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“Hands up, Six

No. 558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

SLE ES OPT ALES TT OTS EE TR

 
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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No. 558. NEW YORK, Janay 20, 1912. Price Five Cents.

 

BUFFALO DILL AND THE TOL TAKERS:

Or, PAWNEE BILE AT HALLELUJAH CITY.

By the author of ‘BUFFALO BILL.”

: CHAPTER I:
TWO MYSTERIOUS SHOTS.

Two horsemen were approaching a mining camp in a

“spur of the Rocky Mountains.

Suddenly two sharp reports rung out in quick succes-

sion, fired from a distance, and the two horsemen drew

rein and swung their rifles around, while their keen
eyes searched ahead.

The two riders were Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill.
That they were in a dangerous locality they well knew,

and though no whizzing bullets had followed the reports

to show that they had been the targets at which those who

fired the shots had aimed, it was necessary to be upon
their guard.

“We were not their game, I guess, Pawnee, because no

man could fire so wild as that,” remarked Buffalo Bill

composedly.
“No, but yonder is where the shots came from, fully
half a mile away,’ and Pawnee Bill pointed up the

mountainside farther down the valley, where two little
white clouds of smoke were floating away from a rocky -

spur almost hidden in pines.
“There is a cabin there, too; but what were they shoot-

_ ing at?”
Cody had already leveled a powerful field glass he had

swung to his belt at the spot indicated by his comrade.
“Don’t know, Buffalo; but if the shots were at us we

will know the reason, so come on, uo Tam going visiting.”

“Up to the cabin: 2

“Ves, 39

“Tam with you, Pawnee, for I am curious about those
shots.”

And the two scouts rode on down the valley.
wJust a hundred yards from where they halted was a

group of bowlders, with a few stunted pines scattered
about among them.

Here the two Bills suddenly drew rein, for behind a
large rock lay two men—two bodies, rather—whose posi-
tions were strange ones, indicating how as they had
died, for both were dead.

Upon the top of the rock, which was some six feet in

height, and sloped off to the ground, was the branch of a

pine tree, which concealed the heads of the two dead
men, whose rifles covered every person coming down the
valley trail as Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill had been
doing.
_ The men lay flat upon the rock, their arms resting
upon the summit and their rifles in their grasp, the finger
of one actually on the trigger guard.

Their faces were now pressed close to the rock, and in

the back of the head of each was a bullet hole from which

the warm life current was just beginning to flow.

The men were clad in buckskin, were well armed,
wore top boots, and their slouch hats were near them on
the rocks, 7

“Those fellows were not bad shots, after all, Buffalo,
for they brought down their game,’ Pawnee Bill ob-
served.

“Yes, and’ just in time to be the game of these two
gentlemen.”

“Ah! you think they were in ambush for us?’

“Don’t you see that they were?”

“T had not thought of that.”

“Then look _at their faces, and see if ee are not two
of the Toll Taker’s gang.”

“By the Rockies, but you are right, Buffalo! They
have been trailing us until they knew where we were
going, and then switched round ahead and ambushed us.

~S

 
  
  

“It was a Close call for us, Buitalo, for 1 confess I
didn’t expect trouble here.”

“Nor I, and they would have struck us. sure, oe

“Those who fired those shots had not been mighty
quick,’ :

“Yes, and dead shots as well.” ak

“But could they have come from the hill pacers Pes

“Where else?”

“Correct! but it was a long range and dead-center
shooting.”

“And were these men killed to save us?”

“That’s what we must find out-—— Ah! there are the
horses the gentlemen came on!”

The two scout pards rode forward to where they had
discovered two horses hitched to a small pine tree.

_. The animals were fastened so that they could be hastily
unhitched, if need came for it, and their appearance in-
dicated that they had been hard ridden.

The trail of the horses led from down the valley, and.
had either come from the mining camps three miles away,
or through a cafion that cut through the right-hand range
beyond the rocky spur from whence had come the two
shots. .

_ “We'll leave them here, Buffalo, while we go up.
yonder and investigate,”

The scouts branched off from the trail and soon aiter

_ began to ascend the mountainside toward the rocky spur.

before referred to.

The way they had to go made the distance about three-

 

quarters of a mile, but when nearing the spur they got

into a trail and readily followed it to the summit.

As they neared the point, they beheld, half hidden
among the bowlders and pines, a small log. cabin, with a
shed behind it.

‘The trail led to the rear of the cabin, and both Wild
Bill and Pawnee Bill rode along with their rifles ready
for instant use.

About a hundred feet from the cabin, on a grass plat,
was staked out a large, long-bodied, jet-black horse that
eyed the intruders curiously.

Then came the sharp bark of a dog, which, however;
was hushed at once by the stern tones of a man.

Nearing the cabin a horse was seen standing by the
open door of the shed, saddled and bridled.

The animal was a match for the one staked out, and
also was as black as ink, while his saddle and bridle
were of thé Mexican pattern and somber-hued in ep
pearance,

A dog stood at the corner of the cant and his eyes.
were upon the scouts, while his ieee was vicious: as That
of an aroused tiger.

This animal on guard was a a huge one a black as were
the horses.

“Black horses, black Guise black (ee we ‘IL see as
nigger, Buffalo,” suggested Pawnee Bill, as-the two rode

around to the front of the oa ready to meet friend

or FOE,

CHAPTER Hl,
A MAN IN BLACK.

“Good evening, gentlemen, | ey :

“Dismount, and accept my bospiiatiny ee the night, for,
you are heartily welcome.”

So said a man who stood in front of the little cabin
on the spur, up to oe Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill
had ridden. : .

 

THE BUFFALO

   

       

BILL. STORIES.

 

‘They came to a halt and gazed with surprise upon the
speaker—a man, six feet in height, broad-shouldered, su-
perbly formed, and clad from head to foot in black.

It was black broadcloth, too—the pants being stuck in
top boots, on the heels of which were gold spurs of the
Mexican pattern.

His coat was double-breasted, close-fitting, and but-
toned up to his chin, where was visible a white collar
that gave him a clerical look, which was added to by his .
closely shaven face.

His hair was worn long, falling bala) his showlder.
and was jet-black, and upon his head was a very broad-
brimmed black sombrero encircled by a gold cord.

But his face? That was a study, and a strong one.

A handsome face it was, perhaps of a man of. thirty,
though it was hard to tell his age, the features cast in a
refined mold and every one stamped with indomitable will,
fearlessness, and strength of character.

The eyes reminded one.of the large, expressive, sad
orbs of a deer that has been wounded, and the same
thought flashed through the mind of each scout:

“What grand eyes for a woman’s face!”

The teeth were even, milk-white, and brightened up
the otherwise somber face.

At one side of the cabin was a workbench and a box
of carpenter’s tools, and the strange man in black stood
by a coffin which had just been stained to an inky hue,
the paintbrush then being held in one hand as he turned
and faced the two scouts.

That the coffin had lately been made was shown by
the fresh shavings under the workbench.

“Well, pard, you are very kind, but we have come up
here on a business trip, so don’t expect to stay te said
Pawnee Bill, in his quiet, cynical way.

“How can I serve you, gentlemen ?”

“We are not in search of wooden overcoats, lilee the:
one you have just built there, though we came rather near
being in need of one each a while since ; but we would like
to know who fired two shots from this spur half an hour

ago?” poy.

“T did,” was the calm response of the stranger.

ow fired both of them?” asked Pawnee Bill, who was
acting as ‘spokesman.

VU Nes sin: | ey
“What with?” ae fom

“My repeating rifle,” and the man took from wheel
it stood behind the coffin, within reach of his hand, a hand-
some weapon of the latest manufacture, and which was
painted black, barrel and stock, but gold-mounted,

“You fired at two men in the valley’: iG

“Yes, there they lie upon that tock to the left of ie
trail you were following.” |

“You killed them both ?”

“Yes, I fired to kill, and aimed at their heads.” -

“There’ s where your bullets hit, pard; but, may I ask
why you shot them?” _

“It was their ‘lives, or yours, and as they were cut |

ne, throats. and as 1 recognized you gentlemen, I concluded ©
that I would cut down the weeds and save the wheat.”

' The stranger spoke in a voice of peculiar richness

> of tone, and with a manner that was full of calm dignity, |

which could not. but i impress the two scouts.
“You recognized us, you say | sa
ny estas) (did ae men. You see, from my position

here I look over into the cafion which cuts this range,
and I saw those men dng at full speed toward the

 

  

 
 

 

 

valley. They turned up the trail and rode to yonder

rocks, where they dismounted and went into ambush.
Soon after you came along, and my glass showed me
who you were, so I fired to save you, and that is all there
is about it, gentlemen.”

€
“And a great deal it is, for we owe you our lives, and -

I for one never go back upon a man who has saved me
from death, while my pard here‘is like me in that respect.”

“T know that well, Pawnee Bill, of you, and of Buffalo ..

Bill also.”

“Vou do know us!” cried Pawnee Bill, in surprise.

“0 L said.’

“May I ask where we have met before, sir?” asked Buf-
falo Bill, in vain striving to recall the face of the man
before him.

“Neither of you know me, though I do you. But will
you not dismount and share my cabin for the night?”

“Thank you, no. Those two fellows must be buried be-
fore night, for I cannot leave even an Indian to become
food for wolves. Then we must go on to the mining
camps below,” answered Cody.

Le Glory Hallelujah ?”

“Yes; that is what the miners call their camp.”

mabe hardly deserves the name, as you. will discover;
but I will meet you there to- night, for I have business to
cal me there tater.”

“Well, we will be glad to meet you again, I assure you,
for we fully appreciate what you have done for us, and
we will be glad to know your name.’

“My name, gentlemen, may seem as out of place as
that a Glory Hallelujah City. But then, you know, the
_ miners have a way of calling a man by whatever name
that may suit their fancy, so, as I dress above the average
of ordinary border mortals, they call me Bandbox Bill,
and, not knowing me, they also dubbed me the Unknown,
while, on account of other peculiarities I have, they dub
me the Undertaker and The Man in Black.

“Tam rich, you see, in names, gentlemen, so take your

~ choice.”

The man was es more of a mystery than ever
to the two scouts, who regarded him with an interest
akin to awe.

Then Buffalo Bill remarked:

“Well, my friend, as we cannot go back upon our own
names we will call you Bandbox Bill, and certainly you
do look more like a city swell than a frontiersman.”

“Yes, Buffalo, Bandbox Bill goes for our new pard,
and | hope we'll meet you to-night in Glory- Hallelujah
City,’ Pawnee Bill added.

“T will be there without fail, gentlemen, and you'll find
me at the Queen of Hearts Saloon, which adjoins Kate’s
Kitchen, as the best tavern-there is called.”

“Yes, we put up at Kate’s Kitchen, and will drop in
at the Queen of Hearts and see you, so don’t fail to be

there, pard.”’

“Do you see this?” and Bandbox Bill placed his hand

lightly upon the coffin,

> | Yes, it las been a very conspicuous object i in ‘my eyes
ever since I rode up here,” Pawnee Bill answered.

“Well, this coffin is to have an occupant to-night, gen-
tlemen, and the man who is to fill it is now alive and in
. good health.”

Neither Buffalo Bill nor Pee Bill made reply.

There was something so uncanny in the words of the
strange man, and his look, that they could not find re-
sponse, so bowed and rode down the trail.

THE BUFFALO

BILL STORIES. :

“Biffalo. “

“Yes, Pawnee Bill,” and as the iwotaa again reached —
‘the valley, Buffalo Bill rode up alongside of his com-

panion.
“That gentleman in black just lays over any one I ever

saw.

“He is certainly a mystery.”

“Yes, and I must know more of him.”

“We can doubtless find out about him in Glory Hal-

‘lelujah City.”

“Glory Hallelujah City?) What a name!”
“And the Queen of Hearts Saloon and Kate’s Kitchen,
too!”

“Yes, we have got among a queer lot, Buffalo; but we

came for a purpose, and must carry it through. a

“Yes, we must do that,” was the determined reply of
Buffalo Bill, and the two scouts drew rein by the rock
upon which lay the two bodies of the men who had Deen
killed while lying in ambush to kill.

“A remarkable shot, that man, Buffalo.”

“He is,
men?”

“To the victor belong the spoils, Buffalo, so we'll take
them with us and turn them over to the unknown to-
night. But now let us bury these fellows with a thanks-
giving prayer that they failed to connect,’ and the two
scouts dismounted and set to work upon their task.

CHAPTER TL
THE WOUNDED SCOUT.

“Doc, I’ve got a piece of lead in my shoulder I ish
you would please take out for me,’ and the speaker dis-
mounted before the log cabin of an army surgeon at
Fort Lansing.

The surgeon arose quickly. from a table where he was
writing, out under a large tree, and as he stood erect

his splendid form showed to perfection in his undress ~

uniform, while his slouch hat shaded a face that was
strong in character, fine-looking, and in the dark, piercing
eyes was a look to do and dare any danger. ©

The wounded man was dressed in buckskin leggings,
cavalry boots, a gray sombrero, and hunting shirt, and
his left arm hung limp at his side.

His form was compactly built, with broad shoulders,

and his movements were quick | and decided.

His face was bright, expressive, and a reckless expres-—-

sion rested upon his lips and dwelt in his eyes, while his

long brown curls gave him a look a trifle effeminate, un--

less a person regarded him closely.

The man was Texas Jack, a noted ranger of the Lone
Star State, who had gone to the Northwest and become
a scout of the plains.

His hunting shirt was stained by the lifeblood flow-
ing from his wound, and yet he made light of it as he
took a seat and stripped his shoulder to the gaze of
Surgeon Frank Powell.

“Why, Jack, how did you get this wound?”
Surgeon Powell as he probed it, and which act did not
cause the scout to even flinch.

“Oh, it was the Toll Takers of the Rockies, doc, for
they ambushed me as I came along; but I got through.”

“Yes, so. I see, and this bullet nearly got through, too;

soon, and you will be all right in a few days.
“So it was the Toll Takers, you say?”

indeed ; but what about: the horses of these

asked ~~

_ but it is lodged all right, and T’ll have it out for you. ?

 
 

THE BUFFALO

RY eG. sir.
“Ah! here is the bullet, so keep it as a souvenir; but,
Jack!”
| Yes, Surgeon, Powell .
“Let us set to work to run those Toll Takers to earth.”
“Just say the word, doctor, and [ am with you.”

Ae i
.

“Well, you know that I had an idea of taking their

trail some months ago, along with Pawnee Bill, Buffalo
Bill, and yourself, but the two Bills, as the boys call them,
were ordered to Fort Benning, and so I gave it up. But
I have, in my solitary scouts, secured considerable infor-
mation about this lawless band, and I believe that we can
go together and hunt them down.”

“Tam with you, doc.” |

“I have discovered that they have no special retreat or
working place, but roam from trail to trail, camp to camp,
and with an occasional visit to the settlements. Now,
I am sure that the lawless bands that are said to infest
all the trails are no other than the Toll Takers—one and
the same outfit. They are splendidly mounted, have
agents who run off their plunder and sell it for them,
and are under a skillful and daring chiéf. But, Jack,
you and I can take their trail and hunt them to their
proper end.”

“So say I, doctor, and I am ready at-any time.”

“You'll not be fit for the work under two weeks. In
the meantime I’ll get leave to go on a special duty and
take you with me, and there is no need to tell you how
dangerous is the work.”

“T know it, doctor, but I have gone hand in hand with
death so long that it does not scare me as once it did.”

“I know your pluck, Jack. There, your wound is
dressed; and come regularly and let me look after it.”

“T will, thank you; but, doctor ?”

oY a6. 2 *

“There is one thing I would like to ask you.”
hr Yes, Jack”
“Do you believe in ghosts?” : .

Surgeon Powell laughed, for Texas Jack had asked the
question in such a sober manner.

“d mieaty it, doa.’

“No, Jack; I have never had any superstitious dread of
the dead since I dissected my first subject in the Louis-
ville Medical College.”

~“You had up to that time, then?”

“Well, yes. You see, I had trouble with a wild fel-
low who, when drinking, always sought a quarrel with
me. Once I was forced to knock him down, and the next
night, as I was about to leave my room to go the college,
he attacked me, along with several others. I defended
myself, for 1 saw that they meéant to kill me, and shot my
enemy through the body. I sent a physician to him, and
he recovered and left town, I heard, while I was exon-
erated from blame in the matter. A year after my fellow
students brought a subject to the dissecting table one
night, which they wished me to operate upon. They
said it was a case of a man who had been wounded over
a year before, and had just died of the wottnd. I drew
back the sheet and there lay my old enemy. It was a
terrible shock to me, and it did seem as though he had
kept his vow to haunt me. But you will give me credit
for having strong nerves, I believe, and I showed then
what they were, for I did not flinch, but remarked:

“"T know this man, gentlemen, for I gave him this
wound, and his case will be a deeply interesting one.’

“The students regarded me with almost horror, but.

 

  

BILL STORIES.

I went to my work, followed the track of the bullet, and
showed the eventful cause of death. Since then, Texas
Jack, I have never had an atom of superstition in my
nature; but why did you ask if I was superstitious ?”
“Becatise I have seem a ghost,” replied Jack.
“Indeed? When and where?” Pes
“Tn the Haunted Range, which you know
Rock Outposts ruins through.”
Heer
“It was a woman, on horseback, and if she was not a
ghost then I would give much to know what she is.”
“White-faced, wearing a flowing snowy robe, and
mounted upon a milk-white steed, I suppose?”
“No, doc, she was dressed in black, wore a. sable veil, ©
‘and her horse was just about the hue of charcoal.”
“The ghost of a negress, perhaps ?”
~ No, for her face was oh, so white,”
“Well, Jack, our trip after the Toll Takers will take
us through the Haunted Range, so we'll look up your sable -
ghost, too; but now go to your quarters and get rest,
and do not work or fret yourself,’ and the scout obeyed,
while Surgeon Powell returned to his writing once more.

the trail to

CHAPTER Ly.
A MYSTERIOUS WARNING.

