the older scout had
made anything definite out of his “figgering,” but there
was something suggestive in it to his own mind, just the
samme. ae

But thetsituation was Hee more complicated and
perilous every moment.

I reckon,

Already sounds were coming to their ears that told of

_ the landing of the Indians who had come down the creek

in their canoes.

They were making no effort to keep absolute ee.
Strong in numbers, they did not dread discovery. They
knew that they had another force of warriors awaiting
them out on the prairie, and they did not fear the ap-
proach of the troops. .

“The timber will be swarming with redskins if they
don’t take the notion to go into camp,” said Buffalo Bill.

The words had scarcely passed the lips of the younger
scout before the rustling of footsteps and the dull mur-
mur of voices seemed to sound on every side of them.

“T reckon we'd better vamose,’’ muttered Nick. _

He led the way, and, as if he knew the thought of
Buffalo Bill beforehand, he went straight to the timber’s
edge at the point that lay nearest to the ce
the stockade in the centre.

“Do, ye think ye kin run as fast as 1 kin, oe a
whispered Nick.

ay ll try for it,” smiled the other.

_ The older scout plunged out upon the open, and if his
‘companion had looked for something easy for a chase he

- would have been disappointed.

~ For Nick Wharton, lean as a wolf, wagged his ae
shanks as if they went by steam. The first dozen yards
widened the space between Nick and Buffalo Bill.

The last half of the short stretch closed up‘ the gap.

 
PEST fen ee ae

 

 

THE BUPP ALO

This was not because the pace of the old man began to

lag, but because the younger scout ran faster.

Before they had reached the nearest cabin a score of
rifle shots cracked on the air.
from the very earth and on both sides of them.

From the timber there came a chorus of yells, and the
scouts knew that the Indians who had just made a land-
ing were coming to see what a forth the fusil-
lade.

“Ambie, Buffler! Amble!” panted the old man.

They both ambled. They were passing through a
streak of growing light from the hayrick which. was the
last to burn, and which was toppling over, sending up a
flare of red flame.

They were plainly seen by the inmates of the stockade

‘ —and recognized.

The wide door swung open. From the timber and
various points on the prairie spurts of flame showed
where the redskins were watching.

‘The two scouts plunged in through the door—and were
safe i in ite stockade.

CHAPTER IV.
Pah CAPTIVES.

An hour after the disaster to the Keltons which re-
sulted in the capture of Mrs. Kelton, Molly, and Dan, a
band of forty Indians went into camp near the edge of
the timber belt. :

The Keltons were prisoners in the hands of this party.
The two women had not been roughly used, although
they had been forced to make a hurried march with their
captors over the rough ground, along the edge of the belt

of timber.

Dan was not used so tenderly.
He had not been much hurt by the shot which had

- touched him. But when the redskins pounced upon him

there had been a short, sharp fight, in which he had put
out all the desperate force at his command in a hopeless
struggle.

As a consequence he had been roughly handled.

_ From this he was rather stiff and sore, and when they
pushed himealong, with his arms bound at his sides, it
wasin-no gentle manner. ,

He received kicks and cuffs, and once or twice was
pushed so violently that he was thrown to the ground.

Dan was young and his blood ran swift*in his veins.
Tt made him rage inside, and he vowed vengeance for the
rough usage.

At the same time he realized that oa was in a situation
of the gravest peril.

Because they did not immediately ptt him to felt did
not give him any hope that Dey. would spare his life in

‘the end.

They seemed to come up

BILL STORIES. | 9

The raid of the Indians under the mysterious and sav-
age chief known as White Raven had been marked by a
succession of cruelties and atrocities such as had not been
Known along the north border for many years.

Dan was not anxious to be made a victim of slow tor-
ture; yet no real fear assailed him.

He felt that his mother and sister were at the mercy of
the Indians, but for the possibility of his own escape. He:
thought of Buffalo Bill as he lay there on the ground
with the camp fire flaring in his face, and lighting up the
countenances of his foes. ~ ; :

He wondered if the scout had been intercepted in his
attempt to get word to the military post. Even the ab-
surd fear assailed him, that Buffalo Bill might have.
chosen to ride to other settlements along the creek, warn-
ing them, instead of informing the commander of the
post of the impending trouble. —

Then the boy thought of his father, whom. he ee be
the first time in his life openly defied. |

Was the man in league with the Indians? Had he ad-_
vised his family to leave the protection of the other
settlers, with the secret and treacherous purpose of ‘al-
lowing them to fall into the hands of the foe? - :

This seemed, to the mind of the boy, to be faeedibie:
Yet how, otherwise, could he account for all that had:
happened? -

The Indians appeared to be holies a consultation, and
at the same time waiting for something to happen or for
some one to join them. ee

Dan had. been separated from his mother and sister ;
but they were not so closely confined as the boy, and
Molly worked her way over to where he was lying.

This was observed by the redskin who was guarding
him, but, while she was furtively watched, her approach
was not interfered with. _

“Tan,” said Molly in a low voice.

“This is tough luck, Molly,” mumbled her brother.

“Were you wounded, Dan?” |

“Just a scratch. Then when they pounced on to me
they pretty nigh broke my ribs. But I’m all right, Molly,
if there was only a show of getting out of this infernal
scrape. They mean to do me up by slow torture when
they get ready.”

“You. must escape. I—I will help you, Dan. .It.is
queer that they let me talk with you now.”

“Get a knife to me, Molly. Cut my hands free—you
ean dot. Try it

Molly looked about them alertly. Two of the redskins
had sprung to their feet and were jabbering and gesticu-
lating in sudden excitement.

Their speech and evident feeling caused most of the
others to gather around them, and several interjected
words seemed to add fuel to the flame.

It looked as if the altercation would end in blows.

i Aas e % pipletaise i y BS sania : ig Vista ORT a ; : ss i
S - ill paimmaasciaik es ea areata casei te Pr tae CL ey sa < Seen eee af Ng secre ECT tees frat ee To aia a ge AR Mie oR RN cca SM Cast hg ata eS Chet ahs ae ea EH

 
 

 

46 THE BUFFALO

-Dan and Molly heard the chattering, but could not make
out the oe of a single ee

“Now's your chance, Molly,” whispered Dan,

~“But Ihave no knife.”
> “Get one,
it must have been dropped. Get it on the sly—creep back

‘to me—cut the thongs that bind my wrists—leave me the
“knife. Quick, while they ain't looking.” .
- Molly’s heart beat fast as she crept back toward the
fire. No one-seemed to be watching her. She grasped
the knife and concealed it within the folds of her dress.
Then she went over to her mother and seemel to be
speaking to her in a careless way. ;

The delay was dangerous, she knew, but she was afr aid
of exciting stispicion if she were to go directly back to
her brother.

At last she returned to him, and, watching her dae
“she cut the bonds that confified his wrists. Then she
toosed those that bound his ankles. | TS

“So far, he was free.

But, with twoscore of Indians around him, what could
he do’ If he were to rise to his feet a dozen warriors
would fall upon him een he could make a ‘dash from
the camp.

He might be shot dead in his tracks.

‘Dan knew this.

For some minutes he ie not stir, and oa a end ae
in a whisper:

A don’t see what you can do now,” she said.

“Say, Molly, there’s a trick to play, if you dare.”
“What is it? I dare anything.”

“They wouldn’t try to drop you with a bullet if you
started to leave camp. They would ma ke a dash to catch
you. Do you dare to try it?’

“But I couldn’t get away from the camp, Dan,’

“Of course not. But you would start the whole crowd
after you. Then I could vamose. ue “you catch the
scheme ?” |

“Yes, yes! And will I try it now?’

“The quicker the better.”

“But if they catch sight of you, Dan

“It'll be my finish. But there’s no show if I stay with
them tied in this fashion. Now, Molly.”
~ “Oh, my brother Dan! If you should fail, I wouldn’t
want to live!”

“Tl get out of it, Molly, never fear. I always pull

out of scrapes somehow—lI always have—l’ve always g got

33

tO.

 

Molly went toward her brother quickly and kissed him

on the cheek. If she had done that at any other time he

would have laughed and said, “Get away, Molly!”

But now the kiss brought a lump into his throat, and
for a moment he was depressed by a feeling that, per-
haps, he might never see the sweet face of his sister
again, or feel the soft touch of her lips upon his cheeks;

Y IREUAULA SAO EY YE CACAO SAD CAL NEA CUS tant 7aLva Ion Mou awh KE aRE

See, there’s one lying on the sround where ©

SAR ok Lucian Ue Rs eee ei

BILL STORIES.

She stepped away from him and stood for a moment,
hesitating.

Then, with a low cry, as if she had been frightened,
she darted away among the shadows of the timber.

The altercation between the Indians had ceased and

‘they were settling down/again around the camp fire.

Strangely enough, they were so unobservant at the
time, or it seemed so impossible to them that one of their
prisoners should attempt to escape, that Molly succeeded
in getting out among the sheltering shadows of the trees
before her attempt to flee was detected. ae

“Then a yell from one of the Indians, the first to ob-
serve the fleeing form, was caughtup and echoed in a

| blood- -curdling chorus from the throats of every one of

the warriors. eg eee

A dozen leaped in pursuit. One sent a hasty shot aiter
the fugitive, and the heart of Dan seemed to riseein his
throat with apprehension for his sister, who was Tisking
her life in the ruse, that he might have an opportunity to
escape.

But she kept on, and the boy was assured that she was
untouched by the shot.

Not only had a goodly number of the Indians started
in pursuit of the girl, as Dan had hoped, but every one
of his remaining captors was watching the chase, their
whole attention and thought centred on the efiorts of
the redskins to overtake Molly Kelton.

This was Dan’s chance—the chance for which he had
ance ao

Por a dings instant he lingered to look back to where
his mother was sitting on the ground.

The redskin who guarded her had sprung to his feet,
and he was bending eagerly forward, striving with) all
the powers of his vision to keep the fugitive and her pur-
suers in sight, so'as to know instantly of the outcome of
the strange, seemingly one-sided race.

“Now it is make or break for me—and oy likely it is
make and break,” thought Dan,

With this he strained his nerves and muscles for ae
supreme effort. Yet he did not at once spring to his
feet. Instead, he began to crawl, with swift silence, out
toward the thicket which was only a few yards from
where he had been lying. se
| He reached the thicket without detection. Then, not
daring to risk another moment of delay, he sprang to his
feet.and broke into a run, plunging headlong into the
thickest part of the bushy growth,

Sometimes, ‘when one thinks he is taking the most
desperate of risks, fortune seems to favor him. ‘The one
chance, which has hardly been reckoned on at all, makes
a favorable turn, as if by a happy freak.

it was so on this occasion, not only for ae but for his

sister also.

Moily had not:started out with a hope of making her
escape. She had only thought to divert the attention of

te

 
gee

 

 

‘left slanting over the excavation,

a

THE BUFFALO

the Indians so that Dan might have the coveted chance
for flight.

But she was fleet of foot, and unlooked-for coed luck
came her way.

It was too dark for them to pursue Her by sight alone.
Beyond the radius of the camp fire it was difficult to

move rapidly without colliding with the trees.

But she was more fortunate in this respect than her
pursuers, and she had gained a good start of them. THen,
while she could hear them hot upon her trail, she sud-

denly plunged headlong down a steep descent, into a sort -

of excavation, the cause of which, at the moment, was a
mystery to her.

The truth was, a large tree had been Tooled recently
by a wind blast through its dense foliage and lofty top.

The roots had taken up a section of turf, and this was
sheltering it like a
pitch roof.

Molly fell into this hollow, and scratched her face and
hands among the tangled roots. |

She was more scared than hurt by her fall.

Her. first impulse was to clamber out again that she
might continue her flight.

Then it occurred to her that it might be just as well

*for her purpose to remain where she was, especially as

she now heard her foes approaching so close that she
could not hope to outrun them in a fair race.

-So she crouched close underneath the roots and turf,
suppressing the sounds of her heavy breathing.

Almost at that very moment she heard a yell from one
of the redskins, accompanied by the sound of plunging
footsteps and then a thud and jar right in front of her.

An Indian had fallen into the excavation, and lay
sprawling almost within reach of her outstretched arm.

Tt was so, dark that she could not see him, and she was

assured, therefore, that she was invisible to him,

Yet she had not a hope in that moment of escaping de-
tection and capture. She heard Ue Indian scramble to
his feet.

For a brief space the redskin stood so close to the fugi-
tive that the latter could hear him breathe,,and almost
feel the warmth that exhaled from his body. She had
hardly a hope that she would escape discovery. ~

But, at the last moment, as she shrank with loud-beat-

ing heart against the turf and roots, the Indian moved

away from her and she could hear him scrambling out
of the hollow.

Once more she was alone.

The sounds of retreating footsteps assured her that her
pursuers had all passed on. For the present, at least, she
was safe from recapture.

And yet, as it now occurred to her, she had not started
otit with the hope of actually making her escape.

She hardly knew what to do with her liberty. |

She asked herself what the result had been to her

\

 

SS we

_ sensitive lips.

BILL STORIES. | a

brother—whether or not he had succeeded in profiting
by the ruse which he had suggested, and which she had
carried into execution.

For some time she remained in the hollow, at a loss
what to do next. Then she crawled out of the place
which had so unexpectedly afforded her concealment.

She had scarcely reached the upper level before she
was startled by the rush of swift-moving forms through
the timber. And, in terror, she crept back again into the
hollow that served her as a haven of refuge.

CHAPTER.
IN THE STOCKADE.

As the big gate of the settlers’ stockade closed behind
the two scouts, and Buffalo Bill stopped to wipe a splotch
of blood from the back of his left hand, where a shot
from’ the enemy had touched him, a tall yous man
stepped forward to greet them.

He had a smooth, blond face, frank
He clasped Buffalo Bill warmly by

blue eyes, and
the

hand, while he leaned his smoking rifle against. the
- closed gate.
“I felt it in my bones, Cody, that you would get

around here to-night,” he said.

Then he turned to the older scout and added:
~ “And, oddly enough, Nick, I was thinking of you also,
though I was told a few days ago that you were way up
in Montana. This is great good ey we are hav-
ing another kind of luck to go with it.”

“When ye I “hear that I’m up in Montana, Parker, ye
wants ter set it down as a tarnal lie,” said Nick.

“Why is that?’

“Because my great-grandiather got chawed up by a
grizzly bear up in that region about forty years ago.
That was afore they knew there was any such country
as Montana, and ‘it was afore they knowed there was
ever goin’ to be any Nick Wharton. I wasn’t borned
then. Ye see, my great-grandiather never had any chil-
dren—nothin’ but grandchildren :

“Oh, say, Nick!” protested Parker, laughing.

As he spoke the young man peered out through a loop-
hole in the gate of the stockade, and Buffalo Bill also
took a hasty glance in the same direction.

But the Indians had retreated back to the cover of the
timber as soon as they saw that the two scouts were safe
inside the defense. :

They were taking no chances in the open, knowing,
as they did, that the white defenders of the settlement
were good marksmen.

Buffalo Bill took Neil Parker aside sad) spoke to him
of the flight of the Keltons from the settlement.