“What is it, driver?” and heads peered out of the win-.
dows of the coach on each side, as one of the passengers
asked the question. S »

It was on the Overland stage trail running toward the ©
farther Land of the Setting Sun, as the Far West is
poetically called. :

It was a bright moonlight night, but the moon was not
many days old, so threatened soon to go down behind a
lofty range of mountains and leave the trail in darknéss.

The coach was a fine one, large, roomy and comfortable,
the passengers were six in number, and the driver was a
veritable king of the reins, for no better man ever held —
the ribbons over a Rocky Mountain stage team. He had
won, from his wonderful night drives through dangers, the
name of Old Owl Eyes, though he wrote himself down on
the stage books as Kit Keene, which his pards immediately
transposed into Keen Kit.

The coach had reached a part of the trail which de-
scended into a valley, where was a swift-flowing stream
bridged with a rude structure that looked very shaky to
cross by day, and doubly so at night.

The bridge was the terror of all drivers on the Overland
who had ever been compelled to cross it, not only on ac-
count of the perilous undertaking, but because right there
had more deeds of red deviltry been committed than
anywhere else upon the line. ; :

Upon either side of the bridge, near the road, was a
little burying ground, and fully a score of victims of red-
skins and outlaws rested in one, while in the other were

the graves of a dozen outlaws and Indians killed in at-_

tacks upon the coaches. _ nea
_ The mountains which sheltered this valley were known —
as the Red Range and the Haunted Range, and not a
driver on the Overland ever cared to be caught there by
night, though it often happened that they were.
It was before descending into the Valley of the Shadow
of Death, as a traveler had once called it, and which name
had clung to it once, that Old Owl Eyes had come to a

stidden halt.

As he made no reply, the questioner again asked :

 

 

  
  

ce

le

a

Natt

ei 4 ps

 

 

 

  

THE BUFFALO

“What is it, driver?”

“You has eyes, hain’t yer?”

“Yes,” came ina chorus from the passengers.

“Then look ahead on ther trail,” replied Keen Kit.
pointing with his whip to where a woman in black,
mounted upon a black horse, plainly revealed in the imoon-
light, barred their way.

An exclamation of surprise, mingled with alarm, came

from the lips of the pasengers, while one said:

“A woman! and in this wild region?”

“Yas,” laconically answered Kit.

“Are you afraid of her, driver?”

“More’n I am of any man as lives.”

“Whois shee.

“T knows her as ther Woman in Black.”

“Drive on past her.”

“See here, pard, don’t be too flip with yer advice, for I
knows jist what I am doing, and I hain’t been picked up
fer a fool many times.”

“Do you intend to stay here all night, driver, because
a woman bars your way?’ asked a stern voice, and a
man in the uniform of an army officer sprung out of the
stage. ;

al cap’n! Wait!”

The officer seemed impressed by the manner of the

- driver,

He knew his courage but too well, and so he stood
gazing upon the strange horsewoman.

They stood like a statue—horse and rider—directly
in the trail, and the moonlight revealed them distinctly.

The woman’s face seemed ghastly white, while from

_her head to the end of her long skirt she was enveloped

in black.

Her horse was also jet-black, and stood as still as though
carved of stone.

The right hand of the woman was pajead, the palm
toward the coach, as though warning them back from the
Valley of the Shadow of Death ahead.

“Shall I go forward and speak to her, Kit?”

“No, cap’n; don’t do it.”

‘What is to be done, then?”
iy CW ait. 39 i

“Well, il humor you, Keene, for I now your un-
doubted pluck; but if she detains us beyond ae min-
utes, I will go forward and see just who this Shadow
of the Overland is, as they call her.”

“You has heerd o’ her, cap nme

Ness Kit,

‘T has seen her twice afore.”

“Well?”

“She warned me then.”

Ves. 7

“T didn’t heed her.”

“And the result ?”

“Is some graves down in ther walley.”

“Ah! on each occasion?”

“Yas; each time, cap’n, thar was ghosts made.”

“I'll give you ten minutes’ delay, Kit.”

And it was evident that the army officer was influenced
by the manner and words of the driver.

“All right, cap’n.”

And Kit kept his eye upon the woman in black.

The minutes passed slowly; still the woman held her
position, as still as statties, horse and rider.

_ At last the captain grew SN aa: and ae
“I am going ahead, Kit,”

 

 

Bibl STORIES © , as

He moved a few paces, w then the woman slowly turned
her horse and rode under the dark shadow of a ve
where she halted, but was yet seen.

Her hand was seen to move as though she was waving
it; and, a moment after, she wheeled her horse suddenly
and rode away tapidly, her horse’s hoofs giving back no”
sound upon the rocky trail.

Quickly the captain walked forward. He halted near
the cliff, and then called out to Kit to drive on.

The driver obeyed, and, as the coach pulled up, all saw
written upon the cliff in what eee to be letters of
fire:

“Go back, for death awaits you ahead on this trad!

“What does it mean?” gasped a passenger.

“Didn't I tell yer?’ Keen Kit returned.

“Well, Kit, what do you intend to do?” asked the cap-
tain.

“T hain’t no fool, cap’n.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you see them letters o’ fire?”

“Nonsense! It is written with phosphorus, and if the
moonlight fell upon the rock it could not be'seen, as in the
dark.” i

“It is a warnin’ in letters of fire, cap’n.”

“Well, Keene, I’ve got to go through, so if you wish
to camp, from fear of danger ahead, do so, and I'll take
one of your leaders and go on,” said the captain impa-
tiently.

“No, cap’n, don’t do that, but git upon the bak with
me, for 1 knows yer wu'th, and we'll drive through,”

“All right, Kit!

“But not on this trail.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tl go by the Devil’s Turnpike, cap’n.”

“Kit! 1°?

\ Was capa.

“Tf any other man hes you suggested going by that
wild trail Ud set him down as a fool.”

“I drove it once, cap’n.’

“T heard so, to escape a freshet down the cafion, and

saved the lives of all in doing So.”

“T’ll go that way, cap’n.’

“Tt is as dangerous as risking this trail, Kit.”

‘No, cap’n, it’s sure death in the walley, but big chances
going round by the Devil’s Turnpike, and it’s shorter,
too.”

“Yes; but go ahead, for | am with you, go which way
you may,” and the captain leaped up to the box, and,
turning his horses around, Keen Kit started back on the
trail to where he would have to take the terrible road
known as the Devil’s Turnpike.

CHAPTER V.
UNDER ORDERS.

“You sent for me, Colonel Roylston?”’ and Buffalo Bill
entered the headquarters of the commandant of Fort
Kitching, where he was serving as chief of scouts. _

“Yes, Cody, for I am anxious to place in your hands

}

_ the solving of a frontier mystery, and also the bringing to

justice of the lawless band known as the Toll Takers of

the, Trail,” answered Colonel Roylston, a handsome man _

and every inch a soldier.
“T am at your command, colonel, for any duty 1s may
_wish me to perform.’ answered the scout. ;

   
 

  

THE BUFFALO

“Tam always sure of that, Cody, and know that I can
count upon you.

_ “I am sorry to send you away upon a mission a des- ~

perate risk, I may say, but 1 have confidence in your
coolness, judgment, and skill, and believe you, of all
men, can do what I wish done. Sit down, for Captain

Alf Taylor will be here 1 in a few minutes, and I wish you~

to hear his story.”
“He has just returned from Salt Lake, sir, I believe.”

“Yes, and has a strange story to tell, which urged me
to no longer delay in sending you upon the duty I have
in mind. Captain Taylor is anxious to go himself, but
‘ I cannot spare him just now, so you must pick your own
‘comrades for the work. If any officer other than Taylor
told me what he did, I would be a little doubtful; but,
-as you know, Alf Taylor is no man to be frightened, and
is, cool as an ‘icicle under all circumstances. Ah! here he
“is now.

_» Just then there entered a tall, slendery formed man,
yet possessing a-fine physique, his carriage upright and
martial.

He was in the undress uniform of a captain of cee
and certainly“ was a very striking-looking person.

It was the same officer who had sprung from Keen
Kit’s coach on the Overland: Trail when the woman in
black barred the way.

He saluted the commandant politely, shook hands with
Cody, and remarked :

“Glad to see you, Bill, I dropped in to see you last
night, but was told you were away on a scout.”

“Yes, captain, I got back at dawn, and was glad to hear

‘of your return, for we missed you over in our eee
returned the scout.

“Taylor, I sent for Cody, after our talk this morning,
for I have decided that he is the best man to send upon
this mission.’

“By long odds the best, colonel.”

Well, let Cody know of your adventure, and then I
will tell him what I wish him to do.”

“Tt is a long tale, Bill, but a strange one.
Keen Kit, I believe?”

Owl Eyes of the ae sir?”

66 es 39

“I know him well, sir, and he is ie king of drivers,
while he has the courage of a grizzly bear.”

“You are right. I went West on Kit’s hearse, as they
call the coaches, and returned with him, also. I was be-
hindhand on sleep going out, so was taking a nap inside
the coach when two shots awakened me. I discovered
that Kit was in a skirmish with road agents, or, as they
call them there, Toll Takers of the Trail, and so I went to
his aid. There were but three of them and one got away,
_ the other two remaining for reasons unnecessary to state.
Kit informed me that as there were but three he concluded
to fight when they held him up, and thought it not worth
while to waken me. This showed me my man, and so
I arranged to catch his coach coming back. I had ridden
on the box the night and day before, to escape being
talked to death by a Jew, an Irishman, and an English-
man talking American politics, so the next night left the
box for a few hours’ sleep inside. I was awakened by

You know

voices, and found that Kit had drawn rein, so, as I heard
some one say there was a woman in the trail ahead, I
got out.”

The captain then told of the wabeneate with the woman
in black, and-Buffalo Bill remarked: ie a

 

 

  

BILL STORIES.

“They call her the Shadow of the Overland.”

“Yes, so I heard; but after that warning, written with
punk upon the rocks, Kit would not go on, but decided
to take a breakneck trail known as the Devil’s “Turn-
pike.”

“Tl have heard of it, sir.’

“Yes, and Kit had driven over it once; but that any
wheeled vehicle could go that way I would never have
believed had I not been there to see for myself. Why, at
two places we had to unhitch the teams, and with ropes,

let the coach down the steep hill; yes, ‘and hold back on
the horses, too, as they went down, to prevent their break-
ing their necks. Kit made the Englishman, the Jew, and
the Irishman do the most work by scaring them with
stories of soon being pursued and murdered by the Toll
Takers, so 1 had my revenge for my sleepless night and
~ day. Tt took us three hours to go seven miles, and I’ll
give Kit Keene a prize as the best driver I ever saw handle
the reins. We cut off about eight miles by the turnpike,
and did not go through the valley where that arch out-
law they call Major Mephisto and twenty of his band
of cutthroats were lying in wait for us. That Kit car-
ried a treasure box aboard, and I had considerable gov-
ernment money along, will prove that we made a For
tunate escape, while, had we resisted, not one of us
would have’ been spared by the red-handed fiends.”

“You said that the western-bound coach met the same
band, captain?”

“Yes, colonel; Major Mephisto waited for us. until
dawn, and, enraged at finding, from a scout, that we had
turned on the ridge and gone by the Devil's Turnpike,
he shot the driver of the westbound coach and two
passengers, as the Pony Express messenger, who Dee
fis on the trail the next day, told us.” ”

_Now, Cody, you have heard the captain’ s story ! ee

y 65, sir,
“What do you think of this woman in black ? fae
“She is a mystery, colonel.”’

“She certainly is.” ~ :

“Do you think, Bill, she is in any way connected with
_ Major Mephisto and his Toll Takers?” asked Captain.

- Taylor.

“Tt would seem So, sir, for she knew of the ambush
prepared for you.” :
“Yes, and warned us.’ :

“Well, Cody, it is my ee to have you solve the mys- :
tery about this woman. If she is guilty of being in
league with the Toll Takers, I will pardon her in that she
has thrice warned Kit Keene of danger. But I wish-you
to see if you cannot find her out, and also discover just
how and when this villain, Mephisto, and his band can

be brought to the gallows. | "These outlaws have been hold- —
ing a high hand of late, and as just now the Indians are
quiet, I:wish you to go upon this special duty.”

“I will go, colonel, whenever you deem best.”

“Take your time in preparing for the work, for you
must go wholly prepared. I will allow you a detail Of a=
sergeant and as many men as you. need, with those of
your scouts you wish to take with you.”

“Thank you, Colonel Roylston, but I think it hardly

—wise to let the Toll Takers know that we are on the searcly —

for them. If Surgeon Frank Powell and Texas Jack,
from Fort Lansing, were here, I would wish to have
them go along With me, for you ‘know their reputation as
scouts.”

“Well, indeed; and e would make a strong trio;

 

 

 

 

  
  

CNS ae

ah eA Pe AEN RTE OS some oh ME pmo fs Rates peemenr ge. SET) b es Ne

ae Spee

 

 

 

 

 

of red-gold hue, and a look to melt an iron heart.

THE BUPE ALO

Mk T do not know that I could get Surgeon Powell, and

I would dislike to ask for Texas Jack.”

Well, colonel, I have a friend here now, and no better *
_ ally can I ask. We will go together.”

“T believe you are right, Cody, in not erie a force
with you. But who i is your friend?”

“Pawnee Bill, sir.’

‘The very man! as you two can accomplish won-
ders,’ said the colonel, with enthusiasm.

Three days after, Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill had

_ started upon their perilous mission, and their trail first

led them to Glory ee ee

CHAPTER VI.
HALLELUJAH CLT y:

The Mecca toward which Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill
were wending their way, when they so fortunately and

_ strangely made the acquaintance of the solitary dweller

in the cabin on the mountain spur, who answered to the
name of Bandbox Bill; was more unique than even the
mining towns of the far West are wont to be.

Glory Hallelujah City was the remarkable name that
the settlement rejoiced in, and it centered upon the ruins
of an old fort situated upon a spur which commanded

a fine view of the valley on either side, with a river in
front and a lofty mountain range beyond.

The place centered upon the old fort for the reason
that just there had been erected the tavern known as
Kate’s Kitchen, with an annex upon one side of the Over-

land coach stables, for Hallelujah City was the terminus
of a branch line, and upon the other side of the “hotel”

was the Queen of Hearts Saloon.
The tavern was an eating house, with a wing on either

side where were the rooms of those who lodged there.

through force of circumstances.
Along the front was a piazza, so called, though it was

a shed roof, and had Mother Earth for flooring.

Here were benches for pees and they were gen-
erally occupied.

There was a small second floor containing a few choice
rooms over one wing, and here the landlady had her
quarters, for the host was a hostess.

_ “Lady Kate” was this hostess’ name, and that she was

a lady born and bred. there could be no doubt.

She had come to the tavern in male attire one night,
two years before, and had asked to see the landlord,
Frank Fenwick, a gambler, and a dashing fellow withal.

Not known to be a woman, she had gone up to the

landlord’s rooms, and, soon after. ‘a shot was heard, and

- those who ran to na room found Frank Fenwick dead
upon the floor.

- To the amazed crowd, the pretended boy
aaidey 3

“Tama woman. That man wronged me beyond for-
giveness, and I tr acked him here. In the sight of Heaven
I was his wife. Do with meas ey will, for 1 am ee

to face death!”

The miners stood aghast, until one said:

“Tf you is satisfied, miss, we is, and, as you was
Frank’s wife, jist, take the tavern for yer own, and run
it ter suit yerself.”

The woman was beautiful, with great dark eyes, hair
Hence
it was not strange that the rude men before her bowed
down in admiration to her.

Frank Fenwick was buried that afternoon, and the

   

Bi cronies

next day Kate Fenwick took charge. Thereafter the
hotel became known as Kate's Kitchen, and no one ever
went hungry from its doors, ©

She took Fenwick’s two rooms, and observers were
wont to say that often she was seen standing at the win-
dow gazing down upon the little cemetery a half mile
away on the river bank, where was the grave of her hus-
band,

Some said that Fenwick had killed himself at sight of
his wife, and others that she had shot him; but certain
it was that she was never asked for the truth of the
affair.

She dressed well, had several good saddle horses in
the stable, and was a superb rider, while about her waist
was always strapped’ a belt of arms, and,\as she was
known to be a dead shot, no miner or camp ruffan had
been tempted thus far to force her to use her weapons.

The only other female in Hallelujah City was, by a
strange coincidence, a beautiful one, and also the pro-
prietress of an establishment equally as popular as was
Kate’s Kitchen.

This was the Queen of Hearts Saloon, which had

_ been opened-by a gambler who had arrived at the camps

one day and at once had the shanty erected in which
he combined gambling tables and a bar.

Soon after his arrival he built a house for himself on
the hill behind the tavern, and, to the surprise of all, the
coach one day set down at Kate’s Kitchen. a young: girl
whom Gambler Gray met and introduced to Kate Henwirk
as his wife.

On Sunday night, some weeks after: her arrival, as
Gray was going home from his saloon, carrying a large
sum of money with him, he was shot down and robbed;
but he managed to reach his home and tell his story,
and after one week of mourning the gambling den was
opened by the Queen of Hearts, Louise Gray, who was
also known in Hallelujah City as Lady Lou.

Between Lady Kate and Lady Lou there seemed to be
a stronger bond of friendship than the mere fact that they
were the only females in Hallelujah City warranted.
Often were they together, and the respect shown them
was marked.

The men of Hallelujah City, storekeepers, Overland
hangers-on, camp idlers, and miners, were not a commun-
ity to be proud of.

Gambling was the principal amusement, with drinking
and life- -taking as side shows,

The mines panned out well, gold dust circulated freely,

-and the camps could boast, ‘all told, some six hundred

souls, scattered about within a radius of half a dozen
miles.

There were Americans, Mexicans, and Hetebracie from
California and New Mexico, a few Indians, a score of
Chinese, and an equal number of negroes, and among the
first named were representatives from every State and

Territory in the Union.

Then, there were some adopted citizens of our great
republic, among them being English, Irish, Scotch,
French, Spanish, Germans, and Canadians,

With such a mixture, it is not to be wondered at that
Bandbox Bill had once remarked in public that Devil’s
Den would be a far more appropriate name for the settle-
ment than was that of Hallelujah City. -

That, too, there was a villain to every honest man in the
community goes without saying, and this same desperage
element made itself felt on all occasions.

  
 

SANG

ae | THE BUFFALO

That the graveyard, picturesquely situated upon the
river bank and known as the ‘‘Bone Garden,” had planted
there almost daily some human exotics, is not to be.
wondered at, while it was a cause of surprise to a stranger
going there to find two of the graves overgrown with wild
flowers, and having headboards upon which had been
neatly cut the names of those who there slept their last

sleep.

These graves were where rested the remains of Conitee
Gray and Frank Fenwick.
Into this strange settlement, Glory Hallelejuh City, it

was that Buffalo Bill and Cee Bill rode that after-

noon after their adventure on the trail, eee had so
nearly ended their lives.

CHAPTER VII.
‘A TRIO OF MYSTERIES.

The two famous scouts were too striking in their ap-
pearance and general make-up to go unnoticed, even in
Hallelujah City.

They were dressed in a picturesque frontier costume,
top boots, and sombrero, and carried a repeating rifle
each slung at their saddle horns, while the never- “omitted
belt of arms encircled their waists.

They wore their hair long, and were wont to keep
their cheeks clean-shaven, which gave them a very neat
appearance.

Then, they were splendidly mounted, and had with

them on their saddles their blankets and camping outfits
for nights to be spent on the trail.

The loungers about Kate’s Kitchen eyed them as they
rode up, and when they were met by Lady Kate, who
welcomed them with a smile and pleasant word, they felt
that their lot might have been cast in a far worse place
than the tavern of Hallelujah City.

Lady Kate gave them a room upon the upper floor, re-
served for favored guests, and set them down to a sup-
per which they were more than pleased with.

“Lady Kate, does yer know them two pilgrims as yer
is so sweet on?” asked a villainous- -looking man, as the
landlady returned after showing her guests to the supper

table.

“No,” was the quiet reply of the woman, who felt that
the man was plotting mischief—something he was noted
for in the camps.

His name was Buzz Saw Bill. His general appear-
ance was against him, for there was a hideous scar upon
his face which had been made by his falling upon a buzz
saw, he said, when working in a lumber mill, and hence
his sobriquet, of which he seemed to be proud.

“Waal, they is Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill, govern-
ment scouts, and they is here fer no good.”

“T have heard of the men you name as wonderful speci-
mens of manhood. Are you sure you are not mistaken,
Buzz Saw?”

“No, Lady Kate, for. I knows ’ em, and they is here.
/ sartin to nip some poor fellow.”

“I guess the man they nip, as you call it, will not be
missed, Buzz Saw,” was the quiet response, and Lady
Kate turned to Lady Lou, who just then entered, and the
two beautiful women went in'to supper.

“Buffalo, who is that woman?” asked Pawnee quickly,
as the two sat down near the scouts.

“One is our landlady, but the other I do not know.”

“I have seen her somewhere before,” and Pawnee Bill

our sex here.

BILL: STORIES.

began to try to recall when and where he had seen the

fair gambler.

' Having told Louise Gray Wie Buzz Saw had said of
the scouts, Kate Fenwick seemed anxious to discover
more about them and their coming to the mining camps,
so said:

“Gentlemen, as you said you expected to be my euests
for some little time, permit me to present my friend, Mrs.
Gray—better known here as Lady Lou.”

The scouts bowed, and Buffalo Bill, in his pleasant way,
said :

“Ves, we are taking a jaunt. through the mountains and .

camps for a few weeks, and, finding your hotel such a

good one, we will hardly be tempted to leave it until we

have to do so.’

“You will find eee City a very rough place,”
remarked Lady Lou.

“Judging from the only two Suan we have
made here, | beg to differ with you,’ was Buffalo Bill’s
gallant response. oe:

“Thank you; but we are the only representatives of

ment of a very tough camp, so be upon your guard.”

“We are not wholly strangers to the border, but thank
you for your kind warning. I may add, we had another
warning on our way here.”

“How so, may I ask?” and both women seemed inter-
ested.

Pawnee Bill had remained quiet, but was Meas white
Buffalo Bill told the story of their being ambushed and
saved by two wonderful shots at long range by the
mysterious man living alone upon the mountain spur.

“Who is this unknown dead shot, miss?” ’ suddenly asked

Pawnee Bill.
“Well, he is, as you say, unknown; but we call him,

here, the Bravo in Broadcloth, while he is also known as

Bandbox Bill, the Gentleman in Black, and the name you
just spoke of—the Unknown Dead Shot.”

“Then, he has tried his aim before in these parts, miss: os
- “Yes, a number of times.”’

"What does he do?”

“No one knows. He has nfoney in plenty, pays liberally
for all he gets, and plays cards often, paying promptly
when he loses, though he is often sticcessful, as Lady
Lou, here, knows, for my friend is the owner of the Ques
of Hearts gambling saloon.”

“Yes, he is a bold, fearless player, and yet seems to
know all that is going on about him the while,

purpose that he keeps to himself,’ Lady Lou remarked.

The scouts were becoming more and more interested ©

in the Bravo in Broadcloth, and Buffalo Bill told of his
having just completed a coffin,

“Then some man’s doom is sealed for this night, for
the Bravo always gives fair notice to his victims, if I
may so call the men he kills, and brings his coffin to Dury
him in.’

“He’s a liberal sort of pilgrim, to say the least of him,”
Pawnee Bill said.

Supper was now finished, and Lady koe invited the
strangers to call at the Queen of Hearts during the even-
ing, and they promised to be there, as they had ‘told
the Bravo in Broadcloth they would meet him there.

Lighting their cigars, the two scouts sat down in front
of the hotel, while they became objects of interest to the

You will have to deal with the wild ele-

The man 7.
is a mystery to me, and I am sure he is heré for some»

 
 

 

u

 

 

o THE BUFFALO

“half a hundred loungers gathered there, as Buzz Saw
~ Bill had already spread it about who they were. :
They were too well known by reputation not to create

an excitement in Hallelujah City, and, wondering what
could be their missionsthere, those among the camp dwell-
ers who had guilty consciences for crimesscommitted, be-
gan to feel very uneasy at the presence in their midst of
two men whose names were a terror along the border.
That some one had recognized them, the scouts soon
discovered; but, though they had hoped to remain un-
known, they had hardly expected to do so.
They had come to that mining camp as the starting

‘point for the duty they had to perform in solving the

mystery of the woman in black who had warned Kit

Keene’s stage of danger, and to strike the track of the ~

Toll Takers of the Trails, whom they Lora to run_to
earth. —
' They had already discovered in the Bravo in Broad-

, cloth, Lady Lou, and Lady Kate, a trio of mysteries they.

had been unprepared for in that wild community, and
Pawnee Bill remarked, very properly:

“Buffalo, it will take a handful of trumps to win the
game we have got to play in these parts.’

“Bill, you are right; but, somehow, I believe we have
struck the head center of the Toll Takers right here.”’

“Maybe; but let us go in and take a squint at the
Queen of Hearts’ layout.

And the two scouts walked over to the saloon of the
fair gambler.

CHAPTER VIII.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

““Tt's no use, Jack, for /her horse outfoots ours,” said:

one of the two horsemen, drawing rein after a long,

hard run after a woman on horseback of whom they had
been in pursuit.

__In the speaker no one would have recognized Surgeon ~
Frank Powell, of the United States army, so completely

was he metamorphosed.

_ His dark complexion had been stained to the hue of
an Indian’s skin, and his black hgir had been braided with
beads and feathers, while a dress of gorgeous feathers

- covered his head and fell down to his waist.

From head to foot he was in the costume of a Sioux
chief, red blanket and all, and his roan was equipped vu
an Indian saddle and bridle.

That a white man could be thus aeons to all ap-
pearances into an pr? one would hardly believe with-

Out secs. |

His companion was Texas Jack, but no one would

have suspected the fact, for he wore a wig of white

hair, concealed under a foxskin cap, except the locks that
hung down his back.

He had shaved off his mustache, and his beard, a

‘week’s growtl, gave him a grizzly appearance; while his

eyes were concealed under a pair of iron-rimmed spec-
tacles with plain glasses in them.

His attire was buckskin leggings, a blanket hunting
shirt, moccasins, and his foxskin cap with three long
bushy. tails waving about his head with every motion.

He looked the old trapper of the mountains to perfec-
tion, and no one would have suspected that he had not
passed his threescore years.

His horse was a wiry, rawboned bay, looking very

pouen, but with fine points, which a closer study would

BILL STORIES: | 9

reveal, while his trappings were as ancient as the rider

: looked.

That the two disguises would pass muster the sere

‘turers had proven by deceiving Surgeon Powell’s brother

officers, who were allowed to behold them in their
“make-up.”

They had been several days upon the trail, when they
had suddenly discovered, upon nearing the Haunted Val-
ley, a horse and rider ahead of them and regarding them
attentively.

As they pushed forward more ee Jack called out:

“Doc, it’s the woman in black.” :

“Your sable ghost ?”

Yes si,

‘Well, if she can outrun our horses I'll think she really
has wings to aid her. Come!”

The two started forward at a run, and the woman quick-
ened her pace, after glancing over her shoulder an instant.

They were in a valley, and the trail was a good one,
so the horses fairly flew along.

The shadows of night were falling, and it seemed a
weird sight to behold the woman ahead of them in that

place.

She was mounted upon a horse as black as night, and
her habit was black, also, while a sable veil fioated behind
ber

When she had turned her face it was seen to be very
white.

What could she be there for, and who was she?

“We must catch her, Texas Jack.”

“Tt we.can, doc.” ‘

So, on the horses of the disguised scouts were urged,
but, though they were fairly flying along, they were losing
ground rapidly.

“Doc, she is leaving us, as you see.”

“Yes,” and the disguised surgeon scout urged on his
splendid roan.

_ The bay of Texas Jack kept neck and neck with him,
however, and the pace was kept up at the same tremen-
dous speed for over a mile.

The shadows had deepened, and soon the woman in
black had disappeared in the distance and gloom, never
having seemed to urge her horse.

Then it was that Surgeon Powell uttered the words that
opened this chapter:

“It’s no use, Jack, for her horse outfoots ours!”

“Well, Pard Doc, what do you make of her?”

“T don’t know about her; but I do know that she has
a horse I would like to own. The animal seemed to
hardly stretch himself out for a run, and yet dropped
our good horses easily, and we know what they can do.”

“Yes; but do you hear any hoof falls?”

“No, for she has stopped running.”

“When I saw her before, the horse she rode over rocky

. ground made no sound.”

“Then, the horse is a ghost, too,” decided Powell, with
a laugh.

“I confess to being a trifle superstitious, doc, ae I do
not see how a man can be a frontiersman and not be-
come so. I was a sailor when a lad, for a short while,
and I became superstitious then, and dwelling alone in
the mountains and prairies has made me more so.’

“You surely do not believe that woman is not flesh and
blood, Jack?”

“Reason tells me she is; and yet she is a mystery, as

is her horse.”

 
  

10°

Hello!” and

 

“Well, we must solve the mystery

Surgeon Powell drew rein, for upon the left of the trail -

was a large, smooth rock, ‘and upon it, wr itten in letters
of fire, they read: .

“There is an ambush a pate ahead of you. Four men
follow your trail. You are known to have left Fort Lan-
sing to hunt down the Toll Takers. Be warned!’

“yack Ue

OY es: dod.”
“This is strange,”
“You ‘bet it is.”

“It is written with phosphorus upon this rock, as you
see.’

“I know phosphorus shines like fire, doctor, for I have -

often seen it; but who wrote it?”

a he woman, I guess. See, it grows brighter as the
darkness j increases.

“Ves. a)

“Well, we will not have whoever wrote it suffer from
warning us, so I'll rub it out.”

_And then ?”

“Just ambush the gentlemen upon our trail.”

WAM tight, docs,

“Say, Jack, we are not keeping to our t plan,”

Elow so?’

“You forget that I am Red Chief, and that you are
Snow Hair.”

“Ah, yes; we must stick to our new names, Red Chief,”
answered Jack.

They dismounted and rubbed the telltale warning off
the rocks.

Then they led their horses back in the timber a short
distance and took up a position behind the tock, their
rifles ready.

Ina few moments they heard footfalls; then voices, and
four horsemen appeared in sight.

As they drew rein, not thirty paces from the two am- _

bushed men, one of the riders said:

“T tell you I believe they turned off the trail to camp.”

"NO. ‘Texas Jack knows this country, and would go
on to the spring ahead to camp,” replied another.

“Well, we better go back to where we lost their trail
when darkness came on, and be ready to continue at
dawn,”

“They may travel all night, and so pass through the :

valley.”

“Not they, for they are in no hurry, so would camp.
Besides, word went on that they had left the fort, so
they will be ambushed in the valley by the chief, if we
miss them,”

“Well, we had better not miss them, pards, for the
chief sent us word that they had started upon our trail,
Powell, the surgeon scout, and Texas Jack, disguised as
an Indian and an old trapper, and that we were to strike
their trail and do for them. Now, here we are in our
own range, and we have not overtaken then.”

“Because they are as cunning as redskins, and have cov-
ered up their trail.”

“Well, what is to be done?”

“Return to the spot where we lost their trail, and camp
until tnorning.”’

With. this, the: four men turned and rode away.

“Snow Hair.’ o

“Ves, Red Ce : 4

   

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

   

“That woman in black is our guardian angel.”
“You bet she is; but what is to be done?’
“T don’t know; let us think,” was the low response. —

CHAPTER IX..
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS.,>

Just as Indians sit in silence and plot and pie tie
two friends, who had so fortunately escaped from between
two fires, remained for some time, their thoughts busy

with a, situation.

At last Surgeon Powell said, in a low tone:

‘Jack {7

e Yes.”

“There is a spy at Fort Lansing.”

“So I was thinking.”

“IT am sure of it, for our departure was known: and
word sent at once to ‘the chief of the Toll Takers, whoever
Hews,

“You-dare on the right trail, pard.”

“This chief there sent word to some squad of his band
to track us and bury us.’ :

“Sure! 7?

“He also decided to have others ambush us.’

“And they are ahead.”

“Yes, and the woman knew all about it, and warned us.’

“Bless her sweet soul!’

“Now, otie of those men spoke your name, for he said
that Texas Jack knew this country.”

“So he did; but I know very little about it.”

“Well, his remark showed that our disguises are known
to the Toll Takers, so some one at the fort is a spy for
the outlaw chief, and sent him word.” ‘ae

“But who is the spy?”

“T cannot guess.”

“Only half a dozen officers knew of our going, and in
these costumes.”

“Only those that we knew of; but if there is a spy
there, and there surely is, he was on the watch. Now, he
has allies, for he sent word to the chief, that is evident, x
and we came by easy rides this far.”

“Then we are in close quarters.”

“If we stay here, yes.’

“TE we stay 2"

“Yes, but we must not stay.”

“Give up the work, then?” ;

“T thought you knew me better than that, Tack G

“No, you are a bulldog to hold on; but what do you
mean ?”

“We must get out of this valley now. Ahead of Here
as you know, is a stream. We can follow it down to
a place where we can cover up our tracks when we leave

it. Then we must ride all night, and ride fast, too, and

go down into the mining country, say about Hallelujah
Camp, and rest there a while. Then we can return this -
way in different disguises and see what we can discover. yl
“You have a great head, doc. A Wie
“Red Chief, if you please.”
Les? well, ‘Red Chief, I am ready, so let us move.’
They ‘returned to their horses, and, mounting, rode back
into the trail and then on to the stream which both of
them knew of, having been in the valley before. .
Down this they. rode, keeping in the water until they-

came to where they could ride out over the low banks.

So on through the night, covering their trail as best
ae oe the two friends made tiie way, and when

 
 

 

  
   
  
  
   
 

 

“Lady Lou.
dently. of home manufactufe.

day of the tavern.
~ siderable interest, and from which every one had drawn

- wo rd

~ game with him.

2
(
\

the dawn came they were many miles from the Valley of
the Shadow of Death.

“Tf they can follow our trail by day as fast as we
_ traveled last night, Jack, they are welcome to do so.

Now
let us seek a camping ee have Bs and get a few
hours’ rest.”

This they did, and it was near noon when they again
resumed their wa

The lights of Hallelujah City came in sight-an hour
after dark. They sought Kate’s Kitchen, had a cold

supper, and then sauntered into the saloon of the Queen
_ of Hearts.

In his character of Red Chief, Surgeon Powell was
erect, silent, and watchful, though apparently indifferent,

while Texas Jack, with a stoop in his walk and a shuffling

gait, led the way to a seat near the door.

They were observed by a few of those near them and
noted as strangers; but there seemed to. be some. cause
of excitement on hand which the two did not discover.

In the upper end of the saloon, upon a raised seat, sat
She was dealing faro on a rude table, evi-

. Her deft fingers handled the bards Stealy 7 and the
expression of her beautiful face never changed whether
the cards went for or against her.

A large group was about the faro table, and thea there
was a roulette stand, a dice box, and a number of stands
at which players were congregated.

One of the heaviest players at the faro table was a man
who looked every inch a villain.

He was six feet in height, had great broad shoulders,

a bearded face, and wore ‘his hair long, for it hung down

his back to his belt.

His eyes were small and een as an eagle’s, and in the
belt about his waist were four revolvers, two in ae and
one on either hip.

-He was a good card player, seldom losing, ane had

ee frightened off. every one from playing with him except

Lady Lou, who never flinched, no matter how high the

- stakes nor how heavy her loss.

“Seated by the side of Lady Lou was ie fair aos
She was watching the game with con-

out except the large gambler, who was known in the mines

_-as Six-shooter Sam, perhaps on account of his revolvers,
-and maybe because no one knew his real name, ee he

had taken good care not to mention.

Six-shooter Sam was a man to be feared, for, added
to great physical strength, was his deadly aim, desperate
character, and merciless nature. He never spared friend

. or foe, and many of the better spirits of the camps had
longed to see the desperado meet his match or his doom.

He had often tried to get the Bravo in Broadcloth into
a gaine with him, but that personage declined to play,

for some reason, up to that very day, when he had sent
in. to Six-shooter Sam that he would be at the.

Queen of Hearts saloon that night and play a two-handed

How the desperado took this message none knew; but
certain it was that he went to the saloon, accompanied by
a dozen of his boon companions, who, were of like caliber
as himself.