“F don’t understand,” said the scout, “why Kelton

 

 
 

met and talked the matter over.
went to tell him that we had decided to stay and fight it
out where we were sure of shelter, rather than to take

 

i : : ‘THE BUFFALO

should take his family outside in the face of the Indian
attack when nobody else here seemed to think that was
the safest course.”

“Hiram Kelton never tried to persuade any of us to go
with him,’ said Parker, while there was an odd flash
from his eyes,

“But you must have known that he was going.”

“No. He came to us and said that there was going to
be an attack on the settlement by White Raven and his
red crew. He said the foe would come in overwhelming
numbers, and that the settlement would be wiped out
completely. He advised us to get together and, with our
horses, to make a dash down the creek.”

7 Waoen 2?

“To-night.”

“And what reply did you make to that Lae eaton: ae

“We decided to hold a consultation before taking such

an important step, since. a good many of us have little |

While he was in his own cabin we
‘Then\,an hour tater; i

liking for the man.

chances in the open. I found his cabin empty, and noth-
ing to tell whither they had fled so suddenly.

“It hit me rather hard at first, for I thought it strange
that Molly should go off like that without leaving any
word for me. I had promised to call upon her to-night,

and I had reason to believe—well, to put it straight, I had

asked her to be my wife, and she promised to give me
her answer, which I had plenty of reason to hope would
be a favorable one.”

The cheeks of the young man flushed as he spoke.
While he was not the sort to mope, it was plain that
the abrupt departure of Molly Kelton, without so much
as leaving a written message for him, had been a pain-
ful blow at both his love and pride.

“You thought, maybe, that she took that way of dodg-
ing the straight answer,’ suggested Buffalo Bill.

“That was my first thought.”  —.,

“Well, had you any reason for it?”

“I know that she is too honorable to act in that man-
ner. Hiram Kelton is a strange man, and I never had
much faith in him. Besides, the whole family went,
and Dan, who is a boy, isn’t fooled: easily, and he is a
staunch friend of mine. No, there is more to the affair
than appears on the surface.’

“I reckon there is—a good deal more,” muttered the
scout.

Parker was eying Cody keenly.

“You know something more about Kelton than I do—
come, own up to it,” he said.

“T know that he is a double-dealer, and you may bank
heavy on it. Likely Molly wrote something to leave for
you, and her father destroyed it. That would be a mild

trick for him to play.” .

 

BILL SLORIES,

The face of Neil Parker ees His lips moved
as if he were about to speak. But he turned aside sul.
denly without breaking the silence.

Buffalo Bill seized his arm and drew him back.

“Come, boy, spit out the whole of it,” said the scout.

“What do you mean, Cody?” .

“What were you going to tell me about Molly and her
father?”

Nothing,”
be assailed by a fear of speaking imprudently.

“It is something, and I won't be choked off,” insisted
the scout.

cel ae ae that I didn’t know | what to make of

peg nese et atennaed

that manJ

“There are others who could say the same.”
“He used to be very friendly toward me, but all of a

sudden he seemed to sour on Molly and I being together

so much. He swore that he'd break it up.”

“What reason did he give?”

“None. He isn’t the sort of man who gives reasons.
He came home one night about a week ago, after one of
his mysterious absences, and found me at the cabin talk-
ing with Molly.. He flew in a rage the instant his eyes

fell on me, and he ordered me out of his dwelling. My

first impulse was to refuse to go. But I remembered
that it was his house, and I could see that I would dis-
please Molly and her mother by resisting his order, so
lL went.”

“What did Dan, the big brother, say about it?”

“He wasn’t there the night his father ordered me out
of the house, but Molly told him about it, and I saw him
the next day. He, in his slow way, told me to come
whenever I pleased, so long as his sister was willing.
He said that a man that didn’t stay in his home more
than one day out of a dozen had no business saying who
should come or go, so long as the rest of the family was
suited.” ae

“The boy was right. That lad has strength of mind,
as well as of arms. I reckon his father won’t make it
go, trying to boss him in an unreasonable way. You

may think that I’m inquisitive, Neil, asking about your.

troubles and love affair, but all has to do with Kelton
and the mystery that surrounds him. That is something
that baffles me, although it seems to be plain enough at
times. More than once in the last few days I have

thought that I had the mystery solved. But there is

more to it than I can fathom from the evidence that is
in so far.’

Parker Gn his shoulders.

“I wish I might have kept them from exposing them-
selves to the dangers outside of the settlement,” he said.

Buffalo Bill was noting certain signs at the edge of the
woods that were full of significance to him, and his brow
grew dark as he realized that in all probability the crisis
of their lives was at hand—that death for every man of

 

erunted Parker, who seemed suddenly to —

 

 

 
 

 

 

Patall,

THE BUFFALO BILL ‘STORIES. | 13

them lurked among the shadows of the timber and the
monotonous spaces of the open plain.

Parker plucked Buffalo Bill by the sleeve, for he had
noted the uneasy manner of the scout.

“What is 1t, Cody?” he eried.. “A little while ago you
appeared to believe that the settlement, with the protec-
tion of the barricade, would have been safer for the Kel-
tons than their attempt to get away. Now you act as
if you thought our situation was hopeless. What do you
mean by it?”

“TI feel that Kelton had means of tide endiae jost
what lay in the future better than we could know. I
think he wanted the members of his own family to get
away from the settlement before it was destroyed. It
may be that he was willing that they should be captured,
for, as prisoners, he “ae see that they were not mur-
dered.”

“Why didn’t you talk in that way in the first place?”

“Because I hadn’t had time to figure on all sides of the
question. But this is only talk, Parker. We should be
rallying the men for the defense. The redskins won't
wait. for daylight to show them when and where to
strike. Ill speak to Nick—the old chap hasn’t been
napping while he seemed to be putting in his time mak-
ing the youngsters laugh.”

Without waiting for the young man to reply, Buffalo
Bill again approached Nick Wharton.

The latter had withdrawn from the group of younger

men whom he had been entertaining in his whimsical
fashion,

He had made them forget, for the time, that
they were in the gravest peril.

“There’s no more timé for talk, Nick—we’ve got to
wake them up to the real situation,” said Buffalo Bill,

“Rack,” nodded Nick. “While I was talkin’ to “em I
was pickin’ out the ones that we might depend on when
the tarnal tangle begins. I was s’picious of that slim
shanks yender. See him loafin’ by the gate. He didn’t
laff when the rest of ’em laffed, and he watched me sort
of curis all the time I was yarnin’ of it. Notice him?’ —

Buffalo Bill glanced in the direction indicated.

The young man alluded to stood near the big gate of
the barricade. He was fully six feet tall, with legs that
were grotesquely long in proportion to the length of his
body.

At that moment this individual seemed to be listening
for some sound from without.

Just then two quick shots, as from a revolver, sounded
in the direction of the timber. 7

CHAPTER VL
THE TRAITOR.

For a moment only did Buffalo Bill eye the long-
legged young chap who, until then, he had not observed
Then he said to Nick Wharton in a low voice:

“Keep an eye on wins ne See him prick up his
ears, as if those. oe spoke a oe that he under-
stood,’

’ The older scout heard and comprehended; but the ee

stranger, glancing at him at the moment, saw the old
man puckering his lips, as if he were trying to whistle,

despite the handicap ef toothless gums,

Buffalo Bill touched Parker on the arm. The young
man was moving away with an air of dejection.

‘Who is that lank-shanks?’ the scout demanded, so.
close to Parker’s ear that the young man gave a start.
Recovering himself, Parker glanced keenly at the other,
who seemed to be working himself closer to the gate,
inch by inch.

“That is Lew Carnrick. He's too stupid, too simple
to be counted on,’ Parker answered hastily.

“Then you know him well?”

“T can’t say that I do. He came to the settlement a
week ago, and he has done odd jobs for his board around
among the settlers. They have given him some work,
out of pity.”

“To you know where he came from?’

66 ‘No. 29

“And the settlers trusted ae re

“No trusting about it that | can see. He came, and,
seeming inoffensive and willing to work to pay his way,
why should he be run out of the settlement?”

“Because—mark my words—he is worse than a black
snake. You heard those’ shots just now? Well, they
were a signal, and your simpleton knows the meaning.”

Parker stared at Buffalo Bill incredulously. Yor the
moment he thought that the scout must be jesting. It
seemed too absurd to suspect Lew Carnrick of anything
so important as treachery.

Not that Parker had rated the man exactly as a sim-
pleton, yet he had been a butt for the fun and jokes of
the girls and young men in the settlement from the first

moment, that his gawky figure had projected itself into

the stockade, barely seven days ago.

Carnrick’s face certainly looked innocent enough at
that moment. And yet he was sidling toward the big
gate, and he seemed to be listening.

For the first time Parker detected something definite
and stealthy in the man’s movements. And, instead of
laughing at the scout’s suspicions, as he had been at first
inclined to do, the young settler said:

“I should never have suspected that chap of crooked-
ness. And yet I recall now that I observed an ugly
gleam in his eyes once when I turned unexpectedly and
caught him looking at me. But he appears to be too
silly to be dangerous.”

Carnrick still seemed to be listening,
interest centred in him at the moment.

But he abruptly turned away from the gate, and, as
his eyes fell upon Buffalo Bill and Parker, he began

unmindful of the

 

   

 

 
 

 

 

love to her.

14 THE BUFFALO
whistling, monotonously, a single strain of “Pop Goes
the Weasel.”

So clever was the pretense of innocence that even But-
falo Bill’s conviction was shaken for a moment.
Parker crossed the inclosure to the compartment, or
division, which he had chosen for the storage of some of
his possessions.

These consisted, besides his clothing, of ah album of
photographs, a portfolio of prints which had belonged
to his mother‘and a few books which he, alone of all
the settlers, had the taste to enjoy.

It was a strange impulse at such a time that urged
Parker to steal a look at these, his treasures—at a mo-
ment when destruction hovered like a bird of evil omen
over the hamlet—a moment when he realized that he
might be called upon to sell his life dearly in defense of
his comrades.

He opened the album and gazed upon a pictured face.
Tt was that of his mother, who had died only a year ago.
Then he turned to another picture—that of a young girl
with a face that was singularly bright and winsome.

“Molly, Molly!” the young man murmured.

A shadow seemed to cross the pictured face of Molly
Kelton as he uttered the name. The half-smiling lips
seemed to change their expression to one of frozen hor-
ror. And, at the same time, a strange feeling, like a
chill, caused-Neil Parker to shiver and then to face about
with lightning quirkness. At the same time an ejacula-
tion of dismay burst from his ‘lips.

He wheeled as if he were hung on a pivot; the album
fell to the grounds in his right hand a revolver appeared.

But before he could employ the weapon it was sent
flying from his grasp. Then, without the exchange of a
syllable, Parker and Lew Carnrick clinched.

Had the young settler made an outcry, either a shout
for help or of warning, it would have been heard by the
scouts, and doubtless by Some of his other comrades,
and brought them running to his assistance.

But he did not utter a sound after that first involun-

tary cry, elicited by the discovery of Carnrick about to

attack him. He refrained for a singular reason.

He wanted to fight the battle out with this man alone.
He knew instinctively why Carnrick had thus sought
him, and why he had peered malignautly over his shoul-
der when he was looking at the picture of Molly Kelton,
and then pounced upon him in that vindictive manner.

He remembered seeing Carnrick hanging around the
girl, leering at her in his foolish way and trying to make
He remembered that Molly had-complained
of the fellow’s effrontery and that she had once ex-
pressed a fear of him, which Parker had laughed at. as
absurd. é

Now the young man realized that Molly’s instinctive
fears were truer than his own observation and reasoning.

If Parker had counted on an easy match in the lank

Sayan to ones met

bisaeereteathte/ - Aen 7 so Athen
Z “ BS iia UN ey, oe

“imseet tet. sie Pan shorn
ee MA a prety

JopechiA otter BS: Aa a

BILL STORIES.

stranger he had made a wide miscalculation. The man
was thin, almost to the point of emaciation; but his bony
arms were like hands of steel, and his long fingers locked
about the muscles of his opponent like twisted cords.

For a moment it seemed to the young settler that he
would be deprived of the power to resist—that the battle
were as good as lost even before it had fairly begun, for
his strength was almost paralyzed by the constricting
grip.

It was a trick. Parker had allowed the other to choose
his manner of attack. To throw off that grasp was the
first object to be attained, and to that end Neil bent all
his energies.

For an instant only they swayed to and fro. Then
up shot Parker’s right knee into the stomach of his foe.

The other saw it coming, and sprang away, releasing
his advantage, in time to avoid the full force of the blow,
although he got enough of it to bring a twist of pain
onto his queer face. °

Back he came with a gasp, and again he tried to lock
his long fingers about the muscles of his adversary’s
arms. But this time Parker was on to the game, and,
springing to one side, he sent a fist blow smashing full
into Carnrick’s face.

Had it been a ring fight, the tall sha would have bck
sent reeling’ against the ropes by that blow. As it was,
he staggered back to the partition, breathing heavily, the
blood starting from his lips and nose.

But Carnrick was not beaten. He seemed to hesitate,
as if he were half impelled to abandon the fight. Yet
Parker suspected a trick, and was not thrown off his

‘cuard.

Carnrick wiped the blood from his lips with his sleeve,
half turning his back on his adversary as he did so.
Then, with the impetuosity of a cyclone, he rushed upon
Parker, and this time it was with a knife upraised GE a
death thrust.

The young settler did not have a knife, and his re-
volver still lay on the ground beyond his reach, where
it had fallen when it-had been knocked from his hand
at the beginning\of the combat.

Parker leaped to one side, which was all he had time
to do, in order to avoid the thrust. As it was, the blade
swept down and slashed the shoulder of his shirt, graz-
ing his skin, and starting a trickle of blood. »

Parker was at a disadvantage. His antagonist was
much taller, than he and agile as a monkey. To seize
the wrist of the hand that held the knife was the first
thing to do; and in the attempt to accomplish this he
received a slash from the blade across the back of his
right hand.

But at close quarters a man never thinks of the
wounds he may get, unless they are mortal ones. Even
of them he may be almost unconscious for a time. They

_merely spur on to a more desperate effort.

 

RE AA ete ha et J odes el ks Ca SPOR Rese Pe I Na oe er oe muziek ou hare hy

 

 
la “SS

Sse CD. CD.

Av

Ws Coe

 

THE BUFFALO

An under swing with the bleeding hand, and Parker

“had caught the bony wrist of his foe. Then, as the man

gathered himself to jerk the arm free, he received Par-
ker’s knee full in his stomach.
He went down as if he were shot. A deft twist at the

‘same time flung the knife at the feet of Parker, who
snatched it up and brought the point se Ae the throat

of the prostrate traitor.

The lank stranger had fallen in a doubled-up 5 pasture,
and was groaning with pain. His eyés glared desper-
ately up at Parker, and their expression indicated that
he had no hope of mercy. .

Then, knowing that he had beaten his enemy Paes
Parker called to Buffalo Bill) The scout came running
to the spot and, by the red glow of the bracket lamp on
the wall he took in the situation at a glance.