“But where is.this Bravo in Broudslous whe sent him

ther challenge, Pard Stranger?’ asked fack.
“He ain't arriv’ yit; but he'll be heur, ane it wu'dn’t

4

THE BUFFALO BILL

~ Pawnee Bill, yonder,”

     

 

STORIES.

 

surprise me ef thet game he said he would play were not |
played with keerds.”

“As how, pard?’” innocently asked Texas Jack, gazing -
at his informant curiously through his spectacles, while
the disguised surgeon seemed not to hear a word that was ~
being said.

“Waal, ther Bravo in Broadcloth are a trifle mysterious
in his ways, and when he sends ainvitation it means.
suthin’.”’

“Who is this Bravo i in Broadcloth, pard?)

“Ther Lord on’y knows, stranger, fer I don’t, He come
here some months ago and camped out up in the as
ings, and thar lives alone by hisself.

“He dresses like a parson at a weddin’, and he ae a
contract fer killin’ sartin folks, and he does it prime;
but ef he and Six-shooter Sam meets, thar’ll be big sport
this night.” f

“1. guesses so, pard,’ said (lexas Jack, talking in a
quavering, squeaking voice like an old man, and skillfully
using the border dialect.

“Pard, thar is two gents I has heerd much of, and
thaybe yer knows ’em—thar, yer kin see ‘em now, as ther.
crowd about ther Queen 0’ Hearts parts a leetle.” -

“Buffalo Sul and Texas Jack started in spite of his
nerve.

oY ou isis? em, then?”

*1 has seen (em, pard, ef yer means Buffler Bill and
and Texas Jack glanced: toward the
surgeon, whose eyes had fallen upon their two friends at
the same instant.

“They comed inter town ter-day, and 1 guesses they -
knows what they-is here fer, and somebody else will find
out, too; but, listen! fer Six-shooter Sam are a-shoutin ,
and he’s mad when he talks loud,” and the deep voice of
the desperado was heard above the noise in the large sa-
loon, ringing out in,earnest tones.

CHAPTER xe
THE UNKNOWN APPEARS. 5)

Six-shooter Sam was in luck, for he had been winning
steadily from the bank. _
The Queen of Hearts showed no annoyance ‘at his

doing so, counted out his winnings with firm hands, and

laid them before him, and went on dealing from bes little
tin box without any sign of nervousness. _
At last the man said, in his rude, boisterous manner:

7rd let up, Queen, fer i hates ter take money froma

woman.’

“Oh, no3.if you enjoy ie game, pray keep on without
consulting my pleasure,” said Lady Lou quietly.

ted only had a man ter play with I’d be glad; but
ther durned gerloots 0’ this town is such cowards they is
afeerd ter loose a leetle dust at keerds.”

“Well, pard, as I am not from Hallelujah City, i am
not afraid to risk a little gold dust in a game with you,’
said Pawnee Bill.

All eyes turned upon the scout, who stood as feel
unconscious of the gaze his words brought upon him.

Calm, a perfect specimen of splendid manhood, he
coolly eyed the astonished desperado, who, as soon as he
could decide that his challenge had been accepted, said, in
his rough way:

“You ah a stranger in this in a

“T am,’

  

  
   

    

“i guesses yer must be, ter hev ther oy ter offer to.

tackle me at keerds.”

‘Are you so dangerous, then?’ .

“Are I dangerous? Waal, I sees yer does not know
me. : oo

“No; but I hope to have that honor.’

“T are Six-shooter Sam.”

The desperado made the announcement with the air
of a man who expected to see the one ee did not know
him flinch at the information.

Pawnee Bill smiled, and said:

‘It's a real cute name; but I never heard of i be-

fore, pard.”

“Never heard o’ me?”

“No; where are you from?” -

“Hallelujah City, and ther boss o’ ther town.”

“I can hardly believe that.’

And Pawnee Bill showed no excitement whatever.

“Waal, why can’t yer believe it?’

“Because, though a stranger here, I have seen some
bree square-looking men around who don’t look as
_ thought they served under a master.” © |

_ Six-shooter Sam laughed loudly. He seemed to enjoy
urging Pawnee Bill on, asa cat plays with a mouse before
destroying it.

“Waal, I is master in Hallelujah, and I says so, and
no man denies it unless he calls me a liar.”

“Well, I cannot speak for the people here; but it seems
to me that if I lived in Hallelujah, | would not wear a
yoke for any man.’

“Pard, what might your name be: ae

“Tam often called Pawnee Bill.”

All saw the start the bully gave. His dark face paled
quickly, while he glanced about him, catching the eyes
of his special pals.

“Does yer mean that yer is Pawnee Bill, the scout?”

‘Ves. D9

Six-shooter oe seemed ill at ease, and in vain tried
to hide it; but he had been leading the conversation, in-
tending to spring a mine, in the end, which would add
more luster of a crimson hue to his name.

He felt that he could not now afford to drop the stran-
ger then and there without being thought a coward. ©

So, after another quick glance over the crowd, to see
that his gang were all present, he said:

“Waal, Pawnee Bill, yer may be there king bee up whar
you. lives, but in Hallelujah City I are ther boss, and no
man dare say I hain’t.”

Pawnee Bill had sought no quarrel with the man. He
had watched his playing with the Queen of Hearts, and
had decided to “chip in” and prevent the woman from
losing more money.

He read the big ruffian at a glance, and, fond of a
game of cards, he was anxious to win from the man and
avenge the losses of Lady Lou.

If Six-shooter Sam sought a quarrel with him that
would be the bully’s own lookout, and he must take the
consequences, and Pawnee Bill mentally caluculated that
if the desperado forced him to kill him the loss would not
- be deeply felt in Hallelujah City.

Before he could reply to the man’s direct dare to iia to.

say he did not believe he was the ‘“‘boss” of the camps,
the door of the saloon swung open, and, as all beheld
who entered, a hum of voices ran around the room, and
in a chorus the name was spoken :

“The Bravo in Broadcloth!”

| THE ‘BUFFALO BILL STORIES

It was the Bravo in Broadcloth who entered! Upon
one shoulder he carried a coffin, and all present felt that he

had come to the saloon to find an Sas for the un:

canny ‘overcoat.’

He walked straight toward the platferns, on which sat

the Queen of Hearts, with Kate Fenwick by her side,
and before which were Six-shooter Sam,
and the immediate group about them.

A deathlike silence fell upon the throng at sight of the
Bravo in black, carrying his coffin, and, brave as were
most of those present, they shuddered at the sight,

The coming of the mysterious man at once turned the

attention of all from the threatened war between the des.

perado and Pawnee Bill, and the latter whispered to.

Buffalo Bill: ‘
“Our mountain pard has arrived, Buttalo,7 2
“Yes, and he’s brought his burying box with him, which

means business,” was the answer,

The crowd gave way as the mysterious man advanced. .
All seemed to realize that he ae come upon a special

mission.
Coolly placing the coffin on the a table, the Bravo in

Broadcloth raised his hat politely to the Queen Of Hearts *

and Lady Kate; then, turning quickly upon the desperado,

the Bravo in Broadcloth covered him with a revolver,

which no one saw him draw, while he said sternly:
“Six-shooter Sam, I brought that coffin for you!” —

CHAPTER XI,
) A SECRET POWER.
The change was so sudden, from the bullying manner ot

the desperado, who seemed proud. of his name and repu-

tation and the terror he caused many to feel, to the com-
ing in of the Bravo in Broadcloth, that it was a relief to
all present, with perhaps the exception of the six-shooter
braggart himself.

Excitement ran high, and yet it was suppressed, and

all eyes were turned upon the man from the mountains,
who had brought such a weird gift to the desperado. |
Pawnee Bill merely stepped back, as though he readily

understood that there was no further cause for quarrel

between .the bully and himself.
ane Bravo looked strangely handsome, but dangerous.
His suit of black fitted him well. It was buttoned
up close to his throat, giving him a clerical look, while
his black, broad- brimmed sombrero was turned up upon
the left side, and caught there by a small star of black
euamel.
THe wore no arms that were visible, and yet he had sud-
denly leveled a short revolver, but of large caliber, at the
intended occupant of the coffin,

The coffin was now seen to have been well made, stained —
black, and upon the lid, in red letters, those near enone

read: ‘Six-shooter Sam—Killed August ister.
It was certainly very suggestive, for the day was ihe

first of August, and it was within a couple of hours to ~

midnight when the second day of the month would be
ushered in.

Lady Lou and the fair landlady Sf Kate’s Kitchen
were too familiar with scenes of death, which were al-
most of daily occurrence, to show any excitement, and _
they calmly awaited the ordeal that must come, while the -

crowd, with quick unanimity, separated on either side,

and left the space behind the Bravo and ne Le ope :

for flying bullets, _

Pawnee Bill,

 

   
  
   

  
    
   
   

 

 
     

few

 

 

    
 
   

‘T have brought a coffin for you, Six-shooter Sam,

The bluster of the desperado at once was checked by
the threatening words of the man in black. He had
oiten said in public that the Bravo in Broadcloth was
an overrated man, and that he wished a chance at him
some day, either with cards, knives, or revolvers.

The fact was, he was jealous of the reputation which
the mysterious mountaineer had gained, and he hoped
for a chance to remove his rival—tfor as such he looked
upon him.

Several times he had challenged the Bravo for a game

of cards, or to shoot with him for a money prize, but

the ‘reply had always been:

“Some day, Six-shooter Sam, when I feel in the hu-

mor for a gaine with you, Ul let you know, and I'll give
you fair warning.”

The day before the arrival of the two scouts in Halle-
lujah City the Bravo had ridden over to the cabin of the
desperado, and, finding him out, had pinned a note on the
door, which read as follows:

“Will be glad to play a game with Six-shooter Sam
to-morrow night at the Queen of Hearts Saloon.
‘““BANDBOX BILL,
“The Bravo in Broadcloth.”

That any other game than one of cards was intended

by the Bravo, Sam had not the remotest idea; but he

hinted to a few of his intimates that he wished ‘them to
be on hand, and added that, after he had won a hand-
some sum of money from his-adversary, he would pick
a quarrel with him.

Upon this promise, his friends had gone there, feeling
sure of sport, as they looked upon an encounter which
they were not engaged in.

When, therefore, the Bravo entered, bearing a coffin, a
hush fell upon all.

Several times before he had. given warning of his com-

ing, to certain wild characters in the camps, and he had

never failed to keep his word; and, more, a death was
certain to follow his arrival, until, as Texas Jack's in-
formant had said, he seemed to have a “‘contract’’ for
taking off some of the lawless spirits of the mines.

“That's him! That’s the man in broadcloth!” said
Texas Jack’s informant, as the Bravo entered.

Sam saw the entrance of the Bravo, as the others did,
and beheld the grim box he carried; but he was not pre-
pared for such quick work of a hostile nature as the
Bravo performed, so was taken unawares.

He was covered with a revolver, which looked into
his eyes not three feet away, and his own weapons, four

splendid shooting irons, were yet in his belt.

Say) pard, 1 aint no actor, to play jokes on, for I
don’t take kindly to funny business,” growled the des-
perado.

“T certainly fail to see any joke in my telling you that
” was
the reply, in the deep, stern voice of the Bravo.

“Does yer mean it?”

“T do, for I left you a note on your door that I would
be here to-night to have a game with you.’

“And. are this the game?”

“No, I merely intend to disarm you now, and then
give you my commands, which you are to obey.”

“Durned ef I do!”

“That we shall see,’ and the fue quickly unbuckled

THE BUFFALO.

 

  

BILL STORIES.

the belt of arms around the decptadey s waist, still oes
ing him covered with his revolver.

“Pards, ain’t I no right here, thet yer sees me dis-
armed ?” cried the bully.

As his eyes met those of several of his pals, they Hane
a step forward, when Pawnee Bill called out: |

“Hold on, there! This is a case of man to man, so
the one who chips in dies with his boots on!”

- This caused the bully’s immediate friends to drop back,
and the Bravo said politely:

“Thank you, sir; but I will soon settle this affair.”

Raising his voice, he called out:

“Who of you here have lost money in a game of cards
with this man?’

“Lots of us has lost, but not lately, though Lady Lou
got roped in fer a cool fifteen pee to-night.”

“Is that so, Lady Lou?”

“Ves, Mr. ‘Bandbox Ball, this.

fOAt in ee

; “Ned 7? :

“What cards did you use?” -

» “My own pack.”

“Where do you leave them?’

“In the lock drawers of this table.”

“Look, and see if they have not been doctored.”

She glanced rapidly over the cards, and quickly said:

“Yes, they have been; and I noticed to- night that the
smaller cards seemed to come out oitener than I could
account for, and Six-shooter Sam won on those.”’

“You are a stranger in Hallelujah City, sir?” and the
Bravo turned upon Texas Jack,

Hie De, ves:

“Please take the money from this man’s pocket and give
back to Lady Lou the amount he won from her to-
night.”

“T'll do it, pard,” and Texas Jack did so in a very quick
and skillful manner.

“It’s cussed robbery, and you'll pay ther costs, young
feller. Yer hear what I says!” savagely cried the Six-
shooter,

“No, you'll pay the cost, for I'll return you your
weapons now, and give you just one minute to leave this
saloon, and one hour to get out Of these mines. Will
you gor”

“You ll give me back my weapons ?”’

UV es liso. said.

“Then I stands here and has it out with you,” was the
dogged reply.

All gazed at the Bravo, and saw ith step ‘up to the
desperado, holding out his weapons, while they heard
him say a few words in a low tone. What he said no
ear caught other than the one for which they were spoken,
and the effect upon Sam was startling, for he turned to ~
an ashen hue, staggered back as though dealt a blow, and
gasped forth, as though pleadingly:

(My tleayen! Yes, Vil go! Vil gol”

“Here are your weapons, sir!’’ and the voice of ine "

Bravo in Broadcloth was terribly stern.

The desperado grasped the belt of revolvers, turned
quickly, and strode from the saloon.
No shout of derision followed his exit, for the crowd
seemed to be too deeply moved to shout, All gazed in.
silence at Bandbox Bill, whose eyes followed the retreat-
ing form of the Six- shooter ruffian until the door closed

behind him.

  
 

   

CHAPTER XIL _
ANOTHER TRUMP CARD. .

The moment the door closed upon the retreating form
of Six-shooter Sam, the Bravo’s manner changed, and,

turning to the beautiful faro dealer, he said pleasantly :

“Pardon my interruption, Lady Lou, but I have re-
lieved you of a nuisance, to say the least, and permit me

to present the coffin as a souvenir of Six-shooter Sam.”
“Thank you, sir!

pant.” =

The Bravo bowed, and was about to retire, when Six-
shooter Sam’s gang, feeling themselves disgraced by the

action of their leader, and confident in numbers, for there
were fully a dozen of them, decided to crush Bandbox Bill
then and there. :
_ So a self-appointed leader stepped forward and lev-
eled his revolver full upon the Bravo, while he said:
“See here, pard, you ain’t ter have things all yer own
Way.” .
“Well, what do you wish?” was the unmoved reply.
“Yer had ther game all yer own with a man as I
didn’t think had any back-down in him, so now you'll
have ter crawfish, or turn up yer toes, for I have yer
kivered.’’ a
No one had noticed what had become of the Bravo’s
revolver. It had disappeared as mysteriously as it had
appeared when he needed it. 4
Now, it was not to be disputed that Giant Bruce, as
the tough was called, on account of his great size and
strength, certainly had the unknown covered, and, cheered
at the sight, his comrades began to crowd around him,
for to down the mysterious man would be to relieve Hal-
lelujah City of one whom all the evildoers feared greatly.
All felt for the Bravo, but he laughed lightly, and said:
“Before you put on airs, Giant Brucé, be sure you

have not a revolver muzzle at the back of your own
head.” 4

The man wheeled quickly, and more sudden than a
panther’s leap was that of the Bravo, who, in a flash of
time, had driven his fist into the face of his big foe, seized
_ him by the throat, and hurled him, with an exhibition of

seemingly more than mortal strength, over a table and
chairs into a corner of the room.

Then, in another second, he stood, a revolver now sud-

denly appearing in each hand, while he said, in a tone

Ol Sarcasm:

“Do the friends of Giant Bruce wish to play this game
to a finish?” :

The gang was cowed somewhat by the sudden defeat
of their leader, who was rising, half stunned, from the
corner, and yet, when he joined them again, furious as
a mad bull, bleeding and in pain, war to the knife seemed
to be the only alternative, when the voice of Buffalo Bill

was heard:
“Men, don’t crowd that gentleman, for he has friends
here!” and the scout had drawn his weapons. .

“So I say,” and Pawnee Bill also stood at bay, stepping
to the side of the Bravo.

“Me and Red Chief is with yer, pard,” and Texas Jack
and the supposed Indian chief stepped to the other side
of the Bravo. N ce
_ They certainly were a striking quintet as they stood
at bay, Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill on the right of

THE BUFFALO

I will accept it, and appreciate it
more than I did the man who so nearly became its occu-

HILL STORIES.

the Bravo in Broadcloth, and Texas Jack and Surgeon

Powell, in disguise, on the left, all with revolvers drawn,
facing the wildest element in Hallelujah City.

Even the desperado band was struck by the deter-
mined look and general appearance of the five, and the
Bravo said calmly: '

“Giant Bruce, do you wish to play the game out?”

It was a critical moment, and the large crowd were
as silent as the grave, wondering what the end would be.

But the Giant and his pals were no men to play against
odds. They ran their eyes along the line of five—the
supposed redskin chief and the spectacled old man, then

_ Bandbox Bill and the two scouts—and he decided to let
the matter drop. So he answered gruffly:

“I ain’t no man to pick a quarrel in ther presence 0’
ladies, so I jist says hold yer keerds ontil another time,
Bandbox Bill, and we will see who holds trumps.”

“I know now,” was the cool response of the Bravo, and
his words indicated that he wished the fracas to come
then, backed as he was by such a quartet of allies.

This banter the Giant was compelled to answer, so he
said:

_ “Who holds trumps ?”

fit ao’

“T doubts it.”