“Tie him—I don’t like to cut his throat in cold blood, A
said Parker, 1 .

“It'll come to that, I reckon,’ muttered Buffalo Bill
as he bent over the man to do the bidding of Neil
Parker.

_ Until his arms and teas were tied up so that Carnrick
was completely defenseless, neither the scout nor Parker

spoke a word to him, Then Parker said:

“He isn’t the simpleton that | thought him to be.
He would have killed me as he might a crow if | a
been lucky enough to glimpse him in time.”

Ina few words Parker told Buffalo Bill of the el
come attentions which Carnrick had shown to Molly
Kelton, and how. the attack on him seemed to have been
actuated by jealous rage.

“That was just against you,” said Buffalo Bill. “But
there is something more that he has got to. make clear
if he cares to get a longer lease of life.”

- As he spoke the scout fixed his eyes on the face of

their prisoner, and for a full minute he held the gaze of
the traitor without speaking. Then Cody exclaimed
sharply: : :

“Why were you hanging around the gate of the stock-
ade just now? Come, the truth.”

“I—I. was listening—what else would TL be doing?
Ain’t we all in danger? And we all_—”

“That won't go down, man,’ ’ Buffalo Bill snapped.
And the other was silenced, while his eyes shifted back
and forth between the faces of the scout and Parker.

“You were listening for a signal from the enemy—
don’t deny it,” said Buffalo Bill sternly.

- The lips of the other moved, but they uttered no koaud.
It seemed as if he had been ean under the thrall of

fear by the glance and accompanying accusation of the

scout.
~ “And when you received the signal, which, for some
reason, was deferred, you intended to open that gate, or

 

 

BILL. STORIES. — “1s

at least to unfasten it, so as to admit the Indians, and
give them the chance to massacre the women and chil-
dren. That was the fiendish compact you had with the
enemy, and if you hadn’t let your own jealous rage

toward this young chap. run away with your prudence

you might have succeeded in your intentions. Do you
know the fate of traitors of that sort the world over ?”

‘There was a husky sound in Carnrick’s throat, and the
next moment he gasped:

“TI didn’t want to do iw, true as\P live,”

“You didn’t want to do it,” echoed Buffalo Bill ina
tone that did not reassure his prisoner.

Non didn’t want to do it. I hate that cha: D, a own
——he thinks he’s the only thing that ever happened in the
estimation of that girl. He made fun of me to her,
when she might have taken a liking to me if he had let
her alone. She spoke kind to me,and, smiled the first
day iL was here. Then he began getting in his sneers,
and after that she didn’t dare to be seen noticing. me,
because a girl never likes to be laughed at,

The words came from the lips of Caniek Ila: per-
fect flood, as if he had, until then, kept the expr On of
his injuries pent up. :

“And was it on that account that you were going to
open the gate and admit the redskins to murder all the
settlers?” the scout quickly demanded.

“No, no!” : ,

“T told you not to deny that you were going to do ac

thing. You were listening for a signal—isn’t that so:”

"Yes, But it wasn’t se I wene to get revenge

on him,” ae
“Then why were you going to do it?
“It was the orders. I couldn’t help it, sure as I ive J

couldn’t. A man has to mind orders, don’t he?’

ae

“Not from everybody. A man doesn’t have to be a
traitor. ° You were pretending to be friendly and inno-
cent and you were in the plot to destroy the settlement.
Who ordered you to do it?”

The other hesitated. But he realized that it had come
to the time when he must tell the truth. Buffalo Bill
had taken a revolver from his belt, and at the same time
he uttered a shout that brought half a dozen of the men
of the settlement rushing into the compartment.

“Lift that man off the ground-and tie him to that post
—I’m going to shoot Him for a traitor!’ said the scout.

CHAPTER VIL.
i Ae TWO SCOUTS.

A wail of mortal terror went up from the throat of the
prisoner. In the red glare of the lamp, which fell full
on his cadaverous features, it could be seen that he had

J;

 

 
 

 

16 THE BUFFALO

turned ashy pale, and that his teeth were fairly chatter-
ing with fear. oe

The manner in which the threat and order had come
from Buffalo Bill, the grim determination of the scout’s
face, led the prisoner to believe that the sentence of death
which had been pronounced against him was to be carried
into execution at that very moment, and that he was not

to be allowed even a chance to make a further expla-

nation.

Three of the settlers sprang to do the bidding . Buf-
falo Bill, even though they as yet only half understood
the situation,

‘There were some “among then who. believed that it

was merely a grim joke, such as any of them might haye

been ready to enter into at anoiiet time, with the gawky ®°

, Carnrick asa victim. <
As they lifted the prisoner to his feet, which were
bound together so tightly that he could not stand on them
unaided, yell after yell of terror from the victim’s lips
split the air. :
“Mercy !—mercy ! Le pleaded, his eyes turned toward
the stern face of the scout. ~ Le
Wait a moment—hold him right there,” oa Buf-
falo Bill, when they had borne him to the post to which
they had been directed to tie him up. ,
The men patised. The weight of their prisoner hung
heavy upon them—his legs crumpled fee him with the
weakness of fear.

“We've. not a ne to lose in fo a if this

chap is of the praying kind, I suppose we ought to give |

him that much of a’show,” said Buffalo Bill.

“Tu—
don’t kill me till I have had a chance to prove my inno-
pleaded the wretch. ;

Pll tell you anything you may want to know—

cence.

But 1
reckon it is only a bluff—you are a plain traitor, and

Yalk fast, if you really have anything to say.

plain lead in your treacherous heart is the only prescrip- ©

tion that will cure.”

“IT had to do it—-White Raven-—-matter of life or
death to me—nothing else [ could do!’ chattered the
prisoner, so anxious to tell his story all at once that he
made none of it clear.

“Come, talk to the point,” Buffalo Bill cut in sharply.
“T’ve been a prisoner with White Raven’s Indians for

39

more than a year,’ said Carnrick. “I was to be burned

at the stake—White Raven showed me mercy at the last

‘him, to mind ali his orders.

that there had been an interruption,

BILL STORIES.

minute—I was released upon taking oath to stay with

I never dreamed then——’
“Tt isn’t dreams that we're after, anyway,”

Bill retorted. “And what is more, you will never dream

again if you try to get me to swallow any now. If White

Raven, whoever he may be, told you to come to the set-
tlement of Clearwater and play the traitor, say it in so
many words. Come, was that it?” :
“Ves. But when he let me live I had to swear

“To do anything he might ask of you—lI see.

3)

That

meant that, to save your own miserable life, you were

 

willing to take a hand in murdering any number of in-
nocent women and children. I don’t see any reason why
we should delay execution of the Usual a for that
grade of treachety.”

“Wait—wait !’

“Talk fast, then.”

“T didn’t believe then that I would really be called upon

to throw open the gate. White Raven said that he prob-

ably wouldn’t have to attack the settlement, except as a

39

 

EWS

 

“As a ruse >” echoed Buffalo Bill. And it could

be seen that he was more interested in what the man

He>

was saying than he had been at any time before.
drew closer to the prisoner, and at the same time he

glanced at the face of Neil Parker, to see if he was tak-.

ing in the man’s words.

99

ees, aS a-tuse, . repeated. Carrick,

“Go on—where does the ruse come in, when they start

_by trying to set fire to the settlement with burning ar-

rows?” 7
“They had no intention of burning the settlement, un-

less they had to trap the one they were after.”
Ah (>?

That single word feil so softly. from the lips af the
scout that only Parker, who stood at his.side, heard’ it:

at all.
“You see,” continued Carnrick, who was not aware

“the arrows of fire

were sure to draw anybody this way the faster, if one

was headed here at all.”

“Who was the one White Raven wanted to. oo
the scout asked.

“T—I don’t know.”

“Tie him to the post and stand back so I can oo a

fair shot at him.”

Quick as lightning came this order from Buffalo Bill,

a aa aa aaah

Buffalo:

 

sae
oe

fc
di

h
THE BUFFALO

and the men ‘who were holding on to the man started to

 

prisoner was certainly genuine.

the settlement, since I came, to my knowledge.

obey. But, as the screams of the victim again split the
air, the ‘scout signaled for them again to desist.

“T was not told by White Raven direct,” said Carn-
“But I overheard him speaking of Buffalo Bill—
That is the truth.
shoot me for telling it——”

rick.
of you. And now, if you want to

“Then the attack was made on Clearwater to-night
for the sole BOS: of decoying me here?” Buffalo Bill
demanded. \

“Mostly toe that, I should say, from what I over-

heard.”

“Would you have me believe that, if they were ad
mitted within the stockade, I would be the only one to
be molested ?” — oe

“T don’t mean that. But it was you that White Raven
wanted.”

“Possibly,” muttered the scout. And for a brief space
he was silent, pondering over the strange revelation
which had been made by the traitor.

That it was the truth Buffalo Bill did not doubt, for,
if the man were to invent a yarn, he would not have
made up one that was calculated to put the scout into a
worse temper than he had been in the first place.

No, the story bore all the Peles oe truth, and it had
been wrung from the prisoner with the threat of instant
death hanging over him.

“You saw White Raven to-day?’ Cody suddenly ex-
claimed, :

The surprise expressed on the countenance of the
He stared a moment

before he echoed:

“T—-saw White Raven to-day? No! No, I haven't
seen him since I came to the settlement. How could I?”

“T thought, maybe, that he had met you outside, by
appointment, that is all: You are sure that he hasn't
been here—in disguise, for instance?”

“There have been no Indians in the stockade, or about
Cer-
tainly White Raven, the chief, hasn’t shown up here.”

“Why is he called White Raven?” pursued Buffalo
Bill. who was still more vitally interested in what he was
drawing out from the prisoner than he cared to show.

“T suppose because he wears a white raven, stuffed
That is, he

wears them ies he is rigged up for the war path with

and seemingly perched on either shoulder.

his warriors.’

BILE. STORIES. 17

But I had heard that he was himself a white
man, and that he got the name that way.”

v LS6Ge,

“Vm pretty sure ee is wrong. To me he looks like
a full-blooded. redskin.”

“Well, perhaps he is, but it will be the biggest kind of
a surprise to me if it should turn out that way.”

Again the scout spoke in a voice that Carnrick could
not hear. This time even Parker did not catch the words
spoken.

But the young ‘settler could see that Buffalo Bill had
-been both surprised and -perplexed ‘by what had been
told him by his prisoner. There was a brief space of
silence, and then the scout suddenly ordered the men to
place the prisoner back on the ground, making sure
that he could not escape from his bonds. he

Just then all were startled by the sound of a rifle shot
Nick Wharton
came into sight while the echoes of the shot were still
rattling back and forth between the walls of the stock-

ade and the timber belt.

He approached Buffalo Bill and spoke in a low voice

outside, but quite close to the stockade.

which reached the ears of none of the others.

“That was another signal, blamed if it wa’n’t.” he de-
clared. |

Buffalo Bill’s eyes were on the face of the prisoner.
And he saw a look come into that countenance that told
all that he needed to know. The shot was indeed a sig-
nal, as Nick had said, and it was recognized by Carnrick
as the signal which he was to answer by throwing open
or unfastening the gate of the defense. -

“Was that it?”

“Yes!” breathed the traitor.

Cody bent over the man and whispered :

“Men, fetch that chap out here to the gate—quiet about

ean
it,

ordered the younger scout.

The prisoner’s lips parted as. if he would have ut-
tered an outcry, but he felt the muzzle of Cody’s revolver
pressed hard against his cheek. :

“Not a yip!”. was the terse injunction.

They bore Carnrick out to the a and there waited.

for the next command.
“Unbar the gate, while every man of you stands ready
to fire a volley the instant she swings open the width of

Carnrick’s shoulders. Pass the word along.”

All of the defenders of the stockade, except two or
three posted for sentinel duty on the other side, gathered

 

 
close around the gate. They looked at each other when
the order was received from Buffalo Bill, Old Nick
Wharton was the only one who seemed to understand
what was in the-mind of Cody. ,

Two of the men held Carnrick up between them as
the zate slowly swung ajar. All heard the swish of fast-
moving footsteps just outside.

Crash !—sounded a dozen rifles over the head of Carn-

tick—the hail of lead flew criss-cross from the two sides
of the opening, out into a dark mass that was’ ous

close from without.

The yell that went up was one such as Parker had,

never heard before—such, indeed, as few there had ever
heard, or would ever hear again. ae

And. while it was still shrilling in their ears the next
order came from Buffalo Bill: i.

_. “Throw the traitor out among them. That is where he
Belongs.”

The lank body of Cophick was swung back, and at the
same time the knife of Buffalo Bill cut the rope that
bound his legs together. Then out shot the form of
Lew Carnrick, and, while they heard his despairing howl],
the gate swung shut and the bars were slammed into
their sockets.

“Ki—hi!” squealed Nidk Wharton, cine up. his
spindle. shanks in exultant glee.

But Buffalo Bill seemed to see no cause for rejoicing
in the situation. He went around among the men, giv-
ing each a word, impressing upon them the fact that
the hour had come when it was likely to be a struggle of
the most désperate sort.

_ The. yells of, the ae had Ca ceased, and

silence again prevailed outside, as complete as it had

been before the opening of the gate. The two scouts

were busy seeing that sentinels were posted at every point —

where a possible attempt might be made to enter the
stockade. Every man was enjoined to be constantly alert.

The only ones there. who had ever had experience in
Indian warfare were the two scouts. Two or three of
the older men had seen military service in the Civil War.

While Buffalo Bill had impressed upon all the critical.

nature of their position, yet he had said nothing to lead
‘them to give up hope of ultimate escape.

He well knew that, with most men, the death of hope

paralyzes effort. And’ there was always a chance—the
scout had been in too many case situations not to

know that.

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

     

“They were all ready to make a rush into the stockade |
the moment the gate was opened,” said Parker, ovhep
he had a chance to speak to Cody.

“Yes and there were enough of them right up close
to the gate to have overwhelmed any resistance that we
could have made at close quarters.”
“Suppose that the gate had not been opened at all?”
“They would have tried battering it down. For that
matter, they will try that anyway, only they won't ‘be
quite so flip about the trick as they would be if we hadn’t

given them a little lesson. You. see, they thought it was

their confederate who had opened the gate for them ac-
cording to agreement, and they had no thought of there
being a bunch of us ready to pour a volley of lead into
their ranks. They were packed together in such a close
bunch that I reckon some of the bullets did double ex-
ecution. It threw them into a panic, and it will make
them more careful, for they will be on the lookout for an-
other ruse. Besides, they have no spy inside the gate

now.”

“It was a great stroke, and a bold one—the regular

Buffalo Bill kind,” said Parker admiringly.

But the scout seemed not to hear the words.

Nick Wharton joined them at this moment.

“Had ye noticed, Buffler, how ‘tarnal dark it ais out-
side?” the old man remarked,,.

“Tt has been an unusually dark night since its begin-
ning,” was the reply.

“T tell ye, it’s more’n dark—it’s like a stack of ee.
cats piled up against the stockade.” e

Buffalo Bill went to a loophole and looked out—not
that he had not done this frequently—but this time it was
to note the peculiar darkness which Nick had mentioned.