“Shall I give you proof?”

“Does yer mean ter open fire here?”
BENG? ‘
“What does yer mean?” a ee
“I will hand my weapons to Pawnee Bill, here, while

you place your belt of arms in the hands of that villain
on your right; then step forward and let me say just
half a dozen words to you.” : ;

“ll do it!” and the Giant handed over his belt of |
arms.

_The Bravo at once gave his two revolvers into Pawnee
Bill’s keeping, and stepped up to the Giant and uttered a

few low-spoken words.

The effect was magical, for the Giant shrank back
with a look of horror upon his brutal face, which at
once turned to the hue of death.

“Now, sir, go!” oe

Sharply the command rang out, and Giant Bruce seized
his weapons, and, without a word, slunk out of the saloon,
as had the Six-shooter before him.

All stood in amazement, gazing at the Bravo.

What strange power held this mysterious man over
these wild border dwellers, almost as savage as wolves
in thetr natures? *

That question no one could answer, and, without any
explanation, Bandbox Bill turned to Pawnee Bill and Buf-
falo Bill and said, in his courtly way:

“Gentlemen, you have canceled the debt you owed me,
and I thank you. We will meet again...’ eo

Turning quickly toward Texas Jack and the pretended
Indian chief, he continued : op .

re

“Your aid, also, I appreciate, and some day I will re- — ek

turn the kindness. Good night!”
He raised his black sombrero, and walked from the sa-
loon, while one of the gang of Six-shooter Sam called
out: oe bie
“I seen whar he keeps them guns o’ his! They was
up. his coat sleeves, pards; ef he isn’t the devil hisself, he
is his leftenant!”

   

   
   

i an ge re

ee ere caeeeremnceeeenareeeeetn ene ete ene een

 
  

 

SS eee

clatter of hoofs.

shooter Sam.

 

“CHAPTER XITE
AN UNKNOWN AS Le BY is

When Six-shooter Sam left the Queen of eae Sa-
loon, he mounted his horse, a splendid animal which he al-
ways kept not far away from him, and rode at a gallop

down the valley to his cabin.

It was but a mile away, and built against the thountain:
side, just where there was a trail penne around the cliff
to the range above.

This trail the desperado pretended o keep closed up, so
that no one could pass that way, but the obstruction was
stich that a minute’s work ne dash it all into the river,
forty feet below...

Just across the river was a flat which cut off sonra
from that direction, so that the cabin of the desperado
was really approachable from the front only, and he could
make a hasty retreat therefrom to the range above it
if. it became necessary.

_ His cabin had but one room, and the door was made
fast with two chains and padlocks.

Dismounting, he unlocked the door, and, entering, soon

had a candle lighted.

Then he stood like a great brute at bay, gnashing his
teeth, his hands clenched tightly together, and his face

“white as the bronze of his complexion would admit.

“Who is that man?” at last broke from his lips.

After a while he became more calm, and threw him-
self into a rude chair and began to think, 5

“T obeyed, yes, because what else could I do? Curse
him—curse him! And I must leave here, for here he
will come to see if I have gone.

“I will at once get my traps together and go. But
where?

“Bah! need I ask where?

_ Why, I will go where he can never come.’

Springing to his feet, he hastily began ae to
leave his cabin.

A couple of blankets, a large oilcloth, a storm suit,
some cooking utensils, a bag of provisions, a few extra
clothes, and a rifle and ammunition were all his belong-
ings. :

These were made into two bundles and eeuned upon
a packsaddle.

Then he went out and led a deen horse from where
he was staked out in the bottom, up to the door, and

placed the packsaddle upon him.

His next move was to take from a secure hiding place

, a belt of money, gold, bank notes, and dust.

This he strapped about his waist just as a heard the

“He is coming! The hour is up that he gave me!”

And the voice of the ruffian trembled with excitement.

Then he said quickly: ~

“Oh, that I had the nerve to kill him! But nol 4
dare not do that Ha! 1 know that signal. >

And a whistle was heard, repeated five times sharply.

Then up to the door dashed a horseman, and Giant
Bruce sprang from his saddle, stooped at the low door,
and entered.

Spruce, You tered (7%. : e
3 Vag. 29 :

And the. Pint was very white- boa

“Vou have come to deride me, I suppose:

 

?” sneered: Six-

“Oh, no; for he knew me, too!”

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

 

   

nV aE
Va pepedt itte
“He recognized you?”
Veo 39
ENB ACT
‘Dont bé aitool, Sam: for, though I did not know his
power over you at first, I do now.’
“What do you mean, Bruce?”

And each man had now dropped the border dialect
in the excitement of the moment. '

“IT mean just what I say.”

“And what do you say ?”

“I say that but one thing could be said to you to make
you sneak away like a whipped cur, as you did, and that
thing was said.” :

“And what was said?” ~

“The same that the Bravo said to me.”

“Did you have trouble with him: re

“Ves, 9)

How so?”

“I felt ashamed of your cowardice, so took up your
quarrel.”

“Well? De ‘
~ “T had him fairly covered, and yet he tricked me by
telling me to be first sure that a revolver muzzle was not
at the back of my head.”

“And you looked to see?”

dances 4

cy GIL.

“I got a blow like the kick of a government mule full
in the face; then he grasped my throat and hurled me,
with a strength which mine is but child’s play as com-
pared to, over a table and chairs into a corner. See, his
fist bruised my face, and I was cut on the forehead by
my fall.”

7 Andithen 2.

“Oh, our gang took up the quarrel, when those two
scouts, Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill, chipped in on one
side of him to back him up, and an old white-haired ©
trapper, who had a Sioux chief for a pard, stepped up
on the other side, and ten revolvers were leveled as steady
as cannon.’

Weta”?

“OE course, the has caved ; and I was told to step
forward and hear what the gent had to say.”

“What had he to say?”

“More than [ wanted to hear.”

“What was it?”

. “The same that he said to you.”

“Task what that was?’

“See here, Sam, only certain words could be said to
a man that would make him back down as we did. Those
words were said, and they proved to me that you and
I were in the same boat, though we did not know it.’

“Well, you accuse me of being under that man’s
power ”

nob ale lad

“Name the power, then?”

“Tt is unnamable, but you are obeying his command,
for you are ready to go.” —

“Well; and you?”

nal would not let the sun rise upon me in Hallelujah
City for a cool five thousand. :

“Then, go with me.’

“Agreed! Which is your’way?”

“To the cave of the Toll Takers.”

  

 
    

 
 

“That suits me; but you have money ?”
“Some little.”

“And Ia few hundreds.” -

“With your horse and outfit ?”’

“Yes. My extra animal will also carry your pack.”
“Good! Come with me by my shanty.”

“Tt is on the trail to his home.”

“Yes, but we must go that way.”

i Beuce!l?

“Well t Pp? oi

“You say we are in the same boat?”

on: do. 39

Will you not tell me his power over you?”

“No more than you ce tell me what he said to you.”
“We are two.”

OV ec?
“He is but one?” ¢

a Veeaits 3 ‘ t
“You left him at the saloon ?”

Sel did. 33

“He comes by your cabin to his own! 7
“He does.”

“Well, why not meet him on the way?”
“Dare you do it?”

Six-shooter Sam shuddered at the sudden question, and
his voice sank to a whisper as he asked:

“Dare you?”
The Giant made no reply.

Thus the two stood in silence for full a minute, and
Bruce said at last:

i etus col”

“You did not answer my question, Bruce.”

“You know that I can give no answer.”

“How do I know it?”

“Because we are both under the same Cae and we
dare not break it.”

Six-shooter Sam made no response.

It was evident that neither man dared betray himself ;
-and yet each tried to make the other do so.

That the same secret: power influenced both they ap-
peared to admit, yet neither dared say what that un-
-knowr influence was.

So they mounted their horses and rode away from
the cabin where Six-shooter Sam had long dwelt as a
terror in the community.

Giant Bruce, though also dreaded, was not as brutal as

the Six- shooter ruffian, and his will had been led by the
stronger one of the desperado.

The rest of the gang, some eight in ne were but
tools in the hands of Sam, their chief, from fear, because
of pay, and from other ‘motives.

But Bandbox Bill’s mysterious power had sent the
leader and his lieutenant into exile.

They soon reached the cabin of the Giant. His fae
ing up took but a few minutes, and his belongings were
strapped upon the back of Sam’s led horse.

Then they moved down into the broad trail leading
down to the cave of the Toll Takers.

CHAPTER XIV.
A DARK SUSPICION.

Taking advantage of the excitement that followed the
_ departure of Bandbox Bill, Texas Jack and Frank Powell
quietly slipped out of the saloon and went along the trail
Tor 2 talk.

‘THE BUFFALO

BILL STORIES.

“Well, doc, that was a strange scene we got into.”

“Strange indeed, Jack. But who is that man?”

“T give it up. He’s a man clean through.”

“Yes; he is a remarkable person. What eyes he had!”

“And what did he say to Six-shooter Sam to mak«
him skip as though the hangman was after him?”

“That puzzles me more than a little. But, more, he
made the Giant make tracks in the same style.”’

“So he did, doctor. It’s a mystery all around. 2, \

“Wonder if it could be a put-up job.”

“How do you mean, Jack?”

“Wonder if they are secretly pards, and they war play-
ing a deep game for some treason?”

“T don’t think so.”
_ “That Six-shooter looked dangerous to me, and I felt
sure there was no back-down in him.”

“So I thought.’
_ “T kinder feel it was all a show.”

“Yet he made him give up the money he had won.’

“That’s so.”

“And if it was a show with the Six-shooter, the same

must be said of Giant Bruce.”

“Thats true,”

‘““And he dealt the Giant a blow that was tcraiie, while
he hurled him over that table in a manner I thought
would break his neck or back.”

| XoWare ticht’

“And the Giants face was bruised and cut, while. fe
looked-in bad shape when he got up.”

“So he did’

“Did you ever see such an exhibition of strength,
Jack?

 “T never did, for though you are well supplied with —
strength, doc, and I am considered a giant in that way,

I know that both of us are no match for that man. Why,
he tossed that Giant over in that corner as we could a
six-year-old child.”

“He certainly did; but what a clever dodge that is of
wearing his revolvers in his sleeves.”

“Yes; I noticed that his sleeves looked a trifle large;
but his arms fill them pretty well, and I do not see how
he manages to keep his weapons there.”

“ “He has some plan that is a good one, for they ap-_

peared and disappeared with wonderful quickness. ef
“T noticed that.”

After a few minutes’ silence, Surgeon Powell added:
“Jack, I observed what I expect you failed to, in both |

of those men.’
“The desperadoes ?””
“Ves. FI"
‘What was it, doc?”

“Why, they both turned deny pale when that mys-

terious man in black uttered the words which set them
going as they did.”
“Did they.’

“They did; and there was no feigned fear in the ex-_

pressions on their faces. Whatever he said certainly
amazed and frightened them both.”

“I guess I am wrong about there being an understand- ~

ing between them, then.”

“I am sure that you are; but, Jack, what a stirprise for.

us to run upon Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill here!”

“Now, wasn’t it, doc?
either!”

“Oh, no; our disguises are too good for that, and I

think it best that we do not make ourselves known. Were

And they didn’t know us,

hi

tt

ry

W
ta

be

Ww

 
 

: THE BUFFALO
may be of help to the two Bills, for they have come here
on some special mission, Jack. a

“Perhaps the same that we are on.’

“Yes, and we can watch them pretty oe and. get the
joke on them in the end by their not knowing us.’

“TI guess they are on a secret trail, doc, for those two
Bills have not come to Hallelujah City for sport.”
_ “No; and they seemed to be friendly with the Bravo,
for he said theit backing him up to-night canceled some
debt they owed him.” -

“So he did, as I recall now! But what a team ee
three Bills would be if all pulled together !”

ot tires Bills?”

“Yes, Bandbox Bill, you know.”

“Ah, yes ; they ‘would, indeed, be a trio to tie to.”

“And, with Red Chics and elas Snow Hair, the trapper,

in reserve, we could make it lively for the outlaws of Hal-
lelujah,” and Texas Jack laughed.
“Yes, we could get up a picnic here, Jack; but what do
you think of those two ladies ?”
“Doe, ain’t they beauties 2” i
“They certainly are. ye they are here I cannot un-
derstand.”
* Nort, There i is more mystery in this town than ina
juggler’s show.”

“You are right, for the Bravo is a mystery, each of.

those two women is‘another, the power Bandbox Bill held

over those two desperadoes i is another, and why Pawnee _

Bill and Buffalo Bill are here is another puzzle to solve.”

“And we are something of a riddle i in our present make-
Up, doc, eh

“Ves, and let those read us who can.

“Well, pard?”’

But jack

“Did you hear what that man who sat near us to- night

hinted about the Bravo?”

LN oS a

“Well, I heard him say, in a low tone to a comrade,
that the belief was gaining ground in the mines that
Bandbox Bill was the secret chief or spy of, the oa
Takers of the Trail.’

“You don’t say so!” returned Texas Tack. in surprise.

“That is what I heard him say ;
wrong him, I begin to be suspicious of him.”

“Then he may be the very man whose trail we are to

- take?”

“Perhaps; but we ee lay iow ane find out, for 1
believe that this is the spot to pick up the trails which
will lead to the finding of the Toll Takers.”

“You don’t miss the target often, doctor.”

“I am the more convinced of it from seeing Pawnee
Bill and Cody here.”

“Well, doc, we are here, too, and we will co our
eyes open, for that dark suspicion seamet this Bandbox
Bill is worth looking into.”
~ “Yes, it is a suspicion which we cannot ignore, ce
so we will see what he does, how he lives, and just why
he has come to the mines,’

“And keep our eyes on the other two Bills, as well,
for it will not do to let them steal our thunder.”

“No, we must be the winners in this game, Jack, and,

if we need help, we know where. to find the two best men

_ on the border to aid us.’

Ves. the two best, except Bandbox Bill,’ was oe

quiet Tesponse of Texas Tack (2. :

~down ie Toll Takers.

and, though i may,

BILL STORIES) : uy

CHAPTER XV.
THE ROUND-UP.

Later in the evening, Texas Jack and Surgeon Powell
decided to remove their disguises and reveal themselves
to Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill, as they believed that
the two great scouts would need their help in running
After donning their ordinary
clothes, which they had brought with them from the fort,
they hid the disguises, resolving not to tell the scouts that
they were themselves the Indian and old trapper who had
so puzzled all at the Queen of Hearts Saloon. They be-

_ lieved that, at some future time, they might again need

the masquerade costumes, and that they could thus again
keep their identity Concealed from the two famous scouts
as successfully as they had on this occasion.

All four scouts met on the outskirts of the town later
that evening. Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill expressed
their surprise and pleasure at meeting Texas Jack and the
surgeon, and then Buffalo Bill called to some one who
stood in the shadow of a rock:

“Pards Texas Jack and Surgeon Powell,” said Buffalo
Bill, “I want to introduce to you the gentleman known
as Bandbox Bill.”

And the Bravo in Broadcloth stepped forward.

“We have work to do to-night, pards,” now said But-
falo Bill. “And I hope that you, Texas Jack, and you,

Surgeon Powell, will join us in our undertaking.”

Texas Jack and the surgeon immediately expressed
their pleasure at being invited to take a hand in whatever
was afoot.

Buffalo Bill then hurriedly told his story.

_ Bandbox Bill had revealed his identity. eh the eyes
of the bandits known as the Toll Takers he was their
leader. In reality, he was a secret agent of the govern-

_~ment, who had set out alone to run down the Toll Takers.

To do this successfully, he had joined them, and, through
the sheer force of his personality, compelled them to
make him their leader. The remarkable thing was that

he had never allowed them to see his face, as he had

invariably worn a mask,

“And, now,’ concluded Buffalo Bill, “Bandbox.Bill, as
we will continue to call him, means to lead us to the hid-
ing place of the Toll Takers.”

“You mean we are to wipe the bandits off the ee

asked Texas Jack.

“Ves.? 43 a

“But. there are. only five of us.
number fully twenty.”

“That's all right,” replied Buffalo Bill, “They will
all assemble to-night in a cave. Bandbox Bull knows -
that Six-shooter Sam and Giant Bruce will go at once
to that cave and join the others. We'll catch them all
there. And the plan of Bandbox Bill is to capture the
whole outfit witnout firing a single shot.”

Texas Jack and Surgeon Powell both uttered exclama-
tions of surprise.

“How -do you mean—without firing a shot?” asked
Surgeon Powell.

“You shall see,” replied Buffalo Bill, ;

All five then found their horses and set out on the

And the Toll Takers

' trail toward the bandits’ cave, led by silent Bandbox Bill.

Before leaving the town, however, Bandbox Bill went

~ to Kate’s Kitchen and made an arrangement with Lady

 
 

  

Kate whereby she was to send fresh provisions to a cer-
tain camp near the Toll Takers’ cave every three ae
until further notice.

“They have provisions in the cave,” Bandbox Bill said,
“but only enough to last them three days; even with the
most rigid economy.”

At dawn the next morning, one of the Toll Tokers
stepped out of the cave with a pail, obviously on his way
to a near-by spring to fetch water to the cave.

“Surrender or die!’ cried a voice near him, the voice

of a man hidden behind a point of rocks. ‘Drop that
_pail. Hands upl.

The amazed bandit dropped the pail and threw up his
hands.

“Now listen,” said the voice: “Return to the cave.
Tell your comrades that Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill
and a large force of scouts and soldiers is in camp be-
hind the rocks in front of the cave. The first man who
comes out of the cave will be shot dead as he steps out
—unless his hands are up. Do you understand the situa-
tion?”

- *Yes,” said the astounded outlaw.

“All right then. Return to the cave. And when all
of you in there get ready to surrender, let one of you
come out with his hands up. Then let each of the others
come out, one at a time, each with his hands up. We
will make each man a prisoner the moment he issues from
the cave. And, by the way; you might as well tell your
comrades that they can save their own time and ours by
surrendering the moment your food is all gone. For
we are here to lay siege to your cave, if necessary,
until you all die of starvation. Now. go.”

The result of this clever maneuver was that, on the
fourth day of the siege, when the last scrap of food in
the cave had been consumed by the bandits, a man came
out of the cave with his hands up. The man was, Six-
shooter Sam.