Upon the wooderaft of the two scouts all seemed to de-
pend.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE DOOM OF CLEARWATER. o

The day which had ended with the night of Indian
peril for the settlement of Clearwater had been peculiarly

sultry, although the temperature was not especially high.
There had been some cloudiness in the afternoon, but
the slight breeze which had prevailed in the morning died —

away, and the atmosphere became ve as night
came on.

When the sun set it had looked like a ball of fire, aS it.

 

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THE BUFFALO

does where there is a heavy pall of smoke over the land-~

scape. And from that hour the darkness had seemed —
to increase steadily. |
night, that there is

not a grayish light behind the clouds overhead. But on

It is not often, even on a cloudy

this night, although there had been enough of light to
show where the zenith lay the first part of the night,
that had faded until now it was as if a black pail had
been drawn across the sky, making it as black above as
it was beneath.

It was this which had been remarked by old Nick
Wharton, and as Buffalo Bill now took a more particu-
lar observation of the sky, he was even more impressed
“by the singular blackness of it than the elder scout had
been.

He made a complete circuit of the defense, looking

out from-all sides. But it was everywhere the saine.

“T believe I never observed:anything like it in the
epen, he remarked as he returned to where Nick and
Neil Parker were standing.

Parker had already been observing the phenomenon.
from one of the loopholes. :

“Probably we are going to have a ten shower—

possibly with thunder,” was Parker’s suggestion.

“T reckon, youngster, that ye never seen any weather
afore,” grinned Nick Wharton.

“Why do you say that?”

“They ain’t no thunder, as a gineral thing, onless
there’s lightnin’ fust. And when it’s as black out as ’tis
ter-night don’t ye reckon that ye'd see the lightnin’ quite

a spell afore the shower got here? Or do ye reckon
that they keep it bottled up till it gits clear to us, —
then let the cork out with a pop?” :

“There must be some natural cause for the unusual
darkness.” :

“This ain’t so terrible dark, nuther, compared with
one night when my old daddy was livin’,” said Nick
reminiscently.

“How was that?” Parker asked.

“That was the year we all moved to Kansas,
“ceeded Nick.
member that night jest as well as if it was only yister-

” pro-
“T was erbout ‘leven year old. I kin re-
day.

“Daddy and me had driv over to the moskeeter mill
with a load of corn, a we come back with erbout a
ton of rye meal
“Ground from the corn?’ suggested Parker.

 

 

went in ter git a lantern.

  

— ee

BILL STORIES. 19

“I told ye it was oats that we kerried to the mill—ye
can’t seem ter oe oe LE telk ye 1 reckon 1
won't relate the a

“Yes, yes, go on,” urged Parker, whose nerves were
strangely tense from the experience of the last hour
with the peril that hung so oppressively over the settle-
ment.

“As I was sayin’, we come from the mill with the buck-
It

was pretty nigh .a straight road over the prairie, and

wheat, and it was pretty dark when he started home.

there wa’n’t no crick ter ford. We come erlong at a
pretty good jog, and when we was within a mile of our
cabin we could see the light in the winder, for the old
lady sot one thare ter show us the way.

“But as we got closer the light seemed to git dimmer,
’stead of brighter, and at the same time we could sort of
feel the darkness pressin’ down on us, as it were. Wal,
Tl be ’tarnally plunked if the light didn’t git blotted out
entirely afore we got to the cabin.”

“Hoge: suggested Parker.

“Not a mite of fog. Jest reg’lar darkness that seemed
to come up out of the ground, and to settle down from
the sky. We had to move tarnal slow the rest of the
way, for dad let me stay on the wagin and drive while
he walked, stoppin’ every little while to paw ’round with |
his hands for the track of the road and holler to me to
haw or gee. Ye see he had a rope tied to him, and I
hild on to t’other end on’t so we wouldn’t lose each

other. So'we got to the cabin, and jest in time, I teil

99

ye.

- Did it.begin to rain?”
.tNary a bit.
had driv the hosses under the shed and hitched ’em, we

It jest kept gittin’ darker, and when I

Wal, when we opened the door
of the cabin what - you reckon happened ?”

“Tcouldn’t guess.”

“T didn’t s’pose ye could. Ye may think I’m exag-
geratin’, only ye know I never do sich a thing.”

“But what did happen?”

“The darkness rushed right inter the house and buried
Didn’t put
In
gropin’ round to find one of ’em I'll be plunked if I

the light of the candles clean out of sight.
‘em out, mind—jest settled round ’em, as it were.

didn’t burn my fingers in the blaze before I located it.
Ye couldn’t see it no more than ye could a black rag.”
“That was pretty. dark.”

“But I ain’t half told ye. We shet the door quick as

scr TEL CT EITC

 
 

 

 

20 THE BUFFALO —

we could so as not to let in any more of the black juice
that seemed to fill the air, and lucky we did. As it was
it took quite a spell afore we could light up the room so
we could see to git eround, We lit the lantern and, like
tarnal fools, me and dad started ter go out and take keer
of the hosses. The minute we got outside the pesky
blackness settled right down so we couldn’t see the lan-
tern. Besides it seemed to be gittin’ thick, jest as if ye
was wadin’ through molasses. 2

| “But dad was sorter persistent, and he said he was

goin’ to them hosses if he had to cut a hole through the -

blamed darkness to git there. And we went.

“But it didn’t amount to nothin’. We got as fur as
the shed, and it was crammed so full of the dark that
there wa’n’t a particle of room for us imside—not a par-
ticle. And so we crept back to the house, opened the
door jest as little as we might, and pushed our way in.
Then we had ter work like timenation to light up again.

“We couldn’t sleep none to speak of that night—the
darkness was too heavy on the bed. Then I’m hanged if
we didn’t snooze half through the next day when we did
git ter sleep, for it was so black inside that the daylight
couldn’t get in. It couldn’t, by mighty.

“Dad opened the door, and the sun was shinin’ out-

side, and inside it was jest like the air was full of ink.

Me and dad ‘got some brooms, we did, and sort of
pushed the darkness out the best we could. In the cor-
ners it was packed so pesky hard we had ter cut it out
in chunks and throw ’em out—we did, by mighty.”

“Oh, say, Nick!” protested Parker.

“I’ve wished a lot of times that we’d kep’ a chunk of
that darkness—we did for a spell—but the sun shone
on it and it sort of melted away, like a piece of ice,
that chunk of darkness did. But if we had kep’ one of
’em we could have showed it to ye, then ye wouldn’t think
I was enlargin’ on the facks.”’

“I’m blessed if I don’t think we could cut out a chunk

from the darkness that hangs over everything outside to-
night,” exclaimed Buffalo Bill, who had been taking an-
other look through one of the loopholes.

“Ne want to be tarnal keerful not to let none of it in,

warned Nick, looking serious. “I shouldn’t think nothin’

about it if it wasn’t for the trouble me and dad had that’ >

night when I was only fifteen year old.’
“You said you were eleven the first time,” reminded
Neil Parker.

_ “That shows how forgitful and hecdtoss you be, Neil,”

BILL. SPORES.

“That’s somethin’ ye want ter

complained the old man.
break yerself of, bein’ heedless.
was so heedless that he hitched his hoss into the sharves
hind-end foremost, one time, and I’m tarnally plunked if

I had a cousin once, that

he a:dn’t drive the beast that way till he fetched up in ,

Pollywog Holler, which was jest opposite to Grasshopper
Corners, which was where he wanted to go. Ye see, that
hoss pushed the wagin backwards, and my cousin rid
that way ‘thout knowin’ of it, he was so gormed heedless
—my cousin was.”

Tramp, tramp—sounded the feet of the half dozen
sentinels whom the two scouts had posted to patrol next
to the walls of the stockade. At each round a glance
out through a loophole was taken, and occasionally one
would stop to listen.

Nick Wharton was the only man within the walls of
the defense who did not appear bothered over the situa-
tion. And yet Buffalo Bill knew that the reason he
spun out that absurd yarn was because he was worried,
for that was his way of showing concern.

The younger scout did not feel like cutting short the
yarn. The thought came to Cody that the time for Nick
Wharton’s story-telling might be close to its end. It was
possible that the old man suspected so himself,

Suddenly he seemed to prick up his ears. Then he
drew nearer to Buffalo Bill.

“D'ye hear it?’ he queried in a low voice.

“IT heard nothing suspicious. What did you catch?”

“Wind blowin’ through the grass—maybe.”

“T heard that.”

“Only it ain’t the wind, for there ain’t a breath stir-

rin’. That’s what.”

He came back and nodded to Nick.

“Footsteps—creeping along,’’ he declared.

They crossed over to the other side of the inclosure,
and suddenly Cody sprang a Parker and flung him
back upon the ground,

Boom !—the report of a gun within the wiclaenne
and a spurt of flame in through one of the loopholes, of
which the wicket had been left open a moment betore
by one of the men who had been looking out.

Parker, springing to his feet, had no need to ask why
Buffalo Bill had thrown him back so roughly—the shot

fired from without had been intended for him. And the

younger scout had seen the muzzle of the rifle as it was.

thrust in for the deadly attempt.

Almost at the same moment there ‘was a second re-

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 
 

 

   

 

Pp
J
. —

 

 

 

\

 

7 THE BUEPALO
port, sounding on the opposite side of the stockade.
There was a rush to the spot, and there, writhing in the
throes of death on the ground, was a settler named Ja-
quith, :

Two or three had seen how it happened. Jaquith had
been in the act of opening the wicket to glance through
a loophole, and had received the shot from a rifle that was

. at the same instant thrust in from the outside.

Death, the grimmest of all foes, had entered the in-

closure for the first time since the beginning of the at-

tacky

And the fact filled the hearts of the settlers with 2.

gloom such as they had not experienced before. It made
them realize that they were up against conditions with
the overwhelming numbers of the foe, and the strange,
uncanny darkness, that made every object outside com-
pletely invisible, and which there seemed to be no means
of successfully combating.

A half dozen of the settlers huddled around Buffalo
Bill, and all were demanding what they should do to re-

- sist this new and deadly form of attack made by the red

foe. That all their queries were directed to him showed
that it was in him their confidence lay.

The scout had just glanced at his watch,

“There is more than another full hour before we may
hope for the first glimmer of daylight,’ he said. “Tf

22

we can pull through that we'll stand a show. But

 

and the handsome face of Buffalo Bill looked about upon
the faces of the men who were expecting him to save
them and their families from the fate which would be
theirs if they were to fall into the power of the horde of
Indians now swarming about the settlement.

“But it ain’t likely that we can hold out, and ye know
it,” growled one of the older men.

“T don’t think, now, that we can, and I was on the
point of saying so, All 1 was waiting for was for a
plan that might at least offer us the shadow of a show for
escape,’ admitted Buffalo Bill.

Now it had come to the pinch, he spoke calmly, while
his mind acted with a rapidity and precision that was
almost marvelous.

“Well, what is the plan?” queried the man who had
spoken before,

“We must get out of here, and that as quickly as we

can. Let. each man who has a wife and children get

them ready for flight. Keep cool, don’t try to carry any
luggage except your weapons, don’t question any order

   

BIEL STORIES: : | 21
that I may make, just let it be a blind game of trust.
We can’t stay here—life may wait for us outside. The
darkness is in our favor once we are clear of the walls
of the stockade. Quick—then, be prepared to follow
where I may lead. :

There was some grumbling when the decision of the
scouts became known. For Buffalo Bill had not come:
to it without having consulted with Nick Wharton, whose
judgment coincided with his own.

The preparations for flight were made with wonder-
ful rapidity. And while they were getting ready, all
speaking in whispers as Cody had advised, the same
ominous darkness and silence reigned outside, .

There was one exit from the stockade opposite to the
wide gate. It was but a narrow door, and had hardly
ever been opened since the structure was built.

This Buffalo Bill had unfastened, taking care that no
light came within range, and he opened it to shp out,
leaving Nick and Parker on the inside close to the door,
which was closed softly after him.

A moment more and he returned.

“Come—in double file,” he whispered.

' And, silently, they obeyed.

CHAPTER IX.
WHAT THE DAWN BROUGHT.

Tt was for Neil Parker to close the door, and he did so
Buf-
falo Bill had ascertained that the enemy were not close
up to the wall of the stockade on that side when he had
made the brief reconnoissance.

But that did not mean that he expected to find the
coast clear of the enemy farther on. |

the moment that the last man had passed through.

Indeed, he felt certain that the blockhouse was en-
tirely surrounded, and that they must soon come upon
the cordon of redskins which was stretched around on

all sides of the settlement.

They had not proceeded thirty feet from the exit be-
fore they were startled by the sputtering of firearms
rapidly discharged, from a point apparently on the op-
posite side of the stockade.

A chorus of savage yells followed the first of the fir-
ing. Then there were more shots, more yells, followed
by the swish of running feet, some of them passing
close in front of the spot where Buffalo Bill had halted ©
when he heard the first discharge.

 

 
aan a aR eae

 

 

 

‘
22 : PEE BUFFALO , BILL >LORITES.

He felt sure that the shots proceeded from within, they could advance, even at the slowest pace, for there \
instead of from outside of the inclosure, and for a briet was the chance of running into a tree at every step. :
space he was not a little pyzzled thereby. The sounds of firing had ceased. But suddenly they

But the next moment a conviction ‘of the truth thrust became conscious of a glow in their rear that was light-
itself upon him. ing up the open prairie which they had but Ue left for :

He moved back to where. Parker anit at the last the shadows of the timber. :

“end of the line. : “We got to cover at just the right moment,” Cody :

“Where is Nick?” he demanded. : _ whispered to Parker, who had come up with him. i

“Why—I thought he was ahead, with you.” “What are they doing?” | ;

“He was to follow just back of you, to help cuard “Setting fire to the cabins for a torch to show what ;
the rear,” said Cody. OF has‘become of the inmates of the stockade.”

“He doesn’t seem to be here. But in this darkness it “We aren’t clear of them yet,” said Parker. .
would be easy for us to lose him if he were to slip out of “Did you think we would be, so easily? Why, thanks S

the line.” to old Nick’s ruse, we have all got this far without losing ‘

“Te didn’t come out at eae s what!” said ie a scalp. It is more than I hoped for. Now, if we can -
scout. | get to the creek and find some canoes, we'll take another i

‘Didn’t come out—and why not?” chance in the half hour of darkness that remains. But f

“Tt is he doing the major part of that racket on the this is slow work.” b
other side of the defense. He stayed behind to cover Still they kept on, and were soon descending the bank E
our retreat with a lot of noise that would make the en- Of the creek at a point where they were all conscious
emy think that we were still inside, and doing some des- of a footpath under their feet—a path worn by the set- *
perate shooting. Just like the old chap—and he takes tlers between the settlement and the stream.
his life in his hands at the game, too, for he has stirred ‘It was marvelous how Buffalo Bill had led them so &
up a hornet’s nest, and there is a mighty small show of straight in such darkness, for it was as if they were all <j
his getting out. And yet—he has taken chances like this going blindfold. f
during the whole of his long life. Come—his ruse is ~The scout halted them near thé bank of the stream :
bound to help us, if we make the best of it, as he in- and proceeded to make a brief reconnoissance.
tended. It would be a pity a us to throw it away ae Fle seon came back, saying:
he has run all the risk for us. “4 Vhere are plenty of canoes. Those right here are

Buffalo Bill passed the whispered word along, and empty; but just above there are some guarded by ‘red- :
‘once more led the way through the impenetrable gloom. skins. There are probably more below; but we must :

Suddenly he paused, those nearest to him heard the take our chances and go down the stream.
faint thud of a blow, then a smothered cry, and a heavy “If we can get well below the point of attack on the
fall on the ground. settlement before dawn, then we have a chance of mak- .