“Glad to see you, ‘Six-shooter Sam,” said the same
voice who had addressed the bandit with the pail, three
days before.

It was the voice of Bandbox Bill.
- “Now, Six-shooter Sam,” said the voice. “Walk to-
ward the sound of my voice, until you round the point
of rocks, out of sight of the ‘mouth ‘of the cave. We're
not ready to offer ourselves as targets to be shot at from
the cave. Understand?”

Two minutes later, Six-shooter San was a prisoner in
the camp of the besiegers. Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill
tied him hand and foot.

Then from the cave came Giant Bruce. He was
handled just as Six-shooter Sam was handled. In suc-
cession then, one by one, came the bandits from the cave,
each with his hards up, until twenty had come forth
and had been made prisoners.

“That’s all,’ announced Bandbox Bill. “Thank you,
gentlemen,” he added, turning to the aa of scouts,
“for your excellent aid.”

The next day, a company of ee arrived from the
fort and thither all proceeded, the prisoners being com-
pelled to walk, but all bound together with ropes.

“That was the cleverest capture of bandits on record,”
_ said Buffalo Bill to Pawnee Bill, on the evening of the.
day they arrived at the fort.

“Bet your life!” responded Pawnee Bill, “And I vote.

THE BUFFALO

 

BILL STORIES. :

that if ever Bantbos Bill comes West for a little exercise

of any kind, we make him our pard.”
“Good suggestion,” said Buffalo Bill.

men like Bandbox Bill/in the West.” —

THE END.

Next week’s issue will contain an extremely interesting
story, in which the further adventures of the remarkable —

and mysterious man known as Bandbox Bill will be
chronicled. The story will bear the title: ‘Buffalo Bill
and the Blue Masks; or, Pawnee Bill’s Queer Pard.’.
A gang of gamblers and counterfeiters is unearthed.
The beautiful daughter of an army officer is kidnaped by
a bold and clever ruse. A strange man in black comes
and goes, like an apparition. An unknown woman warns
honest and dishonest men alike of impending danger.
And in the darkness of the night, Buffalo Bill and his
pards perform a truly extraordinary feat in the way of a
round-up of bad men. The story is filled with the doings
of men of action. It is No. 559, out January 27th.

 

Ryak, of the ‘‘Soaring Petrel.
| By SEWARD W. HOPKINS.
(A TWO-PART STORY—PART I.)

) CHAPTER 10
AL THE MERCY OF. DEB SEA:

For three years I had sailed the Eastern seas with Billy

Ryak, the sole owner and master of the Soaring Petrel,
and to me he was an opulent and powerful individual. We
had carried coffee from Java and hemp from Manila;

we had sailed through the Indian Ocean, and weathered

the terrific hurricanes that make those waters a dangerous
place to navigate; we had traveled the Mediterranean, and

_had even gone to London with a cargo from Ceylon.

The Soaring Petrel was in itself worthy of some-notice.
It was old enough to fall apart, and every man who sailed
in her took his life in his hands.
schooner, and Billy Ryak, myself, and twelve lascars had
all we could do to handle her in rough weather, -In mild
weather she lay like a log in the sea. :

Billy Ryak claimed to be an Englishman, bie he was.

so distinctly Oriental in his appearance that I knew
from that, and from what I had heard, that the English
blood in him was strongly diluted with the redder blood
of a family in Singapore, largely Malay. _

It is scarcely necessary, and would be distinctly un-
pleasant, for me to relate the various vicissitudes and fail-
ures in life that had forced me to sail as first officer under
Billy Ryak. I was twenty-six years of age at the time
of which I write, and should have occupied a more lofty
position in life. But let that go.
Dargen, and I am an American.

The Soaring Petrel lay at Macao, loading with. camphor
for Singapore.

we had carried a quantity of the same material: from
Macao a month before.
Ryak was determined to make the best of it.

board at cooking, after which we had digestible food.

I had considerable work with the Bs and was’sur-

“We need more

She was a sixty-ton -

My name is Thomas

This was at that time the best! Apavinig
cargo the owner of a sixty-ton schooner could get, and

It was the season, and Captai: ne
He even.
hired an extra hand, and put the only Japanese on -

   

 

 

(
a > remem t7 al Na eS Sn ea eI

See ne Ae

 

 

   
  
  
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  

    
 

 

  

prised that the Yuh region did not produce a larger sup-
ply. The last time we had cleared we carried enough to
make a fat profit for Ryak, but this time he cursed at the
limited quantity the flatboats and junks brought down the
river.

Billy Ryak could roll oa profanity with greater ease
and volume than any other man I had ever met. And

_he was not limited to one language, for, no matter what
might be the nativity of the offender, he could curse. him
~ intelligibly in his own tongue.

“T must say, Mr. Dargen,” said Captain Rua coming
to me as I stood on deck watching the last of the cargo
to go down into the hold, “that this thing makes me sick.
1 had a> contract’ with that confounded mandarin who
owns the river front at Nonsing, for ten tons at least,
and what do I get? What do I get, I ask? It’s a
beastly outrage! We'll lose money this trip, sir.”

“Well, captain,” I said, “if the supply of camphor gives
out, why not try jute? That’s a good thing.”

“Hang the jute! IT want camphor! I have agreed to
supply Anderson & Anderson, at ‘Singapore, with twice as
much as I ‘can get! I am_a loser, sir!’

He stalked away, cursing, and I knew the voyage to
Singapore was not going to be a pleasant one.

We did not sail that day, for a storm set in, and I
had shore leave. It was a fad of mine to go ashore as
often as possible, for I loved to study the habits and lan-

“guage of whatsoever peoples I might visit. 1 was not
rich, and had no exalted ambitions; but I did wish some
day to leave the sea and devote my time to the work of
placing before the world realistic literature on the people
of the East.

_ Making the best use of my time ashore, I went to
Canton. “T knew that Captain Ryak had gone there, but
as a rule we did not meet during our time ashore, as
the captain had tastes not in accord with mine. I knew

that, owing to his disappointment, he would return to.

the Soaring Petrel drunk.
_ Arriving at Canton, I visited several consulates, Then,
~ with my friend Joe Everett, I went to lunch at a café
kept by an Englishman, who advertised French cooking,
and never made good his adverttsement.

“You ought to make some money this trip,” said Joe.
“Ryak seems to be in excellent spirits, and a have a
great cargo.’
>“ ledidn't know it,” T replied. “Have you seen Ryak: a

“Ves. He cabled to- -day to double his insurance.

“On what?”

“On the Soaring Petrel and her. cargo,
voiced for twelve tons of crude camphor.”

“The devil he has!”

It was evident that Ryak, during his trip to Canton,
had run across a quantity of camphor that had swelled
the cargo to money-making proportions. I felt gratified
at this, for, with all his faults, Ryak was not a mean
man in matters of pay, and I always had a small percent-
age of his profits.

I returned to Macao before night, and found Ryak

-He has in-

 

' completing the work of loading. He stood calmly and

a placidly on deck, and the coolies he employed were sweat-
_ ing with the labor. The cargo was, so far as I could see,
greater than the former one, and I understood the cap-
tain’s satisfaction.

“You must have made a sudden strike,” I said, ad
ing at his side. “I did not expect to find you doubling
the cargo.” : on | oes

  

‘THE BUERFALO

employee signaling the engineer of a train.

  

BIEL STORIES. 19

“Doubling it! Hang it, boy, I have three times the
quantity you left. It’s a great cargo. I found Hay Soo
in Canton with a lot on hand from the Kangchu district,
and took it at once, and brought it down on flatboats. Oh,
we are all right this tr 1 :

The next morning we set sail. Ryak was in the best
of spirits, and put plenty of the best of spirits into him-
self. By noon he was in a condition that peau ed sleep,
and I took command.

I had never had any trouble with the lascars, for I
had always used them well. The Soaring Petrel, under
a good stiff and favoring breeze, miade good headway.
We went out past Hongkong, and I did” not see Ryak
again until we had made the Paracel Islands. This made
it necessary for me to remain on watch all night, for
Ryak was in such a stupor that I.could not wake him.

I was nearly exhausted when we reached Triton, and
he relieved me, and, after drinking a small glass of brandy,
T turned in for a good long sleep.

On the following morning I found the Soaring Petrel
doing well, the captain sober, and the crew as happy as
usual. They sang their queer songs while at work, and
the generosity of Ryak enabled them to have an extra al-
lowance of such things as pleased them best.

After three days out we were becalmed, and the cap-
tain grew impatient. He walked the deck, and began to
drink again.

“T don’t like this, Dargen,”’ he said.

“A day or two ought not to make any difference.
things easy.”

The calm was succeeded by a heavy blow, which sent
the Soaring Petrel on her way at a splendid speed, for the
old schooner. We were all pleased at this, and things
grew pleasant on board again.

I had retired at night, when about off Padaran, and
was suddenly awakened by the Japanese cook.

“Sir,” he said, “we are passing what seems to be a
wreck, ‘and signals of distress are shown. The captain re-
fuses to-stop.”

"Eh? What's that. & asked, leaping from my bunk.
“Refuses to rescue?”

“So it is. This is a hull lying low in the water, and
lights are waving. We can hear a woman’s voice calling
for help, but he says no,’

As quickly as possible I rushed to the deck. All hands
had evidently heard of the wreck, and were crowded at
the rail. Ryak seemed indifferent.

I saw that the Japanese cook-had told the exact truth.
About eight hundred feet away I could just discern the
low lines of a mastless vessel, and at the fore a man with
a lantern which he swung much in the way of a railroad
And above
the singing of the wind through the shrouds I could hear
the voice of a woman calling. We had already gone by,
and I saw that Ryak did not intend to pay any attention to
the signal.

“lam ia hurry:
Take

“Why don’t you heave to, captain?” I asked. “Those
people are in danger.”
“What the devil dol care?” he asked roughly. “T want

to get to Singapore, and I don’t want passengers.”
“But as an American I protest against leaving them
in their plight. They may be without water and food
i insist that we lay to and take them on.’
- He looked at me through the darkness a moment
a then turned the wheel. The Soaring Petre] came up
to the wind, and I ordered out the boat.

 
 

  

  

be ee - THE BUFFALO

 

Four lascars volunteered to go, and soon the boat was
racing through the water. It was not a difficult task to

reach the wreck, and I could frame no explanation of |

Ryak’s cruel neglect.
_ ‘What ship is that?’ I shouted, as we abronehed
oA yacht, ” was the reply. “The Emily, from Hong-
kong.”
“How many on board?’
“Two only, my daughter and myself.” _
“And who are you?”
_. “My name is Robert Wilson.”
I recognized the name at once. Robert Wilson was a

successful tea merchant, and his name always was asso-.

ciated with great wealth,

As my boat reached the yacht I clambered aboard.

“T am first, officer of the Soaring Peitrel,’ 1 said. “My
name is Thomas Dargen. We have a cargo of camphor
from Macao. Will you accept our assistance ?’’

“T certainly will, and thank you for it,” said Mr. Wil-
son. “This is my daughter, Emily. We have had a
severe tax upon our endurance, and now that you have
so fortunately found us—but let us leave our expressions

of gratitude till we are safely on board. I fear the yacht —

is leaking.”

The lascars held the boat Bee to the rece. and |

assisted Miss Wilson to step from the yacht to our boat.
Her hand was soft and small, and even though the night
was not a bright one, it seemed to me that her face was
pretty and her figure well proportioned. Having placed
her well amidships in the boat, I next assisted Mr. Wil-

son, though, being a yachtsman, he needed little help _

from me.
“Now, men, to the Soaring .Petrel,” | said.
‘They turned the boat with a will, and then a roar of

astonishment went up. The stern lights of the Soaring

Petrel could be seen far away. I knew what it meant.
Captain Ryak had abandoned us.

CHAPTER II.
THE PILLAR OF FLAME.

“Ts something wrong with your ship, Mr. Dargen?”

asked Miss Wilson. “You seem tobe agitated.”
“Agitated!” [ repeated, with a laugh that must have
sounded strangely sarcastic under those trying circum-

stances. “The man is running away.”
“Mr. Dargen,’ said the yacht owner, ‘there rises a
question: Can a man be said to run away when he is

simply sailing his own vessel where he wishes it to go?’’
“In this instance he is running away, and-in a most
cowardly manner,” | answered. “We had some discus-

sion about coming to your rescue. Captain Ryak is the .

owner as well as the captain of that schooner, so he is
perhaps legally right in what he has chosen to do. But,
morally, I believe he has transgressed.”
Notwithstanding the circumstances, Mr. Wilson
laughed. We were on the sea, amid the almost unknown

islands off the southern point of Anam, and the schooner —

Soaring Petrel, the only seaworthy vessel in sight, was

rapidly leaving us to shift for ourselves. Yet this man_

could laugh!
“There seems to be something str ange about your Cap-

_. tain Ryak,” said Mr, Wilson. “It is not the usual thing

for captains to leave shipwrecked people to their fate in
this way.’
One of the lascars stopped pais with his oar.

an open boat

 

BILL STORIES. ’

grunted, though I doubt if they all understood.
“The man is right, Mr. Wilson,’ I said. “We are sim-

ply using our energy to take us into greater danger. The
Soaring Petrel does not intend to come to our relief. [

am certain of that, owing to the conversation we had be-
fore I left the schooner.’
‘Well, we cannot prevent that now,’ was the ae 6]

fail, though, to see what you can do better than you are

doing. Our yacht is a wreck.”
“YT admit that. But it has fifty feet to our twelve, and
has not yet determined to go under. This boat we are in

is a light affair, and, though there are islands in the ~
vicinity, there are none so near we could hope to reach

them within twenty-four hours. That length of time in

a9

 

“Mr. Dargen, while owning a yacht, I am not a very
proficient man at sea. I perceive that you are. What-
ever you suggest, | will do. Permit me to place the lives
of my daughter and myself in your hands.”

I stopped the lascars from rowing.

“Tt Seems tome,” 1 said, “that as we are deserted ay
the Soaring Petrel, we should at once make up our minds
what to do: Now, the yacht is a wooden one, and is still
above water. It is possible that she will not sink at ail.

On board the yacht these four lascars, all faithful fellows, »

could perhaps do more for our comfort and safety than
they could in this boat. This is a mere cockleshell.”’

“As you say, Mr. Dargen. I will not refute a single |
yd > >

argument.’
“Another thing,’ I went on. “We are no more likely to

meet another vessel in this boat than in the yacht. With

this boat we can leave the Emily any time when it seems
certain she is about to sink. Besides, it will be more com-

fortable on board for Miss Wilson. Therefore, we will *

go back to the yacht.”

The lights of the Soaring Petrel grew more oat more
dim as we returned to the Emily. She lay as we had left
her, and I assisted Miss Wilson aboard, again feeling her
small, soft hand in mine, and this time hearing her pleas-

ant voice thanking me for my attention.
“Ot course, Captain Dargen,” said Mr. Wilson, “‘your —

boat will not forsake us as has the Soaring Petrel.”

“This boat? Not a Dit Ont, Sif, veal said. “But Lean

nota captain yet.”

NORe yes: you. are. he replied “This is the yacht

Emily, in commission, with full papers. J am her owner.
I appoint you captain.”

The lascars soon had the boat hoisted to the déck. I. |

spoke to one named Gabriel, who seemed the most: in-
telligent, and he at once took command of the other three,

“under my captaincy, of course. He went below and in

a short time reappeared on deck.

“Captain Dargen,” he said, “there is a small leak for- _

ward, and the cabins are half full of water, but a half
hour’s work will pump the ship nearly dry.”

“Good!” I said. “Then get the boys to pump. And
here’s another thing: Let them understand that they are
not doing this for nothing. I’ve a bit saved, and I would
not permit——” - Neat

‘Permit!’ interrupted Mr. Wilson. “Tell them the

 

saving of the yacht is nothing more than a means of sav- ~
ing my daughter and myself. I care nothing for the ©

yacht as a vessel. But as the means of avoiding dis-

Con pene un terrible conditions, sie | is now more yalu-

  

     

“Mister Dargen,” he said, “me think it no use. We
row if you say so. But where we got” ‘The es

gee eg Og ere genet orn on

CPS Pe a a A eR ee

Ska

 
 

 

n

   
 

   
    
   
  
  
 
   

  

 

  

 

  

THE BUFFALO

able than ever. Tell your men that if we are kept in

comparative comfort by their efforts, and the yacht is
made habitable till we meet another vessel, I will give each
of them a hundred pounds.”
“Hear that, Gabriel?” I asked.
good English money!”

Gabriel spoke a few words in a tongue none of us
could understand, and thereafter nothing in the English
language could efficiently describe the sudden activity of
those lascars. Gabriel found the pump, and two of them
manned that. The others went to work below, at times
relieving the hard-working fellows. who were lowering the
water line inside the boat.

Mr. Wilson, his daughter, and myself stood together on
deck.