They had halted at the first of the sounds, knowing ing a race for safety. :
that Buffalo Bill must have encountered something con- “One thing: On the water we don’t leave any trail :
cerning which he had had no chance to give them warn- for them to follow when it comes daylight, and that may :
ing. * give us a start which would do us little good if it was

But the delay was brief. The scout was at the head made on the shore, with a plain trail for them to follow :
of the line again, and passed the word back for them to by the first gleam of day.” : :
resume the advance. Silently, and with not a little difficulty, the fugitives

‘They were halted several times, and Parker could not were embarked in the canoes. Then, guided by a rope
help wondering how the leader could tell whither they that was strung from one canoe to ‘another, beginning a
were going, $0 absolutely impenetrable was the dark- with the one in which the scout embarked, Hey moved
NESS. down the stream. a

At last they were aware that they had reached the There was not a man of the settlement who was not a, |
edge of the timber belt, and it was with difficulty that skillful with the paddle, and, acting on the instructions

 

ess : ‘
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feist OAC: ee LOR nese IIT SIT ae RN STIS tt aI sar one rgweonas tae eel athe eg
 

 

 

 

  

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. oS

of Buffalo Bill, they kept to the middl¢ of the stream ~

and made time that was a trifle faster than that of the
current. — oe

‘Scarcely a sound was ; made. And at last, as they a
came conscious of a “brightening of the sky, and the
wooded. shores of the creek were faintly outlined, the
glow of the burning cabins was well behind them.

Better still, within the range of their vision from where
they first discovered themselves, is was no sign of the
canoes of the enemy.

“We have bot a stark, remarked Buffalo Bill to Park-
“And I'm, for
We left

ry, who was in the same canoe with him.

making a landing at the next favorable point.

Nick behind, and we want to find out, if possible, if he

is all right; hesides, aL have a horse ‘that I don’t care to
leave in the lurch, and there are horses in aes corral at

the settlement. Likely the redsking will run them off;

but if we could get hold of them they would Help us’

mightily in getting to a town where we will be safe.”
“For one, I don’t care to go any farther, until I learn

what became of the Keltons,” said Parker in a low voice.
They paddled up to the. sloping, wooded bank of the

creck and, disembarking, were bidden to wait while us

scout reconnoitred out upon the open prairie.

The spirits of the settlers rose, in spite of the knowl-
edge that they had been forced to abandon the cabins
and tilled crops which had cost them so much hard work,

That was bitter enough; but they were living, and the
Ww omen and children had not been carried into a captivity

which might have been much worse oy death from bul--

let or knife,
Meanwhile,
nerve of his sister, when he had asked her to help him
escape from the redskins, had succeeded in getting so
completely out of the way of his pursuers that, having
spied out the open land, and seeing no signs of ihe en.
emy, he decided that it. was. time for him to do some
scouting with a view to getting his mother and sister to

a place of safety, if one were to be found.

‘Dan, it will be remembered, expected his sister to
merely make | a pretense of trying to escape from their
captors SO that, while they were following her, her broth-

Cr might have a chance to rescue Mrs. Kelton, She did

not, in that rookies break, dream that she would be suc-

cessful in getting fairly away from her captors unaided.
“So Dan expected that the task of rescuing both moth-

er da sister was ahead of him.

 

Dan Kelton, ‘thanks to the coolness and

In making ne way - from the ‘vicinity, ot his late cap-

tors Dan had chosen a course that led down the creek.
‘In the darkness his progress had been slow, aiter leav-
‘ing the open...

It took fully an hour for him to go a "distance that

“was but little more than half a mile from the. Indian

camp from which he had escaped.

He believed that Molly could not. have gotten far
‘Little
did the ‘boy suspect that his sister was even then crouch-

from the camp ‘before she had been overtaken.

ing in the hollow made by the uprooted tree, not _know-

ing which way to go or what to do.

When Dan first went out onto the open prairie there
was a faint grayish light from the clouded sky, He
had noted the direction of the light wind that had stirred
the first of the night. co

But that now seemed to have died away veatively. and

‘at the same time that singular darkness that shut out

even the faint skyline began to settle over the landscape.

(2?

“But it is erowing dark!” exclaimed Dan, as it seemed

to him that a pall had been drawn about him.

(He could not’ tell, ‘indeed, by the looks on whist stile
of him the timber. belt stretched, for it was equally black
in all directions. as
At the same time ‘the slight. breeze meh had. re-
lieved the sultriness died ones and the atmosphere was
strangely oppressive.

“This is the meanest sort of a sieht to es in this kind
Fle often talked to. weg

in that way for company, when he was alone.

9)

of a scrape,’ muttered Dan,

Just then he heard the sound of footfalls, and, as he
wheeled. quickly, he was astounded to hear a voice that
he recognized demand:

“Is that you, Dan Kelton?’

_ “Father '—and here!” the lad fairly gasped. :

The man’s hand, guided by the sound ‘of Dan’s voice,
fell on. the young fellow’s shoulder, But, quick as a
flash, Dan flung off the hand and sprang out of the
Wy ee a
“You will let me alone, if you ae !” said the big
fellow.

“But T must speak to you, Dan, and ‘you must fisten to

reason,” said the man. = 2
The last time the man had boleh to his | son Gt yee

been peremptorily. But now there was more of per-

suasion than of insistence in his tones. .
The change was not without its effect.

 
  

 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
   
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  

 

canines SEE pee sere

Soa BE a oe 3

on _ THE BUFFALO

‘Dan had made up his mind to no longer obey the
mandates of a father who had forfeited the right to be

Obeyed. But to listen to him in a a manner

was 4 different thing. | a
“What do you want, father! 7 he deked oe

“Where is Molly?” t the wee ee es a "brief

hesitation.
sy don’t know.”

“You were with her and oe mother vs i saw

you last.” :
re suppose you know that the Injuns sot us all into

their clutches. I reckon you knew they would do it,

and you certainly didn’t do aes to “prevent. You
pretended ——” oe

“Stop, Dan—it isn’t for you ‘to talk to your father in
that way. Because you do not happen to understand all

the motives for my action. you have no right to infer

that I am a traitor to my own flesh and blood. You are
hasty, like any boy, Dan.”

“About time, I thought, for somebody to wake up ane y

look out for Molly and mother. You were off, nobody
knows where, all the time.”

“T had my business to attend to.” é

“But who knows what sort of business? You never
would tell me a thing, and: I’m old enough. Then came

this raid on the settlement, and you hadn’t acted on the

square, either toward your own folks or the settlers, from

‘the first of it. That is why I mutinied, father, and it is

why I ain’t going to trust you again till I know why vag
have behaved in the way you have done.”

“T seem to be getting quite a lecture from my son!”
said the man: And there was a sneer in his tones that
the other did not fail to catch.

“1m giving it to you straight, so you needn’t complain
that I am underhanded about what I think and do. I
don’t see how 7 managed to find me here in this dark-
ness.” es

*T could tell you.”

“T wish you would.”

“T was close by when you escaped from the camp. o
the redskins, and I have followed you Be ever since.’

“How about Molly?’

“T saw her do the thing that threw the Indians off

‘their guard, giving you the chance to get away.”

“T wonder how it happens that you didn’t take a hand,
then, and advise me that I had better stay with the In-
juns. That is your style of helping your family of late.”

e

   

BIEEGSTORIES.

“Now you are giving it to.me again. You are impu-—

219°

dent, and I would like to-——
“Better not try it, dad!” the big lad cut in warningly.

There was silence, and Dan could hear his father

breathing heavily, as if he were ‘keeping down an impulse
to carry out the implied threat.

Dan stepped noiselessly to one side, under a sudden
impression that the man might make some sort of a
treacherous attack upon him in the darkness.

At the same time he heard the other shift his Bolo

As things stood, Dan had kept track of the movements
of his father, while the latter could not have done. so in
the case of his son. |

Then a new and startling thought came into the mind
of Dan Kelton.

As the man had said, Dan was a boy, and he was liable
to act, sometimes, without sufficient consideration. And

it cannot be denied that he was overhasty as he quickly
sprang toward his father and seized the man’s arm and

flercely demanded :

“Where is Molly? I believe that you oer

when she ran out of the camp to help me escape. You

were watching us—you didn’t raise a hand to help us—

you didn’t do a thing to keep the Injuns from tracking

us as close as they could. Say, dad, where is Molly: os
An execration fell from the lips of Hiram Kelton. He

jerked his arm free from the grip of the boy, and at the

same time Dan received a vicious blow under the left.

ear—a blow that sent. him at full length to the ground.

Dizzy, maddened by the blow, his mind in a turmoil of

fierce impulses, Dan tried to spring to his feet.

But he was thrown back with a hand upon his throne,

and then all became blank to him.

When the big lad recovered consciousness flecks of
sunshine were passing across his upturned face. He was

lying on his back, his face upturned, and the foliage of

thick-growing trees waved betwixt him and the sky.

He tried to rise to a sitting posture, but fell back, his
head swimming and a sense of natisea at his stomach.
Then there came to him a recollection of the interview

with his-father in the darkness, the encounter, and the™

blow that felled him, followed ye the ep a his

throat.

The thought of it all was almost harder to bear than

the experience itself had been.
To think that his father could attack him so viciously,

 

 

 

 

 

an

we

co
Cd

an

rh

  
 

 

 

 

 

THE BUFFALO:

and end by choking him into unconsciousness, was the
worst of all that had happened. .

-He lay for some time with his eyes closed, wile he

could hear the loud throbbing of his own heart. Then,
calmer, he rose slowly, realizing at the same time that his.
ankles were bound, his arms also.

At the same time he was confronted by an ipdane
one clad in hunting shirt, breeches, and leggings, with,
moccasins to match, all elaborately fringed and beaded.
There were eagle feathers in his scalplock, and his cheeks
were smeared with war paint,

This was not all.

‘On each shoulder was mounted a white raven—the
badges of the mysterious chieftain who was making his _
name a terror all along the frontier.

Dan stared mutely at the war chief of the ao
Indian horde, of whom he had heard’so much of late.

Dan, too, had heard -it said that White Raven was a
white man, a border renegade who had the power to in-
cite the Sioux and restless refugees of other tribes from
the Northwest reservations as no leader of their own race
could have done.
A small
camp fire smouldered near by, and there were signs of the

The mysterious chief seemed to be alone.

Indian having pattaken of a solitary meal.

It seemed to Dan that many minutes passed before a
word was spoken. They merely stared at each other un-
til the impatience of the white lad could endure it no
longer

“So it is the White Raven who HS me at last!’ Dan

exclaimed, -

“Ugh!” grunted the chief. And, as if in token! Ahat
was all he had to communicate, White Raven coolly
turned away and disappeared among the oe of the
timber.

“Well, that is a queer proceeding, I must say ! !” mut- «
tered Dan.

The moments passed, and White Raven did not reap-
At last Dan looked to his bonds to find if there
was a chance of getting loose from them. |

pear.

He strained at those that confined his wrists and suc-
ceeded in loosening them. In a short time he had his
hands free. . Then he set to work to free his legs—and
stopped. For, from the direction of the open prairie, as
he judged, there came a crash of firearms, a chorus of
yells, and the sounds of horsemen in swift flight. 3

Dan. had heard soldiers firing in practice at a military

BILL

    

   

 

STORIES. 25.

post, and he recognized the orderly, drumlike roll of the -
shots from the nearest to the most distant ae of: the:
firing line. ae
“The. soldiers !” ae Dan oa : again dug at the
leathern cords that bound his legs.
But the knots were stubborn, and he ie noe Break
the cords. While he continued to strain at them he was >

suddenly conscious of something cold pressing | against —

_-his left temple, witile a hand seized his arm jand Yee

him to his feet. ?
It. was White Raven. le yet, during his brief as
sence, what a change i in his appearance. ue
The eagle feathers had, all except one, been torn from.
his plume; the war paint upon his cheeks was streaked .

and furrowed with perspiration ; one of the white ravens

was missing. from its perch on his shoulder, and the rest
of his attire look cs as if, he had been. dragg ged over the.
prairie by wild horses, :
That was not all. For upon his: bree ee was a
knife gash from which the blood was flowing freely.

42?

“Come—quick ! commanded the chief i in a husky tone.
Then he noticed that Dan’s legs were bound, and he
freed them with a slash with his knife. Still menacing —
the lad with his revolver, White Raven said again:
-“Come—to the creek—for your life!”
Dan knew it would be death to refuse. In a moment _
he was on the bank of the creek and being pushed into a
large canoe, near the stern of which another Indian was
crouching. Then, crowding one unexpected, happening
upon another, the canoe shot down the swirling current

of the creek,

CHAPTER X._
CONCLUSION.

‘Whom White Raven hod met during the brief pened.
of his absence Dan Kelton might never know. But that-
the timber was full of military scouts, and that there were
many deadly combats that morning between white scouts
and skulking redskins, Dan might learn when the full
story of the day’s events was to. be told.

What concerned the lad more just then was another
discovery made as he was bidden to crouch in “the big
canoe as it went speeding down the stream.

This was the fact that there were two other prisoners
in the canoe—and that they were his mother and sister,
Molly. oe
Frese

 

 

Se a eee
ie

i

 

 

26- THE -BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

The Indian in the stern of the craft had<all-he could °
do to direct the course of the canoe along the winding
‘way of the creek, for it was moving ‘at a high rate of
speed. - e ee.
Both Molly and her ree were oe in ihe Houoe.
of the boat, and they did not seem to- know that there
? was, another: prisoner. Rey ele Sees together in
low tones. ae Pores
‘Dan bent toward them, cas would: wae appdued them
of his presence, but he was ane baek a vee Raven,
who hissed in his ear.: . baa a

“You needn't oo to thant anid what I aoe
- Experience was a dear teacher for Dan, and the cast”
had been so. much so far that he felt that he could not
afford to incur any further risks by openly defying his
captor, who-certainly had it in his power to enforce any
commands that he might make.

So he leaned back and waited, while he watched the
faces of his mother and sister unobserved by them. :

The canoe proceeded at a swift rate for about two.
miles. Then it was brought to a stop rather abruptly and
the prisoners taken out, and, under the guard of White.
Raven, marched down the stream for a hundred yards.

Then,. for the first time, Mrs. Kelton and Molly be-

caine aware of the presence of Dan, alttiough they were.
~ not allowed to speak to him.