“T cannot understand your condition,’ I said to Mr.
Wilson, “Your boat is gone, and you seem to have no

4 one with you. You certainly did not sail this yacht
4 alone.” *
“No, indeed!” he answered. “I had a crew of four.
They were faithful fellows enough, but we stopped for
water and food, and they were ashore with the boat
when the storm came. I am an American, but I have
been in the tea business so long in Hongkong that I feel
like an Englishman—or a Chinaman, I don’t know which.
| My wife—now dead—was an Englishwoman. Emily does
not claim anything but American citizenship.”
“America is good enough for me,”’ said the young lady.
“We set out from~Hongkong about two weeks ago
for a cruise,’ said Mr. Wilson. ‘The yacht seemed fit,
and Emily was not in the best of health. The English
physician there said he thought a cruise would be of great.
@ benefit to her, so I took his advice.
.@@ and other places, and really enjoyed the trip. Night be-
fore last we lay off a small island that offered oppor-
tunities for getting water and fresh meat. I knew there
“was a species of small wild pig there, and sent my four
men ashore to get some, and also some fresh water. My
daughter and I remained on board. A severe storm
arose, and the yacht dragged her anchor. The boat could
not, or did not, reach us, and we were powerless to con-
trol the yacht. The mast blew down, and it was a tre-
@ mendous effort for me to cut it loose from all the rig-
() ging, to prevent the yacht going over. When that was
© done, we discovered a leak, and thought our time had
im =«come. So, | am sure, it would have proven, had you not
@ so. opportunely appeared to rescue us.’
a “Well, your troubles are by no means at an end,’ I said.
™ “The mast is gone. I think, when the boys get the
) yacht fairly dry, Pll put two of them in the boat to tow
# 6us. There is no use drifting.”
" “I think drifting is as’ good as anything else in this
# ©6place,’ said Mr, Wilson. “We surely must meet with a
| vessel before long.”
“And it does seem impossible for the men to leave the
pumps,” said Miss Wilson. “See, they are all working
so hard and, faithfully, and yet we are just gaining a
little. if
I went to the rail and looked down into the water. It
' was certain that the lascars were gaining. That in itself
was enotigh to give us confidence. The boat from the
Soaring Petrel was stanch, and if we had to leave the
acht we could do so. But I preferred the yacht, leaky as
he was, with her cabin accommodations. .
_ T heard a sudden cry of alarm from one of the lascars
at the pump, and. at the same instant the sky seemed to

  
   

“A hundred pounds in

 

 
  
  
  
  
 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 

 

  

  
  
 

 

 

We landed at Borneo

aioe

BILL STORIES.

be illuminated with a lurid: glow. From the direction in
which the Soaring Petrel had gone the strange and thrill —
ing light had come. I.looked, but at first the glare made
it difficult for me to really understand. But I at last re-
alized it all, and then came that sinking sensation that
comes to every man when he realizes that he has just es-
caped being a party to a great crime or a victim of a terri-
ble disaster. :

The Soaring Petrel was on fire!

CHAPTER LD:
A BOLD ACCUSATION.

No words of mine can adequately describe the terrible
grandeur of that scene, At first we could see but a thin
tongue of flame rising from the dark hull. Then we
could see men rushing about, and the boats lowered.

I knew that the Soaring Petrel carried three boats. I
had one at the yacht. The other two would be sufficient
to carry the captain and what remained of his crew. As
the light of the flame grew stronger we could see them
putting out. Then we could see the flames licking upward
in the shrouds. The mainsail caught, and added to the
blaze. The hull itself seemed suddenly to explode. What
it was none of us could conjecture. But that something
had been done to make the schooner burn was absolutely
apparent to me.

“Mr. Dargen,”’ said Mr. Wilson, “that is a strange fire.
See the pall of black smoke that rests Tek above the
blaze.”

“Yes,” I replied; “that is camphor.” :

As I spoke, a column of flame shot high into ae air,
even through the growing cloud of black smoke. The ef:
fect was beautiful but terrifying.

In some manner, and I had little doubt myself as to
the manner, the camphor had got loose, and was spread-
ing. As a result, the very sea itself seemed to be on
fire.

A broad sheet of blazing surface could be seen sur-
rounding the schooner. The blackness of the night be-
came almost luminous as contrasted with the awful black
cloud of dense smoke that rose slowly above the me oaring
Petrel.

“T smell it,’ said Mr. Wilson. “It seems to me, Mr.
Dargen, that we are nearer to that schooner than when it
started to burn.”

At the same moment almost Gabriel, the lascar, came
to me.

“Mr. Dargen,’” he said, “the wind him change. The
schooner him come this way.’’

For a moment I merely regarded this as an interest-
ing feature of a most dramatic as well as tragic event.
But then I realized that it was a menace.

“We must get out of the way,” I said to Mr. Wilson.
“You see, the density of the water here makes the cam-
phor burn on the surface. The spectacle is beautiful, but
when the wind and the tide bring that flame close to us
it will not be so interesting.”

“But surely it cannot last long. ta blaze will eat
up the schooner in no time.”

“Tt will burn all night.”

Mr. Wilson turned to his daughter. a
We have seen fires at sea before, Emily, but did you
ever see anything like that?”

“Never,” said the girl promptly.
camphor burns.”

“But I know how

  

    
oe : 3. TRE BURRALO

The lake of flame surrounding the schooner was soon

exhausted, but a great column of fire shot upward, it

seemed, half a mile in the air. And above it and around
it was that terrible, thick black smoke.

The light the fire made showed everything Seat
within the range of human vision. We could see the
two boats, and the occupants of the boats could see us.
The boats were headed toward the yacht.

As I watched the burning schooner,.now drifting rap-
idly toward us, a violent argument was going on in my
own mind. I knew that Captain Ryak and his crew were
coming to us for such relief as the yacht could give. |
_. knew—without proof, of course, but from surmise and
deduction—that he had ‘set fire to the schooner to get
the increased insurance.

Should I} as the chief of the yacht Emily, permit Ryak
to come aboard? ‘This was a problem that needed study.

Before I had satisfactorily solved it, he was within hail-
_ ing distance.

“On board the wreck!” he oe “We are from
the burnihg Soaring Petrel.”

Mr. Wilson stood at my side.

“Mr. Wilson,” I said, “I have been trying to determine
what to do. It is evident to me that a crime has been
committed. | firmly believe that Ryak has set that
schooner afire. I will explain why Iam so certain when
there is time. What shall we do? Shall we take him
(ae

VO, certainly’. he ssaid »promptly,2 “This is: not a
question of what he has done, Mr. Dargen. It is a mat-
ter of saving human life. If you should refuse to per-
mit him to come aboard, you either compel him to remain
alone in that boat, or deprive the sailors who man it the
privilege of such safety aS we can give.”

In another moment the boat was alongside, and Cap-
tain Ryak clambered on deck.

“What boat is this?” he asked. .

“The yacht Emily, from Hongkong,” I answered.

“Where bound?”

“The first place we can get.”

“Who is in command?”

iam

IT could see the peculiar expression on the one
face, lit’. up as it was by the i from his pune
schooner.

“Permit me to ask you to resctie me and my crew,” he
said, in an CSTE to be sarcastic. “Who composes your
crew?” ‘

“Everybody on board. a as well as the rest. Un-
derstand?” .

“It ought not to be Gficie But—I merely ask to

enlighten myself—how did this sudden rise come to you?

In command? And of a nice, safe, serviceable vessel like
this?” :

“Look here,” I said angrily. “I don’t want any of your
cursed nonsense! I came here with four sailors to res-
cue the people on this yacht. . You deserted us, leaving
us to what seemed certain death. I know why now. You
set fire to that schooner to get the insurance you doubled”
at Canton.”

“Who told you that: ?”’ he demanded hoarsely. “It's a
lel

“It is not.a lie. You cabled to Singapore the day be-
fore we left to double the insurance. Is that true?”

. That as true, But had the carvo,”

®

BILL GUORIES. ie 8

“Of what? Your cargo was a fake. I saw it taken |

e

on board, and I am sure now it was not car enor
He laughed i in a bitter way.

“See it burn!” he said. “Is there anything that will ee

burn like that except camphor! a

The second boat, containing the remainder of the crew, ~
had by this time reached the yacht, and the men came

aboard..

“We are in danger, Captain Dargen,” said Miss Wik
son, “Do you notice how close that schooner is approach-

ing p” : = f

I called Gabriel.

“We've got to get the wreck out of her track,” I said.
“Leave the boats in the-water and take enough men to
pull. Two of you in each boat to row, with a man to

direct, ought to be sufficient. ‘That schooner is drifting

down on us as fast as wind and tide will bring it.”

“Yes, sir,” he said. “I will get my men. I will take -

the best, :

“What are ae doing?” asked Ryak, when fe saw
Gabriel and his men getting into the boats.

“They are going. to tow us out of danger,” I said.
“Can’t you see that we are in line for trouble?”

He looked at the drifting fire and nodded, In a

short time the men in the boats got to work, and the

yacht began slowly to move forward. The spectacle
was as grand as ever, but it no longer had the terrors
for us it had before.

But there were other terrors to come.

TONY AND THE MOOSE.
By JAMES OTIS.

“Yes, I reckon that was the liveliest night put in near

about the Allaguash River by any man; but if you've ~

ever heard tell before of a bull moose cuttin’ in to rescye
a prisoner from the sheriff, then there’s no call for me to
open my face.’’

It was Joe Champlin, the well-known Maine guide,

who spoke, and any man—hunter, tenderfoot, or logger .
—who ever found Joe in the humor. for telling a story

would have insisted, as did I, that he “open his face’
without delay. 4

We—Joe and I—were encamped half a dozen lee
Sitce three,

north of Chamberlain Lake, in Maine.
o'clock in the morning we had been following the trail
of a moose | had wounded the night previous, and the

chase did not’come to an end until near nightfall, when a

we succeeded in bringing down the huge beast.

Camp, which consisted of a small lean-to, no more than.
“sufficient to shelter the upper portions of our bodies, was
put. up near where the moose fell. A Borer ous fire had —
been built, by the aid of which a.couple of large steaks

were broiled’ to a turn, and we-were smoking the after-

supper pipes with that sense of enjoyment such as can Be

felt only by men in similar circumstances.
It was my first experience in hunting big cane and

that I had succeeded in hiring Joe Champlin, the best .
guide in northern Maine, was due rather to luck than ~
good wit. When we set out I had no idea what a treasure

in the way of guides was te be my companion; but at

Kineo I had been told that if Joe ever proposed to tell !
a story I should give him the opportunity, even though at

 

ry:

Een pain el Ce ae

AA

Peas a ce ae
 

 

play the part of chimney.

 

 

 

 

the moment we might be hot on the trail of the biggest
moose or caribou to be found in the country.

“Go ahead with the yarn, Joe, and make it good and
strong,” I told him, settling down in front of the roaring
fire in a yet more luxurious fashion,

“T couldn't make it stronger than it really was if I
split my mouth,” Joe replied, as he threw another log on
the flaming pile ‘of fuel.“ ‘Cause, you see, there’s no man
hereabouts with top enough to think sich a yarn out

-er nothin’ but his head, He'd have to see the whole thing,

as I did, an’ even then there'd be times in after years
when he’d ask hisself if it was all really true.

“T reckon you never did hear tell of Tony Lebrun,
though his first name was Antoine, which folks around
here shortened down into Tony. Never, eh? Waal, he
was a terror, an’ no mistake, afraid of neither beast nor
the devil, an’ a wild cat for fightin’; ready to tackle any-
thing, even before the sheriffs got after him.”

“What crime had he committed, Joe?” I asked lazily.

“Waal, it wasn’t a crime, so to speak, though stickin’
to it down here_in Maine is likely to carry a fellow to
jail. Tony sold whisky to the lumbermen, an’ made
a good many dollars out of it, too. The loggin’ bosses got
after him, ‘cause the men allers come away from Tony’s

- camp fightin’ drunk, an’ wasn’t much good at the work for

two or three days. So they had him indicted—I reckon
that's what. the lawyers call it—for sellin’ rum, an’ sent
Jim Beals, the nerviest deputy sheriff in the State, to take
him.

“Tony had a camp on the Allaguash ine five miles

from the Ashland Road, an’ it was a corker—made of
hewn logs plastered in great shape with clay, a pitched
roof covered with splints, an’ cedar boughs to keep the
heat in, though when he had started up business with a
lively gang of loggers, I allow nobody inside needed
a great deal of warm air. There wasn’t any floor, as a
matter of course, but the soil had been beaten down hard
as a soft rock, an’ the fireplace was in the middle of the
ten-by-twelve room, with a good-sized hole in the roof to
_In one corner he had a wide
splint board set up on hosses made of saplin’s, which he
called the bar, an’ behind it, when. Tony was at home,
you'd allers: find a barrel of ‘whisky on tap. Good stuff

that Kanuck sold, too, an’ he wasn’t bothered much ‘bout

gettin’ it, “cause, you see, he brought it across the line
from Canada, where sellin’ ruim ain’t a crime.

“How would he find his customers? Why, bless you,
lad, there wasn’t a lumberman within fifty miles of the
camp that didn’t know when Tony tapped his barrel, an’
you could bet good, big money that every mother’s son
of ’em counted on havin’ two or three reg’lar blow-outs
at Tony’s before the season ended, whether the bosses
kicked or not. The fact was that everybody far an’ near,
guides an’ hunters, as well as Joggers, got to learn when
Tony had in a new stock, an’ he didn’t need any steam
whistle to call up them as were willin’ to fire in what
cash they had. :

“Tt was ‘long ‘bout this time in the year, when thet moose
were beginnin’ to call in great shape, an’ consequently
uglier than thunder. I was camped on Muddy Bear pond,

not more’n six miles from Tony’s place, bein’ there to get
a caribou’s head for a dude who counted on havin’ it
mounted to show as somethin’ he’d killed. The snow |
was near to ten inches deep on the level, with here an’
there big drifts in the open what called for snowshoes |

  

re BUFFALO.

   

   

BILL STORIES. Ves 23,

whether a man wanted to tote ’em or not. I had settled
down for the night, same’s we have, an’ was leg-weary
from a long tramp that had ‘mounted to\nothin’ in the ©
way of caribou, when who should come moseyin’ erlong
but Jim Beals an’ Injun Charley, a guide from Oldtown.
It didn’t need any great lookin’ for me to see that Jim
had important business on hand, though why he’d pulled
up at my camp was more td could tell till he asked, after
lightin’ his pipe an’ sittin’ by for a spell, ef I knew the lo-
cation of Tony’s camp.

“Of course I told him as how I did, for it’s a mighty
good man who'll take the chances of lyin’ to Jim Beals, an’
then he out with his business, which same kind er started —
the hair on my head. lf you'll believe it, he counted on
takin’ Tony single-handed an’ catryin’ him to Bangor.
I'd as soon thought of goin’ out allowin’ to ketch a wild
cat by the tail. Waal, Jim reckoned that I’d have to
guide him to Tony’s camp, seein’s how Charley. didn't .
know where it was, an’ I’ve allers noticed that them Old-
town Injuns ain’t worth a hurrah except to take. pay for
euidin’ them what know less’n the average six-year-old
youngster.

“T didn’t make any bones of tellin’ Jim that he was a
fool for so much as thinkin’ he could take Tony out er
his own camp when, most likely, he had a gang of half-
drunken lumbermen around who'd love to kick up a row;
but the deputy allers was headstrong, an’ he allowed
that I must show him the road whether I wanted to or not.
I didn’t try to argify, for Jim had the law on his side, an’
might make it hot for me when I showed of at Kineo

or Greenville.

“I took my rifle, Jim had a ‘revolver, an’ that fool
Injun was totin’ an old army musket that wasn’t worth
at the rate of a shillin’ a dozen. We had snowshoes, see-
in’s how it wasn’t safe to go without ’em, an’ when the
scrimmage should come—for I knowed it was due within
four seconds after Jim. sighted pen ee hinder
us mightily.

“Tt was nigh erbout seven o’clock in the evenin’ when
we got started, an’ we'd get to Tony’s camp, barrin’ ac-
cidents, jest erbout the time the fun was at its height, in
case he had customers, which was likely. If he was alone,
Jim didn’t have the ghost of a chance to carry out his
plan, for the Kanuck could stand off twenty men, an’ was
certain to be on the watch.

“Waal, we toddled erlong, an’ except for a ier of
miles snowshoein’ over dry, loose snow, got within sight
of the camp in good, easy time. Tony wasn't alone.
Guessin’ from the noise, I’d say there was more’n a hun-
dred loggers, every one of ’em tryin’ to see who could
make the biggest row, which last give us to understand
that they’d been buyin’ stuff of Tony in good style.

“Jim allowed that we'd creep up an’ get a good look
at the inside before decidin’ how to begin business, an’
he’d no more’n said so when Injun Charley took a quick
sneak; he wasn’t hankerin’ for a tussle with the French-.-
man, an’, to tell the truth, I didn’t blame him very much,
though I held my ground rather than let Jim think I was
erfraid. It wasn’t any trick to get up to the door of the
camp, which had been left open on account of the heat
inside, an’ there we saw an Allaguash River barroom in
full blast.

ya Mt looked to me as if the camp was plumb full of men,
an’ Tony was drawin’ off tin cups full of whisky as fast
as he knew how. Trade wouldn't need to keep up a
great while at that rate before the barrel was bound to be
    

a | THE, BUFFALO

empty, an’, as I figgered it out, the loggers wouldn’t leave
till the stuff or their money come to an end. A dozen or
more were playin’ cards, witha short, half-hewn log
for a table, an’ the rest of ‘the crowd were makin’ it lively
for Tony. “How he ever found time to take pay for
the drinks was more’n I could make out. A lantern

was slung to the roof of the shanty, an’ another hung

just over the whisky barrel, so you can guess that it
wouldn’t have been easy to find a needle in a haystack, if
' there’d been any hay near by, an’ it turned out that the
darkness was jest what give Jim Beals an idee.
We'll leave the snowshoes outside, so’s they won’t

give us any bother, an’ tumble right in as if we belonged
to the gang, Beals said to me, after wed taken in the
whole thing for a minute or two. ‘If you get a chance to
smash that lantern where those fellows are playin’ oe
do it after you see me light on ony.’

“T tried to make him see what a fool trick it was to
tackle a crowd of thirty or more, an’ all of ’em ‘most likely
armed as well as we; but he was pig-headed. He had
come there for Tony, an’ was goin’ to make one try at
takin’ him, no matter how big the odds against us. Now,
I’ve been in some tough places since I got through wearin’
petticoats, but I never tried to bite off anythin’ as risky as

followin’ Jim Beals into the thick of that half- drunken,

crowd. There was thirty of ’em at the lowest figger, an’
every mother’s son achin’ for a row. When it comes to
that, they were already beginnin’ to squabble over the

cards, an’ it stood to reason that before a great while the -

inside of that camp would be somethin’ too much like a
wasp’s nest to suit me exactly.

“T’ve got to say for Jim Beals that he never turned a
hair, so far as I could see. After givin’ me fair warnin’,
in he walked, pushin’ this man an’ that out of his way to
the bar, as if all he wanted in this wide world was some
of that Canadian whisky, an’ he’s bound to give me credit
for followin’ him, though Pm free to say I was scared out
er a full year’s growth.