At the end of the short march they were ia separ-
ately to trees, so securely that there was no hope of their

being able to get loose unaided. Their positions were

such that they could not see each other.

Then White Raven hastened back to his companion,
whom he had left with the canoe. The other Indian had
several times uttered a low signal ery, which was an-
swered by the appearance of another redskin just as the
chief reached the canoe. -

They spoke briefly in low voices. Then, with no small
amount of effort, the trio set about carrying the ‘heavy
craft down past the shoals, over which there was not
sufficient water for the boat. :

Once past that shoal,-and White Raven knew that they
would have a clear way for many miles down the stream.
And, with the speed .that they would be able to make,
he was confident that.. the scouts he knew -would soon
press him closely would have small chance of overtaking
But while they toiled along the uneven way with their
burden. they were conscious of the rapid thudding of

  
   

x

 

horsemen out on the plain, and that the sounds were’

drawing momentarily closet: 240002 :
, “Faster!” urged White Raven, who, sweating and)
wheezing with the effort, was carrying fully one-half of,
the burden and dragging -hé other Indians along at that.
They tried to hasten the speed. One of them caught
his foot in a trailing vine and fell full length. That made
the weight too much for the othér at his side, and, with
a warning cry, he-dropped his end of the canoe.
White Raven uttered a paleface oath, and barely saved
himself, from being pinned down by the boat, which he

was. obliged to let go of when the whole weight dragged .

upon him,
The portage was. more than half completed when this
catastrophe occurred.

But things had begun to happen, ahd the next was the

crackling of undergrowth under horses’ feet, and close.

at hand. - White Raven leaped forward, fired thrice with

his revolver in the direction of the approaching horse-

men, and then plunged back toward the creek.

Then Dan Kelton, who was bound to a tree facing. the
prairie, saw Buffalo Bill fiding down the slope toward
the prisoners, but with his eyes fixed upon the spot

where, at that very moment, an eagle plume had disap-

peared beneath the swirling surface of the creek. —
‘The crack of Cody’s rifle sounded as the plume went
down, and an eagle feather tip floated with the current.
There was another shot almost at the same time, and

Buffalo Bill felt the bite of the bullet across his left

thigh.

Wheeling, he oat. sehr of the dee heads of se
two redskin partners of White Raven, one of whom had
shown what a poor marksman he was in the attempt to
drop Cody from the saddle. i

There was a yell of mortal agony from the cae
Sioux.
the direction of the creek after the fashion of a snake. -

Bang! sounded a heavier gun, and Nick Wharton, just
dismounted from his. horse, came prancing with his
slim legs down through the thicket which the three red-
skins had sought for shelter.

The old scout pounced upon the Indian who was. a

behind the other in the race for. the water. The fore-

most slid like a turtle down: into the stream. just as. the
one behind him wheeled to combat the old man who had

seen more than double his number of years.

_ Buffalo Bill realized that it was a hazardous aes ie :

 

 

 

The other,. fat on his belly, was squirming in.

de

OC

sk

le
iKe
le
 

 

 

THE BUPFALO

Nick to do, to attack an Indian in the prime of life, and,
doubtless, a trained athlete, as most of the Indians were.
And Cody: dismounted, bent upon taking a hand in the
game, if it were necessary.

But he was saved the trouble.

Nick’s. bony fingers were already clutching the red-
skin’s throat, and the victim had hardly a chance to put
up the first show of resistance before it was all over
with him.

“Reminds me of old “mes, U i be tarnally plunked : it
doesn’t,’ muttered Nick Wharton as he watched on the
shore for a sign of the Indian who had sunk from sight
in the stream.

Buffalo Bill turned to re-
lease Dan and his companions, while the timber began

But it was a vain lookout.

to swarm with the military scouts who had followed his
lead in the search for the fugitives.

An exchange of experiences was made on the part of
Dan, Molly, and the scouts a little later, when all were
in camp, and the half-famished Keltons were given the
refreshment they so sorely needed.

The Keltons had good reason to be interested in the
story of the dark night’s siege at the settlement, and es-
pecially Molly, in the encounter with Lew Carnrick, and
the strange manner of its ending.

The story of the flight of the settlers from ihe stock-
ade, under Buffalo Bill’s leadership, was soon told.
Soon after going ashore from the canoes they were
joined by old Nick Wharton, who had remained in the
stockade after the departure of his companions only long
enough to put up a good bluff at shooting, to keep the
Indians in ignorance of the flight of the settlers.

For that matter,
after the departure of the settlers before the redskins

it must have been fully an hour

were certain of the fact.

This delay gave the fugitives the needed chance to
place a considerable distance between themselves and the
foe, who would surely have overwhelmed them had they
been able to press the pursuit closely.

‘Nick Wharton had followed the others away from the
cabins sooner than was supposed. He was in their midst
almost-before they were aware of it. 7

The old man had the faculty of getting about in the
dark with remarkable accuracy in the matter of direc-
tion. His long years of experience had crystallized into
a sort of instinct, which seldom led him astray. —

When Buffalo Bill had gone forth from the timber to

See SIRENS EG UL GRO Ea gOS re SE cE SEES ECS Pe

      

BILL STORIES. a7

make observations by the first streak of dawn he had
been rewarded by signs of the approach of the soldier
scouts, who had been halted within a few miles of the
settlement by the singular darkness of that peculiar
night. :

For once military aid had been sent in sufficient force
to insure a victory, even if the foe were to put up a more
than ordinarily stubborn fight.

The battle with the Indians had begun at dawn, and
for a short time it had been hot and furious.

But, although Buffalo Bill was in the van of the at-
tacking scouts, he saw no signs of the presence of White

- Raven, the mysterious chief, who was responsible for

this and several other recent Indian raids on the settle-
ments.

The fact that hewas not there to be the moving spirit
in the resistance probably accounted in part for the
brevity of the battle.
full retreat, some upon horses, others taking to the canoes

The redskin horde were soon in

on the creek, and yet others scattering and sneaking

away with no aids except those of stealth and their own

fleetness of foot.

It was Buffalo Bill, riding around the outer edge of
the battlefield, who saw several Indians skulking along
the edge of the timber. And it was by that clue that he
was led to the spot where he came near to meeting the
niysterious chief face to face.

When they had exchanged narrations of the incidents
of the night, Cody noticed that Dan Kelton became
strangely silent.

The scout presently found pportihily to speak to the
ig young chap alone.

“T wonder if it is because I missed getting a bullet
to the brain of White Raven when he slipped into the
creek a little while ago that you wear such a long
face?’ Buffalo Bill remarked in a questioning tone, as he
laid one hand on Dan’s shoulder.

The other turned his face away, to hide the flush that
stole into his cheeks.
“Why do you ask that?” Dan End ina low

f

voice.

“It’s all right, my boy; but, let me tell you, if he
would kéep life in his miserable body, let him keep the
war paint off his face, and the Indian make-up off his
back.
ther instead of yours, I would have to hunt him down

I have spotted him fair, and if he was my fa-

in the guise of White Raven, the renegade chief, who

  

Se EE aE
 

28

  

has stirred up more mischief on the border in the last
month than there has been before of its kind for a good

many moons.”

“Tt was hard for me to believe it,’ murmured Dan.
“But I got the proof this morning, and if he ever gets
face to face with me again I will show it to him, just so
~-he won't think I’m easy.”

“You say you have the proof?”
claimed. a

Dan Kelton took from a pocket of his huntine shirt
a a packet of papers.

“7 haven’t had much chance to look at them yet,”
hé said. “But I saw enough to tell me that it was all
the proof that would be needed. I have suspected for a
long time that my father was leading a double life, and

a eagerly ex-

as I have grown suspicious he has become more and
Now, I don’t
want to be the means of bringing him to execution. But
I feel, Mr. Cody, that you will make a right use of
these papers, whatever they may be and however great

more malicious in his treatment of me.

their importance.” :

Dan spoke gravely, and there was a tremor in his
tones, for it was a bitter discovery that he had made.

He handed Buffalo Bill the packet, adding:

“Look them over, and if there is a chance to show him
mercy, use the chance.”

“There's certainly a chance as long as he keeps out of

99

the way,” said the scout.

Buffalo Bill looked the papers over hastily at once,

and again more thoroughly later.

_ They proved to be letters and agreements with cer-
tain agents who had commissioned Hiram Kelton to sell
a quantity of stolen army supplies, mostly rifles and
cartridges, to the Indians. And to render the redskins
the more ready to buy the stuff, Kelton had represented
to them that they were to be transferred to another and
smaller restrvation, one which they had refused to accept

more than two years before.

It appeared, further, from the papers that Kelton had
been detected in his schemes by an officer of the govern-
“ment Secret Service, that the officer had attempted to ar-
rest him, that both had pulled guns, and that Kelton
had been the quicker shot.

There had been a witness to the shooting, and a com-
munication from that witness was among the papers.

That witness had been sworn to secrecy by Ke'lton;
and his name was—Lewis Carnrick!, ;

j

pte es <tc ghe ps ee 8

(algerie tian Dimemio i teaiae jt :

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES,

   

The papers had been dropped by Kelton in his brief
struggle with Dan; and the latter had picked them vip
unobserved by the man, who did not know that he had
lost them.

Later, Buffalo Bill had a talk with Dan cae the af-
fair, in which he said:

“Tt will be my duty to take Kelton into custody if T
have the chance. But, knowing that he has lost these
papers, and that they may have been found, I doubt if
he will dare show himself around here again. This ex-

plains why he was willing to sacrifice the settlement of
Clearwater for the chance of getting me caught in the |

fight.
onto his track than anybody else.
“Now we are likely not to sce him again; and on

‘your mother’s and Molly’s account, it will be better if

we never do. And it isn’t fee ees to explain it all
to them—is it, Dan?”

“It isn’t necessary,” Dan replied.

The scouts brought in a number of prisoners, and

among them was Carnrick.

Tn a talk with him, Buffalo Bill drew out a corrobora- :

tion of all that had been implied in the papers found by
Dan Kelton.

After taking a deposition from him, so that a report of ©
.the discovery could be made in proper form to the gov-

ernment, Buffalo Bill ordered the release of Carnrick.

Only two of the settlers’ cabins had been burned after
the flight of the inmates. Assured that there was no
danger of another raid by the mysterious White Raven,
the settlers returned to their homes, making the best of
the crops, which had been only partially destroyed, and
perhaps enjoying the sweetness of the peace that fol-
lowed all the more for the favorable outcome of the

strangely black night of White Raven’s attack.

Kelton did not again show himself in the settlement —
at least, not until the episode of the Indian raid ceased
to be talked of.

Dan made a sturdy head of the little household, A

he gained in dignity with the increased responsibility.

Neil Parker had the honor of leading the first bride:

to the altar in the new town of Clearwater. It is an

easy guess who was the bride.

‘ THE END.

\.

The next number (442) will contain “Buffalo Bill’s”

Winning Hand; or, The Mystery of Lost Lake.”

He knew that I would be more likely to be set

     

 

 

 

 

     
      

C= os

= TN eo oe 8 ke *

~

— Th

AS
 

 

 

 

 

Fi Na TE EE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK, October 23, 1909,

 

 

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Getorcs C. SmitH, Lp Ora

 

 

WHISTLING DICK.

The little town of Green Run, Arizona, was all bustle and
excitement when it quickly became known that Widow Gas-
kell’s small store had been “held up” by two noted outlaws,
Russian Pete and Cyrus Kearns, and the widow relieved of
all her many years’ hard earnings, some seven hundred dol-
lars, not to mention her entire stock of North Carolina cut
plug tobacco, which was all that was in camp. Every one
seemed taken up talking about the audacity of the robbery in
broad daylight, and showing his sympathy by expressions of
“Rough luck,” “Come kind of stiff on the old woman,” and

 

‘so on, instead of organizing a search party to follow the

robbers,

But these a opinions. were soon cut short by “Whis-
tling Dick” arriving on the scene. On learning the state of
affairs, ee quietly, he walked off sharply, muttering:

“I will have ’em before sunset to-morrow, or die in my
boots.”

This man, who was known only as Whistling Dick, was
a noted character for many miles round—a_half-witted,
burly fellow, who seldom spoke, and seldom ceased whistling.

He was welcome everywhere, being known to be “square,”
and always ready to halve his all with a “broke pard.”

Moreover, his especial favorite was the widow’s little
daughter, Mary Ann, a bright but delicate child of eight,
for whom Dick would do anything.

He was delighted to romp and play with her, bringing in
his, curious littie nuggets from the diggings now and again,
and making her store them safely in a rough buckskin
pouch, which also had been stolen,

He was even once heard at the mouth of his mine shaft,
praying on his bended knees, amid a medley of picks, drills,
and shovels, “Oh, Lord! let her pan out rich this time, for
Mary Ann; mebbe she will need it when I tallies to my call.”

By this ‘time some of the miners had dropped in, and,
learning Dick’s resolve to start at once and not await the
arrival of the sheriff, quickly made up among themselves a
purse, and told Dick that one hundred dollars awaited his
return. This seemed almost to anger him, and, turning
round, he sharply remarked:

“I ain’t a- ce this job for pay.”

    

   

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 29

Surprise was evident on every one’s face when they saw
Dick emerge from his nearly roofless cabin, dressed up in
his best clothes, and with his silver- mounted spurs, which
had last seen the light when he followed the rough coffin
of Mary Ann’s father to the quiet burial ground on the hill-
side, and every one felt he fully knew fhe men he had to
deal with, and was prepared for the end if he failed.

At this moment the sheriff rode up, and his position com-
pelled him to take up the track and follow, little as he evi-
dently liked the job; but, having Dick asa companion, he
was particularly brave and boastful as to his soon having
the outlaws, for he knew Dick was a dead shot, and cool.

Dick was speedily in the saddle, paying little heed to the
sheriff's loud taik, whistling lowly all the while, “In the
Sweet By and By,” his favorite tune in extra emergencies,

Having shaken hands with little Mary Ann with his head:
turned away, he put spurs to his horse and soon took up the
trail of the robbers.

The sheriff shouted to him to “Hold on a bit!’ while he
changed his horse, but Dick never answered, only turned on
him a half-contemptuous smile, and kept on.

The tracks of the robbers’ horses Soon left the main trail,
and made for the Datil Mountains; but Dick carefully fol-
lowed, knowing that they could not teach the belt before the
next evening, and his one chance was to overtake them early,

The sheriff had now joined Dick, and tried every topic,
and made many suggestions as to how he would take them—
to all of which Dick gave no response, whistling, but never
taking his eyes off the ground.

His old horse, too, seemed to have caught some of its
master’s anxiety, and strongly bore him through heavy brush
and over rough trap-rock hillocks.

The sun had set, and, darkness coming on, Dick camped,
and, taking the saddle off his horse, hobbled it.

Then, making a fire, he sat down: before it, anxiously
glancing every now and again at the heavy clouds gathering
above, evidently fearing a sudden thunder torrent, knowing
that it would wash out all traces.

The sheriff sat opposite, on a smooth stone, and still tried
to draw Dick into:conversation, but with no effect,

Dick kept slowly poking the fire, gazing first into it and
then up to the skies, and finally the sheriff spread out his
saddle cloth and was soon asleep.

Not so Dick, who went for his horse, and, taking the

_ hobbles off, tethered it close to camp, and ‘with a dry cactus

torch went round gathering all the tuft grass he could find
for his favorite, patting its lowered neck “with every armiul
he brought.

The morning star creeping above the horizon found Dick
saddling up, and gayly whistling snatches of old plantation
songs.

The noise awoke the sheriff, who remonstrated at the too
early start; but Dick took no notice, and the sheriff, seeing
he would be left, arose and saddled up, erumbling all the
while,

Daylight had scarcely appeared when Dick, with the
sheriff close behind, started, first going slowly, following up
the track, and, at times, dismounting and going down on his
knees, examining more closely, to see if he was still on the
right trail.

‘Sunlight at length broke, and then he forged quickly
along, his eye never off the ground, his horse instinctively
stepping into the hoof marks ‘of the bandits’ horses.

An hour or so brought them to where the robbers had been
camped, the smoldering embers showing, indeed, that they
could not be far ahead, and the mark of one of their horses
revealing to Dick’s trained eye that it was going tired.

Changing his tune to one of his liveliest, he quickened his
horse’s pace, for he knew that beyond the low buttes, a mile
ahead, a wide, sandy desert opened out, with no vegetation
to screen the view.

These he soon reached, not before noticing that the sherifi
was gradually dropping behind. .
   

30 : | THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

From the top of the last hill he caught sight of his quarry,
going slowly, and seemingly taking it easy, rejoicing, no
doubt, over the poor widow's all. Dick awaited Me shéxiff,
and pointing to them, said:

~ There you are, take: them!”

The sheriff paled, and made excuses against immediate |

action; but Dick’s withering look silenced him, and he took
his orders—to make a circuit around to the far side of the
__ plain, and stand at the mouth of the only aye with water
—for as Dick said, with a chuckle:
“If they get the ‘drop on me, you will get them.”
‘The sheriff brightened and went off in “the direction given.
Dick, meanwhile, waited, watching eagerly the slowly dis-
appearing dust of the bandits. Giving sufficient time for the
sheriff to be round, he struck on to the plain; and, going

slowly at first, while he saw to his weapons, soon put spurs -

to his horse, and made for the little handful of dust-adhead.

He was gaining on the robbers, but his quick eye suddenly
caught the faint outline of a saddled horse behind some low
rocks, and, reining up sharply, he gazed, and saw it was the
sheriff's, who had, coward-like, sneaked off, and was hiding.

Dick reined up for but a moment, and then put spurs to his
horse again, muttering, “He was going to take them!” and
increasing his horse’s speed to its full gallop soon apprised
the bandits that they were pursued.

They rose in their saddles, and. when they recognized that

it was “Whistling Dick,” they quickly gave their horses rein

but Dick soon began planting bullets round their hoofs from
his heavy Winchester, and, seeing that he was gaining, and,
knowing his deadly aim, the outlaws pulled up ‘and awaited
him.

On he camé at full gallop, the reins in his teeth and his
rifle leveled, his eyes intent on them.

Within sixty yards he suddenly brought up his horse on
its haunches, at the same time shouting: —

“Throw up your hands!”

They did not instantly obey.

“Till I count three. One—two ’ and instantly two
pair of hands were thrown up, for well was it known that
that was his full time limit for all redress.

Slowly Dick rode up, and quickly dropping his Wine
chester, he whipped out his Colt’s six-shooter and dis-
mounted, carefully heaps the bandits looking down its
barrel.

He held first the Wires of one and made him dismount,
and disarmed him, and then the other, their hands up all
the time, for any contrary movement, ‘they quite well un-
derstood, meant certain death.

This over, hé handcuffed them together with a small iron
chain, which he carried tied on to his saddle. And, then,

 

from their pockets, and belts, and saddle bags, he recovered.

all the widow’s goods and dollars, his whistling getting more

_ Vigorous as each pocket gave up its share, and’ finally reach-
ing its full force when, from Russian Pete’s belt, he took out
little Mary Ann’s bag of nuggets.

The sheriff had seen Dick stop, and knew that he had
found his cowardice out, so had remounted and followed on
as far out of harm’s way as he could. Now, seeing he was
out of danger, he came galloping up, full of bravado and
commands.

Dick gave him time to dismount, whereupon he walked up
to the bandits and took a pair of official handcuffs out of his
pocket, to substitute for Dick’s solid iron chain.

He had just unclasped the bracelets when Dick’s gruff
voice—the six-shooter leveled at him—ordered:

“Hands up!” .

The sheriff saw the angered look in Dick’s eyes ae said:

“This is no time to be joking, Dick.”

“One—two——” and up flew his hands.

“Drop those handcuffs,” and down they fell.

The sheriff was now completely disarmed, and made to
stand alongside the bandits, and, with his own handcuffs,
was locked to Russian Pete.

and the Tetritory of New Mexico.
- most the work of marking the trail will have been completed

Dick now changed his saddle to one ‘of the bandit's horses,
and, freeing his own horse, sent it home with a cheery, ‘ ‘Get

back to your corn,” and homeward it went at full gallop, the
other two following, all with their saddles tightly girthed.

Then packing on his own saddle all the rifles and six-
shooters of his captives, and mounting, he ordered his three
prisoners to march ahead.
~ Sunset found them at his camp of the night before, and
here he rested them, turning a deaf ear_to their entreaties to
take off the shackles—the only answer being the arising of
his. whistling.

Dawn saw them on the march homeward again, which they
reached by the middle of the day, and it was soon evident,
by the little knots of men and women straining their gaze,
that all were in excitement.

No wonder; Dick’s horse had made straight for his cor-
‘ral, the other two following, and when the strange saddle
was noticed, they all knew that something unusual had hap-
pened, and that Dick was all right, for he would never part
with his saddle if he had any life left. Great, however, was
their amazement, when they saw the sheriff handcuffed
along with the outlaws.

The miners crowded round Dick for explanation, but all
he said was, “He was going to catch them!” and riding up to

_ Widow Gaskell’s store, he handed over all her recovered

property, and, lifting up his little pet, Mary Ann, restored to
cher her little bag of nuggets.

The two robbers, seeing their game was up, soon told the
crowd the whole of Dick’s exploit, and quickly the hat went
round and another fifty dollars were added to the first hun-
dred, and Bob Farwell, the spokesman, went up to Dick and
said:

“Here, Dick, the boys want you to buy some baccy.”

But Dick would not touch the money, quietly replying:

“T wasn’t hunting these pests for pay.’

Again Bob urged him to take it, but,no; and then little
Mary Ann came running up, and seeing the shining dollars,
took Diek’s hand, and whispered in his ear: © 7c

“Are those for me?” 7

Slowly Dick put his hand out and took them, with a cheery
“Good luck to ye!” from Bob Farwell.

Counting the coins from the left hand to the right, and
then from the right to the left, he lifted up her little pinafore
and showered them into it. Mary Ann’s smiling face looked
up brightly to his, and she said:
~ “Guess, Dick, you must make me.a bigger sack now.’

Dick turned away, for the big tears rolling down a sun-
burned, furrowed cheeks did what ee failed to ores

Cheeked his “whistle.”

——__>)0>+——_—_—__—.

- MAKING THE SANTA FE TRAIL:

 

The last of the one hundred monuments and markers along
the old Santa Fé trail from Kansas City, Mo., to Trinidad,
Col., was recently unveiled at the latter place. The descen-
dants of Kit Carson, a name that will always be associated

_ with this\ once great highway of the plains over which the

commerce of the Southwest passed, assisted in unveiling the
monument in the centre of the business district, of Trinidad.
Granite markers are now placed at intervals of not less than

five miles along the Santa Fé trail through the States of

Kansas and Colorado, and all/that remains to finish the
work is similar action on the part of the State of Missouri
Within a few years at

from its beginning at Independence, Mo., to its end at the
historic plaza at Santa Fé, N. M. ”
The Kansas branch of the Daughters of the American

  

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Beer

evelution inaugurated the movement several yearsago. The

legislature appropriated one thousand dollars for the pure

pose, but as this was not sufficient to buy the granite mont’
ments at the quarry in Oklahoma it was stiggested that a’
penny collection be taken up in all the schools of Kansas on
January 29, 1906, the State’s anniversary. This collection.
amounted td about five hundred dollars. The Atchison, To-

peka and Santa Fé Railroad Company offered to ‘deliver the

authors free of cost to all accessible points on its line. _
The enterprise was received in évety county with interest

aud enthusiasm, and generally the boards of county commis-~
sioners and citizens along the five hundred miles of the old

trail through Kansas assumed the expense of setting the
monuments, thus making the money at hand furnish eighty-
nine markers between the Missouri border and the Colorado
line.
trail six special markers paid for by individual chapters of

Daughters or other local interests, making a total of ninety-

five from the east to the west line of the State.

The unveiling of the markers at Trinidad and EI Moro,
N. M., was an, occasion of more than ordinary interest, as _

the descendants of Kit Carson participated in the cere-
monies,
being five miles from Trinidad. Formerly El Moro was an
important point on the trail, but to-day it is simply a collec-
tion of coke ovens operated by the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company. Both El Moro and Trinidad are near the present
New Mexico line, and here the trail turned south and wound
across the Raton Mountains, where many fights with Indians
took place.

The unveiling of the monument in Trinidad near the Santa —

Fé railroad station took place at the edge of Kit Carson
Park, a tract of land given to the city by Mayor Taylor,
who was one of Kit Carson’s most intimate friends.in fron-
tier days: The descendants of Kit Carson who attended the
unveiling were Kit Carson, Jr., Charles Carson, and a daugh-
ter of Thomas Woods—granddaughter of the scout—all liv-
ing near La Junta, Col., and Mrs. Terquina Allen, of Raton,
Ne M., a daughter of the trail maker.

In the pioneer days Kit Carson-piloted many caravans of
prairie schooners. Carson’s home was at Taos, N. M.,. and
he supervised the work of nearly one hundred trappers, all of
whom were expert shots and intrepid Indian fighters. The
trapping season lasted from early fall till late spring. Dur-
ing these months Carson and his mén would be scattered
along the Rocky Mountain range to the Canadian line. ‘Then
they “would bring in their pelts and after cleaning them and
refurnishing their outfits at Taos would take them to St.

Joseph, Mo., where Carson would dispose of the furs. After

their furs were sold Carson and his men would organize into
detachments and “hire out” as guards on the Santa Fé trail,

It has been ascertained that in the single year 1863 there
were three thousand wagons, six hundred and eighteen
horses, twenty thousand ‘eight hundred, and twelve oxen,
eight thousand and forty-six mules, ninety- eight carriages,

and three thousand and seventy men engaged in the freight- |

ing business along this thoroughfare, handling over fifteen
thousand tons of freight, the estimated value of os was
forty. million dollars. :

The monuments which ik the original course _of the
great Santa Fé trail through Kansas are not large, the ma-
jotity of them standing about five feet above the ground.
They are generally of “ted granite taken from a quarry in
Oklahoma. The tops of these stones are squared and bear

simple inscfiptions to indicate that the trail passed the place.-

marked. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad fol--
lows this once famous highway from Ellinwood in Barton

County to Cimarron in Gray County, a distance of more ©
At every station between: these .

than one hundred miles.
points a monument has been erected.

As Independence, Mo., was the point of outfit and stpply,
so Council Grove, more “than one hundred miles west, was
regarded as the real point of departure.

8
(THE BUFFALO.

In addition to these there are at different points on the

Both unveilings were made in one day, El Moro»

trail as the early voyagers made it,

There the trains _

   

 

BILL STORIES. ee iat

f

were made up, the captains and other officers chosen and
the final. preparations made for the journey. The entire
' length of the traveled route from Independence to Santa Fé
was seven hundred and eighty miles, four hundred and fifty
of which were within the present botndary of Kansas. The
traders to Santa Fé, the Mormons to Deseret, the enigrants
to Oregon,\ the gold seekers to’ California, the soldiers of |

Kearny to the Mexican frontier—all ‘began their toilsome —

journeys on the Santa Fé trail. It was estimated that ninety _

thousand persons passed through | eastern Kansas during 1 the.
years 1849 and 1850, 2 a

Two points of great interest on the old Santa Fé trail in
Kansas are Council Grove and Pawnee Rock. The first
named :was the rallying point of all the wagon trains bound
for the far-West. ‘Its picturesque location in the valley of
the Neosho River. is cominented upon by every visitor. The
“old bell on the hill” is still one of the monuments which —
mark the spot where so many councils were held during the
early days of Kansas. At a very early day Colonel Sam
Wood bought this bell at an unclaimed freight sale of the -
railroad. It had been shipped from Cincinnati to a church ©
in Lawrence, but the church people were. too poor to claim ©
it, and Wood got the bell for thirty-five dollars, the amount
of freight charges. It was hung up on a high stone tower ©
on the hill and used as a general alarm bell for fire, Indian
scares, political gatherings, and for all the churches in the
town. It was tolled on. the death of Lincoln, Garfield, and
McKinley.

The old stone tower was blown down by a ule: and the
patriotic people and school children of Council Grove con-
tributed a stone apiece for a new tower, which was com-
pleted, and on the day of President McKinley’ S funeral dedi-
cated to his memory.

Pawnee Rock is a oreat sandstone . gromonicey which: :
jutted out ata height of twenty feét or more upon the Ar-
kansas bottoms just north of the présent town of that name.
The plain at its base was a popular camping ground on the
old Santa Fé trail, while the face of the rock bore the names
of countless travelers. It derived its name from the Pawnee
Indian tribe.’ For many years this historic spot suffered at
the hands of the railroad and the citizens, who tore the stone

away for foundations for homes and for ‘ballast for the rail-
road. tracks, .
organized a movement for its purchase and’ preservation.

until the Kansas Woman's Federated Clubs

It is now owned by the niate and is being converted into a

parked
Only in Haskell, Grant, Be Marron Counties, in the Cx:

_ treme southwestern part of Kansas, where the railroads have —

not ventured and settlers are few, can be seen the great:
Four wagon tracks run
parallel in a width of one hundred feet, the ruts worn by ~
the wheels, the paths of the oxen that drew the ‘wagon and
the little ridges between. Straight as the crow flies it tra-.
verses the plain. From the very edge of the northeastern
sky line it may be traced with the naked. eye, so light and —
dry is the atmosphere, and it is followed with the same dis- —
tinctness in its march toward the sOutE West until it disap-
pears: over the rim a the horizon. ;

TRANSLATING NAVAJO INTO ENGLISH.

 

The first veining press ever bajle to print the Navajo bar

| gtiage is now being installed at the Rehoboth mission, five

or six miles from Gallup. For the first time in the history
of the tribe it now has an alphabet, a translation of a part —
of the Bible into the vernacular, and a real literary lan-
guage. This represents the life’ work of the Rev. L. P.
Brink, of Tohatchi, N. M., a missionary of the Christian

- Reformed Church. For years he has been laboring upon the

colossal task of reducing the Navajo language to literary
form, having invented an alphabet, written a dictionary, and
formulated a grammar conforming to Navajo usage.

  
 
 

The best detective stories on earth.

- gevers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents. _

 6s2—The Gréen Box Clue; or, Nick Carter’s Good Friend.
- 653—The Taxicab Mystery; or, Nick Carter Closes a Deal.

6s4—The Mystery of a Hotel Room; or, Nick Carter’s Best

ork.
6ss—The Tragedy of the Well; or, Nick Carter Under Suspicion.
636—The Black Hand; or, Chick Carter's Well-laid Plot. _
657—The Black Hand Nemesis; or, Chick Carter and the Mys-
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659—A Ee Man; or, Nick Carter and the FamouseCastor
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Nick Carter’s exploits are read the world over. High art colored

 

LEDS AE
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662—A Tragedy of the Bowery; or, Nick Carter and Ida at Coney

Island.

663—Four Scraps of Paper; or, Nick Carter’s Coney sland

Search. ‘ ee
664—The Secret of the Mine; or, Nick Carter’s Coney Island
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666—Nick Carter’s Master Struggle; or, The Battle With the
Man-monkey. a
667—The Airshaft Spectre; or, Nick Carter’s Shrewd Surmise,

 

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the heroes of the stories published in this weekly are dear to the hearts of 60,000 boys. Diamond Dick isa
splendid Western character. High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.

 

668—Diamond Dick’s Strategy; or, The Final Stand of the
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660-—Diamond Dick’s Double Chase; or, The Warm Welcome
of the West. ~
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tunes of Handsome Harry. .
ae Dick’s Difficult Duty; or, Through Unexplored
ands.
ee Dick Above the Clouds; or, A Voyage Through
the Air.

673—Diamond Dick’s Troublesome, Trail; or, A Search for a
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674—Diamond Dick’s Dangerous Detail; or, The Mail Mystery.

675—Diamond Dick’s Triumph; or, Handsome Harry in Trouble.

676—Diamond Dick’s Great Round-up; or, The End of the
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677—Diamond Dick’s Buccaneer Boy; or, The Ship of the Burn-
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678—Diamond Dick’s Encouragement; or, A Runaway Boy at
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BUFFALO BILL STORIES

The most original stories of Western. adventure. The only weekly containing the adventures of the famous
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ae Eubeh Bill’s Mexican Mix-up; or, The Bullfighter’s De-
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420—Buffalo Bill and the Gamecock; or, The Red Trail on the
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430—Buffalo Bill and the Cheyenne Raiders; or, The Spurs of
the Gamecock. :
431—Buffalo Bill’s Whirlwind Finish; or, The Gamecock Wins.
432—Buffalo Bill’s Santa Fe Secret; or, The Brave of Taos.
eae Bill and the Taos Terror; or, The Rites of the Red
stuta. Me

For sale by all newsdealers, or ‘will be sent to any address on receipt of price,

434—Buffalo Bill’s Bracelet of Gold; or, The Hidden Death.

435—Buffalo Bill and the Border Baron; or, The Cattle King of
No Man’s Land.

436—Buffalo Bill at Salt River Ranch; or, Old Flint-face, the
Comanche. on

437—Buffalo Bill’s Panhandle Man-hunt; or, The Comanche

: ‘Tigers.
438—Buffalo Bill at Blossom Range; or, Juniper Joe’s Jubilee.
ea Bill and Juniper Joe; or, The Fool of Folly Moun-
ain.

noes
ne

5 cents per copy, in money er postage stamps, by

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York

 

 

iF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS °,c2t, {ecklics 226 carnt Pr oet out the following Order Blank and cend it to

ts with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail, POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.

 

STREET & SMITH, 79.89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. Stetsrsonecesseccsssrssccsccsecssnnesessccseesesers OO
Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find 05255.) seteeeeees weeee.cents for which send me:

TIP TOP WEEKLY, NGS, 0055.5. a vceveesseees | BUFFALO BILL STOREES, NOS............scecsccssecsoccseees

NICK CARTER WEEKLY, “ ........... Lee Cie. nese BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY,“ ........ ee

DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY, “ .........0........ eselevseseees | MOTOR STORIES, ” i a.

Name....ssseessecsasscaveccoecsesseseessSTECEs sevvessesesesssseneosessssco Olly vesccseerscceserecserecnsrars SEGEE: coo sorsseee

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
 
  

 

  
 
  
  
 
 
 

    
 

 
 

 

FFALO BILL STORIES

 

ISSUED EVERY TUESDAY

BEAUTIFUL COLORED

COVERS |

 

 

There is no need of our telling American readers how interesting the stories of the adventures |

of Buffalo Bill, as scout and plainsman, really are. These stories have been read exclusively in this
weekly for many years, and are voted to be masterpieces dealing with Western adventure.

Buffalo Bill is more popular to-day than he ever was, and, consequentl

know all there is to know about him. In no manner can you become so thoroughly acquainted with

y, everybody ought to |

the actual habits and life of this great man, as by reading the BUFFALO BILL STORIES.
We give herewith a list of all of the back numbers in print. You can have your news-dealet

order them or they will be sent direct by the publishers to any address upon receipt of the price in |

money or postage-stamps.

162——Buffalo
177—Butfalo
210—Buffalo
211—Buffalo
213—Buffalo
214—Buffalo
217—Buffalo
218—Buffalo
219—Buftalo
223—Buffalo
224—Buffalo
_ 225—Buffalo
226— Buffalo
228—Buffalo
229—Buffalo
230—Buffalo
232—Buffalo
235—Buftfalo
236—Buffalo
237—Buffalo
238—Butffalo
239—Butfalo
240—Buftfalo
241—- Buffalo
242—Buffalo
243—Buttfalo
244—Buffalo
245— Buffalo
246— Buffalo
247—Buffalo
248— Buffalo
249— Buffalo
250—Buffalo
251—Buffalo
252—Buffalo
253—Buffalo
254— Buffalo
255— Buffalo
256— Buffalo
257—-Buffalo
258—-Buffalo
259—-Buffalo
261—Buffalo
262—Buffalo
263— Buffalo
264—Buffalo
265—Butffalo
266— Buffalo
267— Buffalo
269—Buffalo

King

270—Buttalo
271—Buffalo
272—Buftfalo
273—Buffalo
274—Butftfalo
275—Butffalo
276—Buffalo
277— Buffalo
278—Butffalo
280—Buffalo
282— Buffalo
283—Buffalo
284—Butffalo
285— Buffalo
286—Buffalo
287—Buffalo
288—Buffalo
289—Buffalo
290—Buffalo
291—Buffalo
292—Buffalo
293—Buffalo
295—Buffalo

If you want any back numbers of our weeklies and canno

Bill's (Canyon ache... <s cs.

Bille inisMoOrenciterc. cies see
Bilis Bling MUeadic. ccs sce.
Bill’s Sacrifice

coe eeeeeee

Billss) Diamond) Hunts soreasie os

Bill’s Avenging Hand.......
Bill’s Cheyenne Comrades....
Bill’sivienyamlrailiae . .cicus ce 6
Bill’s Sioux Foes..

eoeeeoeeoce

Billis )Bloriday MOeSic ss ere es cs
Bills y Grimya@limbacracccice sca

Billsm@Redehnemyines ce sees ¢
Bill on a Traitor’s Track....
Bill’s Air Voyage..

eoeeeeoce

Bills Deathe THrust ssc 6 sc

Bill’s Kiowa Foe....
Bills’ Wyoming Trail. .....<.

Bill’s Apache Round-up......

Bills bis Pasor Band. ecs.s oie
Bill on the Staked Plains....

Bills (Border Raid... 2.5 ess

Bill’s Bravest Hight.........
Bills) Heathen) Pard)). 3... ...

Bill’s Dakota Dare-devils...

Bill’s Arapahoe Alliance....

Bill on Special Service......
Bill on a Treasure Hunt....
Billseiost Quartyon. es.)
Bill Among the Comanches..
Bill’s Stockade Siege..... ave

Bill’s Creek Quarrel.......

Bill Among the Pawnees....

Bill on a Long Hunt..... aire

Bill’s Wyoming Trail.....

Bill and the Redskin Wizard..
Bill’s Bold Challenge........

Bill’s Shawnee Stampede.....
Bills WiOrst mh Oe ws cnde ces arcane
BillvonvareDeserte nailer
Bill’s Rio Grande Feud......
Billeinepishte@uarters ye.) se
Bill’s Daring Rescue.....
Bil’s Treasure Train.....

coe

Bill Among the Blackfeet... .

Bill’s Border Beagles........
Bill and the Bandits in Black..
Bill and the Indian Tiger....
Bill on the Deadwood Trail...
Bill in the Cafion of Death. .

Bill in the Land of Wonders..
Bill and the Traitor Soldier..
Biles Dusky Mtallersc ae) an
Bill’s Diamond Mine.....

Bill and the Pawnee Serpent...

Bill’s Scarlet’ Hand

Bill Running the Gantlet....

Bill's Leap in the Darky... 7).
Bills Darire Phinee) 2h 22),
Bills” Ghost® Raid...) 2.

Billise Camap=firesie esis aie
BillswWp eae sStump..e sen
Bills Secnet whos s,m ewe
Bill’s Master-stroke....:...
Bill and the Masked Mystery.
Bill and the Brazos Terror...
Bills Dance of Death... 2: >

Bill and the Creeping Terror..,

Bill and the Brand of Gain..
Bill and the Mad Millionaire.
Bill’s Medicine-lodge......

Bill ite Berita) «i | 4

Bill in the Death Desert... ..

ee ee cece

Bill and the Robber Ranch

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Bill in No Man's Wand) ae.
Bill’s Border Ruffians.......
Bill’s
Bill’s Desperate Dozen......
Bill’s Rival
Billksilcey @hasecjcas: 6 oa
Bill and the Boy Bugler....
Bill and the White Specter..
Bills Death Defiance: ..)..
Bill and the Barge Bandits..
Bill, the Desert Hotspur....
Bill’s Wild Range Riders....
Bill’s Whirlwind Chase......
Bill-seReds Retribution eco.
Bill aunteds aac Woes cece ce
Billvsehichtetorslite se on
BUUESey I) Calter ia ene eee
Bill and the Pit of Horror...
Bill in the Jaws of Death....
Billts Aztec Runners... ......%
Bill’s Dance with Death.....
Bilis Wieryaby.eiis .1) 2 ne
Bill’s Mazeppa Ride....... ors
Bill in the Land of,Spirits...
Billsm GyDsyeBandace oncses
IBITISH Via yer Clits. jue eon era
Bill, the White Whirlwind...
Billss Golds brunters<ns aan
Bill in Old Mexico....

Bill’s Message from the Dead

Bill and the Wolf-master....
Biles blyimes Wonders. vs ae
Bill’s Hidden Gold....... siete
Bills Outlaws Trail...) ..

Bill and the Indian Queen...

Bill and the Mad Marauder..
Billssdices Barricade: 6
Bill and the Robber HElk....
Billgss Ghost ebanceive sos vee
Bill’’s Peace-pipe eiareNtoniet
Bill’’s Red Nemesis. .........
Bill’s Enchanted Mesa......
Bill in the Desert of Death..

IBIS Ray aSUne ala cneit ee eee

Bill on Detached Duty.......
Billis: Army eMsystenyees 2.4.
Billse Surprise ezantyecnt a)

Bill’s Great Ride....

ee ce ee

Bill’s Water Trail..........
Biles Ordeal? of. bines wes

Bill Among the Man-eaters...
Bill’s Casket of Pearls......

Bills s Sky Pilots asset ioe

Bill’s ‘‘Totem’’

Black? Waeles v5. ew

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Bill’s Flat-boat Drift...... 0! 5

Bill on Deck

Bill and the Bronco Buster...
Bill’s Great Round-up.......
Bills Pled enc sie oa eae
BillkssCowboyn bande sees
Bill and the Emigrants......
Bill Among the Pueblos.....

Bill’s Four-footed Pards......

BUNS ePRolese sce. eee
Biles: Pick pisses

Hilla Quest. De

Bill’s Waif of the Plains....
Bill Among the Mormons...
BILUSIGASSIStance ye aniie secs ci
Bill’s Rattlesnake Trail... ..
Bill and the Slave-Dealers..
BileseStnonemA nme wor ie
BSE GiniG@Pand seems sacar
Bills @lion sBraceleis ae ee

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BillseRanch Riders.......... 5 |

Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bill’s
Bile OVerbOandia cack s ss
BUTS RUIN Oar arent 5) bg
Bills BiomContractesras ca... s
Bill and Calamity Jane......
Biles ACidesPardinge scenes. 4 5,
Bil’s Desperate Plight.......
Bill's; Mearless: Stand’. ......
Bill and the Yelping Crew...
Biss Guidi se itean ders se. .,
Bills Qucem Quester. oe...
Bills Brizes Getawayat.:....
Bill’s Hurricane Hustle......
BIS S tamesbl ayes te aris),
Bill’s
BillseyPrnackersmrnsc Soc ee ck
BS SO utchyaP ar dyes nye. e.
Billeand ther Bravo tac. . 6.
Bill and the Quaker.....
Bill’s Package of Death
Bills Direasure Cache ss..0) «.
Bills Private yWialernsi os «
Bill and the Trouble Hunter..
Bill and the Rope Wizard...
BUSINES TAN nie amie amen es 4,
Bill Among the Cheyennes...
Bulle eB CSIC OG eure ge won. foe.
Bill and the Red Hand.......
Bills Tree-trunk Drift......
Bill and the Specter...:......
Bill and the Red Feathers...
BilistcimemStrokemio<. ode...
Bill, the Desert Cyclone....:
Bill's Cumbres Scouts.....:..
Bill and the Man-wolf......
Bill and His Winged Pard...
Billate Babylon «Bane 7. .
Biles OMe wAR Oe eka oe
Bill and Old Weasel Top....
Bills’ Steel- Arm Pard.7.....
Bus Aztec (Guides...
Bill and Little Firefly......
Bilin: stheeAimtecs, City... 08
Bills Balloon Hscape......
Bill and the Guerrillas......
Bill’s Border War
Bill’s Mexican Mix-up
Bill and the Gamecock

Ade wATMIN Chis
Master marietta. te. 3r 6,
mera per Mallkac ese.
Bride ewotahimertiy.....
Bowie

pay Streak acre. 0
WELCH E RRR unis atin tae.

Bill and the Cheyenne Raiders

Bil’s Whirlwind Finish....
Bill’s Santa Fe Secret......
Bill and the Taos Terror..
Bills” Bracelet of Gold. ...
Bill and the Border Baron..
Bill at Salt River Ranch...
Bills Panhandle Man-hunt.
Pill at Blossom Range... ..
Bill and Juniper Joe........
Bills wr inalls«SCOOp we nces. so. y
Bulaty Clearwaters. 0. 2.
Biles Wa minuievelan deed aun.
Billisiy Cinch Claim: asec...
Billkese COmmnadesn ana seen.
Bill in the: Bad Lands......

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