“Waal, we walked right up to the bar, an’ Jim, kind er
keepin’ his head down so his face couldn’t be seen. any too
plain, called for two drinks. Tony never so much as
looked up, but swung eround an’ bent over the barrel to
draw the stuff. THe passed up one cup half full, without
seemin’ to know who was behind him, an’ jest at that
minute the row among the card players broke out. One

man called another a liar, swearin’ he had been cheatin’,
an’ before you could so much as wink crossways the whole
mob of ‘em was hard at it, like a drove of cats.

“The lantern hangin’ over the card table was shivered é

the first pop, which saved me the trouble of lookin’ after it.
Jim Beals didn’t even squint eround to see what the trou-
ble was; but over the table he went, spry as a squirrel,
lightin’ square on Tony’s shoulders. I didn’t need any
kick to tell me what to do; but, makin’ a pass with my
rifle , knocked the stuffin’ out or the lantern behind the bar,
an’ then jumped for Beals an’ the Kanuck, who were
rollin’ ‘round in front of the whisky barrel in fine style,
judging from what I could hear, for it stands to reason

that you couldn’t see your hand before your face. The.

loggers kept right on at their own bakin’, never thinkin’
there was any visitor eround to make trouble, an’ you can
bet Jim an’ I ‘tended strictly to business, for it was a ques-
tion of finishin’ our job an’ gettin’ out before the other
row had come to an end, else we was likely to stay in
that section of the ‘country till old Gabriel came eround
oe his horn pote the folks to wake Hp. a ‘

BILL | STORIES.

“Now, you must understand that Tony isn’t any Atte

runt, like the general run of. French Canadians, but a
strappin’ big six-shooter, an’ built right up in shape. If
he hadn’ t been taken off his guard he could have trounced
Jim an’ me without half tryin’;
can’t naterally do his best when a couple of fellows are on
his back. As it was, we had our work cut out, an’ don’t
you forget it. Tony put up the fight of his life, an’ more
than once came near turnin’ so that he could land one
of us a knock-out blow.

“How long did we tussle with him? Waal, now, i can’t
even guess.
finish the job before the other row was over, we'd be
in a mighty tight place, an’ I kept right on workin’ hard
without tryin’ to figger whether it was two minutes or ten.

I knowed, however, that the card players was doin’ them-

selves proud in the way of scratchin’, clawin’, an’ yellin’,

which, as I said before, was the only thing that could |

help us.
“After a~ while Jim Beals got Tony’s head ined

“between the barrel an’ the logs it was hossed up on, after

which I heard a sharp click even amideall the racket,
which told that the sheriff had slipped the bracelets onto
the worst man in the Maine woods. After that it wasn’t
hard to handcuff Tony’s legs, an’ then Jim stuffed an old
moccasin that laid handy into the Kanuck’s mouth, so’s
he couldn’t yell for help. Up to this time, you must

bear in mind, neither one of us 7 had SO Hitioh ace.

yipped.
“Get hold on’ drag him out before the crowd sees

us!’ Jim Beals says to me, an’ I ‘yanked the best I knew |

how, as likewise did the sheriff.
easy job to get through the crowd;
if them loggers were two or three deep all over the floor,
an’ didn’t they maul us without knowin’ it] got a couple
of clips that near made me silly, an’ it stands to rea-
son that Tony didn’t come out of it with a whole skin.

“Once clear of the camp—I havin’ left my rifle behind
‘cause there wasn’t any earthly way of findin’ it in the
dark, seein’s how I dropped it once the lantern was
smashed—we made tracks, draggin’ Tony feet first, till
we'd put 4 good half mile ‘between us an’ that crowd of
-screechin’, yellin’ drunkards.
our wind, an’ Jim Beals pulled out of Tony’s mouth the
moccasin he’d stuffed in to keep him quiet.

It wasn’t noways an

“Say, that Kanuck didn’t yip at firsts but the way he

looked at me made the cold shivers run down | amy back,

for I could see my everlastin’ finish if he an’ I ever met ~

alone after this little business was over, an’ I knowed
you couldn't keep a man in jail forever jest ‘cause he’d
been sellin’ rum, even if this is the State of Maine.

“ ‘It was a case of handlin’ you pretty rough, Tony,’

Jim Beals said, friendly like, as soon as he could ketch his
breath ; ‘but you’re mostly to blame for it, seein’s how
you've “made your brags that any man who come after
you would be carried home feet first.’

“‘You’ve got me, an’ there’s no kick comin’ ’bout that,’

the Kanuck answered like as if he’d been talkin’ to- tie
‘What makes me mighty sore is that Joe Cham-

brother.
plin should mix hisself up init. This ain’t his funeral, an’
he’s got no call to be playin’ sich. funny business, “less
he’s gone into the sheriff job.’ oe

' “An officer of the law has the right to call on any
man for assistance when he’s servin’ a warrant, an’ Joe
couldn’t help hisself. He hated to come bad enough; but,

bGt you “see; a. mane

All I had in mind was that e we didn’t —

it seemed to me as.

Then we stopped to ketch.

 

aS eee ~
. ~ 7 . fa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  
  
   

  

  
Se comets

 

 

 

_ the deepest snow.

 

 

 

drift.

 

THE BUFFALO

once in the muss, it was only square dealin’ for him to do
his prettiest.’ :

“ ‘He don’t feel so bad now as he will after we meet
agin.’ Tony said, with a look at me that wasn’t pleasant,
an’ then he shut his face. Not another word would he say,
an’ it come to my mind that even yet he had us in short
quarters if he took it into his head not to walk after
the handcuffs had-been taken from his legs. We couldn’t
have lugged him ten miles in ten days, an’ I allers won-
der why he didn’t think ‘of that fact.

, He didn't, though. When Jim loosed his legs an’ told
him to stand up an’ move on ahead, he did it like a little
man; but it wasn’t any sure thing to me that he hadn’t
some plan in his head for givin’ us the slip later on.

“When we started off toward the tote road you could
hear the gang back at the camp yellin’ an’ screechin’ bad

as ever, so we knew the row hadn’t come to an end, an’
_ I wasn’t botherin’ my head about their followin’ us, for,

once it was known that Tony had slipped away, the whole
crowd would set erbout emptyin’ the barrel, seein’s how it

might be done without the bother of puttin’ up good

money for the stuff.

“Waal, as I’ve said before, Injun Charley had sneaked
off when He got the first sight of Tony’s camp, so we
didn’t have him to bear a hand in gettin’ the prisoner
down the road, though it ain’t any certain thing he’d have
counted for much, anyway; but one thing he surely could
have done, though his body was full of lazy bones, an’
that would have been to help us through the heavy snow,
for, as you can guess,.we hadn’t time to gather up our
snowshoes when we came away, an’ it was tirin’ work
to wade through the drifts that were to be found in the
opens. You see, Tony couldn’t help hisself to any great

extent, seein’s how his hands were made fast, an’ we-

did a pile of high an’ lofty tumblin’ when we struck

“T don’t know as I’ve said that this happened erlong
the middle of October, near erbout the beginnin’ of the

. ruttin’ season, an’ as we floundered erlong I could hear the

bull moose callin’, first on one side an’ then the other,
until it seemed as if the woods must be full of *em. How-
somever, I didn’t think much of that, except to. feel hot
because I had lost my rifle, an’ even if I’d had it, you
couldn't hardly say it was the time to do any huntin’, when
we was obleeged to get Tony out er the woods before
any of the loggers knowed what was up; for they’d given
him a hand, sheriff or no sheriff, if he’d called for help,
an’ we was bound to get him in to Jim Beals’ team, which

same was stabled down at the Ryerson camps, ten miles .

or more away, before mornin’.

“To tell the straight truth, I was a good deal like a bear
with a sore head, on account first of havin’ been dragged
into a scrape which would likely cost me dear when Tony
got out er jail, an’, second, ’cause I’d lost a good rifle
worth twenty dollars or more. The longer I thought the
matter over, the sorer I got, till when we was flounderin’
in the deepest snowdrift I let out to Jim Beals, askin’
him if he thought it was fair play which I was gettin’.

“*You'll be paid for your rifle, Joe, an’ get day’s wages
while we’re takin’ Tony in,’ Jim said, soothin’ like, though
it wasn’t easy talkin’ while we plowed waist deep in the

“Te won't need a rifle very long, Beals, so you needn’t

spend good money buyin’ one, unless you're a little short
on guns yourself,’ Tony said, laughin’ in a way that

wasn’t pleasant to hear, an’ I knowed that he never forgot

SRN asus Sd sa fain Noy iar irs a Nl Ry Lh A ae aR aaa aR

gas NS a east ti

BILL’ SPORIES a . 25

either a good turn or a bad one; but it wasn’t for me to
answer him back, seein’s how he was likely to stay quite a
considerable spell in Bangor jail. _
“Jest then we’d worked ourselves through the drift into
a small clearin’ where, two or three years before, there

had been a camp, an’ had no more’n shaken off the snow -

that clung thick from neck to heels, than I heard a bull
moose bellow. I’m bound to say that he must have been

a big one, ’cordin’ to the noise he made: but, bless yOu, -

that didn’t feeze either of us, seein’s how we’d heard the
same kind of a call, though perhaps not so loud, time an’
time ag’in. We hadn’t more’n got ready to push on when
a second moose called, not over ten yards away, an’ Jim

_ Beals said, with a laugh::.

‘Seems like as if we was findin’ plenty of game when
we can’t take care of it! 4 :

“ “Them was both bulls that bellowed, an’ that’s two
too many to meet at this season of the year, unless there’s
a cow close by,’ Tony said, with another of them queer
laughs that shook me up, an’ he hadn’t more’n spoken
before the biggest bull I ever saw come out from the

shadows of the trees, his head down, an’ he pawin’ the

snow in great shape.

“‘There’s like to be trouble eround here for some-
body,’ I says, as I let go of Tony to feel for my rifle, for-
gettin’ that it was back at the Allaguash barroom, an’

then it was that Jim Beals did the biggest fool trick I

ever knowed him, or any one else, for that matter, to be
guilty of doin’.

“He whipped out his revolver an’ fired twice at the ~

bull before I could stop him. Things wouldn’t have been

so bad if Jim had missed his aim; but that was somethin’.

he was never known to do, an’ he’d pulled trigger when
there wasn’t any hopes of sendin’a bullet where it would
do any good. .

“Waal, that big bull got a couple of balls where they
didn’t ‘mount to much more’n wasp- stings; but it was
enough to make him forget the other fellow that had been
stumpin’ him to a fight.

“Now, if you ever come across moose or caribou in
the ruttin’ season, remember that, big as they are, they’re
quick as a cat an’ twice as ugly, all of which was known
to us three.

“ ‘It’s a case of takin’ to the timber!’ Jim cried, as he

started toward a big hemlock, draggin’ Tony behind him,

an’ I heard the Kanuck say, like as if he was frightened
close on to death:

‘I can’t do any climbin’ with these bracelets on, Jim
Beals,’ an’ what he said was true, while, at the same time,
I knowed that if he didn’t roost high in mighty short
order he'd never sell any more smuggled whisky, for the
bull would have made short work of him, seein’s how

_ the only way open in case we were foolish enough to run,

was straight into that big drift ag’in, where the moose
would have had the whole gang of us in a couple of
shakes. :

“I wasn’t spendin’ much time watchin’ what Tony an’

the sheriff were doin’, ‘cause I had a hurry-up call jest

then which I couldn’t put off; but I did see out er
the tail of my eye that Jim had stopped to unlock the
handcuffs, which was the least he could do, seein’s how
it would be certain death if Tony wasn’t given a chance
to shin the hemlock. An’ it stood to reason that he would
take to the tree, even though it was to follow the sheriff,
for he couldn’t go anywhere else.

“You can set it down for certain that Jim moved mighty

 
     

~ lively while he was givin’ Tony a chance to use his hands,

  

26 THE BUFFALO

  

for the big bull was comin’ up pawin’ an’ snortin’, movin’
a little too quick to suit me, though I allow that the sheriff

an’ his prisoner might er got into a tree if there’d been

only a single critter eround, for a moose likes to make a
big show at the start, which same has saved the lives of
more’n one guide or ‘hunter in these ‘ere woods,

“Vd got into the hemlocks, an’ high enough up to feel
that the bull couldn’t strike me, even though, as I after-
ward come to know, he had horns that measured three
feet two inches, which is quite a considerable length even
for the Allaguash region.
lend Jim or Tony a hand, an’ both of ’em were makin’ for
the same tree in which I was roostin’. They wasn’t six
feet from the foot of it, with the big bull four or five
yards away, when the second critter broke cover, comin’

with all steam on to have a whack at the fellow that had

been darin’ him to fight.

“Now, I shall never believe that this last moose had
any idee of tacklin’ Jim or Tony; he only wanted to get
at the other bull, an’ it so happened that the two men were
in his road. It seemed as if he hadn’t more’n come into

the open before the sheriff an’ his prisoner were knocked

into the air like jumpin’ jacks, an’. when they. struck the
ground ag’in it was with a thud that must have shook ’em
up in great shape.

“T was lookin’ eround to make out if they were alive,
for men that have been tossed by moose horns don’t, as
a general rule, live to tell much erbout it, when the two
bulls come together with a whoof an’ a bellow that might

er been heard back at Tony’s camp. Talk erbout fightin’!

Say, you don’t know what it is till you've seen a couple
of ugly moose at work! it’s like steam engines comin’

‘together at full speed, an’ their bellowin’ ain’t equaled
anywhere.

“Now was the time when I ate er slipped away, an’
I knew it, for while them big fellows were fightin’ to
the finish I wouldn't have been noticed. My idee was
that the three of us could leg it through the woods, an’
not take to the trees ag’in till we struck another drift, but
things wasn’t to be that way.

-“T dropped to the ground tnighty cautious, fae the
hemlock between myself an’ the bulls, an’ whistled for
Jim. The first thing he said to tell me where he had

stopped, was to let out a groan, an then I knowed he’d

been done up on.the first round.

“Where's Tony? I asked, creepin’ erlong to where
the groans came from, for after all the trouble we'd had
it wasn't in my mind to lose the prisoner, more pertic’larly
since I didn’t want him hangin’ eround loose to pay off
the score he had agin me.

“Here he is, an’ I reckon he’s done up for keeps,’ Jim
said, an’ then I saw the Kanuck layin’ stiff, half buried
in the loose snow.

“Are you hurt much?’ I asked, feelin’ kind er relieved
at believin’ that ae was out of this world for good
an’ all.

“That cussed bull ran one "prong of his horns a full
four inches into my leg, an’ I reckon I’m bleedin’ to death.
Can you get me into the tree before them infernal brutes
come nosin’ eround agin?’

“Tt didn’t seem as if I could, for Jim Beals ain't any in-

fant to handle; but when he’ Ss put to it sharp a man can

do pretty considerable, an’ I tackled the job, a helpin’
with his hands.

BILL STORIES.

Then I turned to see if I could —

 

“Waal, to make a long story short, I got him into the

hemlock, an’ between us we managed to buckle my beit —

eround his leg well up toward the thigh, tight enough to
check the blood, an’ I packed snow over it good an’
hard, which is erbout the best thing that can be done in
the woods for a wound, an’ don’t you forget it. :
"Do you know for a fact whether Tony is dead? Jim —
asked, when he was patched up as I’ve said, an’ it come

to my mind that, seein’s how we'd hauled the poor chap .. \@

into the scrape, it was my duty to make certain the corpse
had a fair show, so down I slips from the tree.

“All this time the bulls had been fightin’ worse’n any
tigers ever could fight, an’ it was easy to see that the big
fellow was gettin’ the best of it. He had more science
than the other, which was a young one who'd jest begun
to feel his oats, an’ was outpointin’ him all eround, though
I didn’t stop to umpire the game, not carin’ to male any
great show of myself.

“Waal, 1 toddled over to where I counted on findin’
the corpse; but it wasn’t there to any great extent, aint
was so thick-headed that it was more’n five minutes before
I tumbled to Tony’s racket. He'd seen that his time had
come to play trumps, an’ most likely wasn’t hurt much,
seein’s how Jim took the brunt of the moose rush; but
did the possum business with a good chance of turnin’

the trick to his own benefit.
“You can bet that I remembered all the promises he'd

made to me, an’ I knew we was bound to run across one
another mighty soon ef I kept on guidin’ cheap sportsmen..
Iknowed Tony would keep his word, an’ the sweat stood
out in big drops on the back of my neck,

“T clean forgot the bulls, an’ shouted to Jim that the

prisoner had given us the slip, which caused him to cuss
terribly for one who was in sich bad shape, an’ before
I could get back to the tree he was pepperin’ the fightin’
moose with all the cartridges he had erbout him, jest as a”
means of blowin’ off his bad beuIpEr

“T got into the hemlock ag’in in short order, hopin’ to

stop Jim from bein’ so foolish; but there was no call

for me to say very much, Jest by chance he’d managed

to put two balls inter the big bull, an’ both struck near
the heart, which changed the odds in the bettin’.
moose went down, an’ the young one, thinkin’ he’d turned
the trick all by ‘himself, roared an’ bellowed till you
couldn't hear yourself think, braggin’ erbout the job.
Then, ’way off to the north, a cow called, an’ he struck
through the underbrush. like lightnin’, for, havin’ come
out of the fight ahead, he had earned the right to run.

a herd of his own until some better bull took it from —

him.
“We camped right there till daylight, buildin’ a fire af

eatin’ a couple of steaks from the big ull, with Jim get- —

tin’ inter fair shape for what was to follow. Say, that
moose weighed more’n fifteen hundred pounds, if I'm any
judge. I measured his horns, as I’ve said, an’, take him

all in all, I venture to say that he was the biggest critter |

ever seen in this part of the State. It was cruel to kill
a fellow like him with a little, finicky revolver, instead

of bringin’ ‘him down in proper style with a first-class.

rine,

Joe ceased speaking, as if his story was finished, ana
for a time it really seemed as if he was mourning over
the unsportsmanlike fashion in which the big bull had been

cut short in his career; but I broke in upon his ae a

grief by ae curiously :

“The -

 
  
     
    
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
 
     
  
   
   
 
    
  
    
     
 
  
  
 
   
    
  
   
   
   
  

 

 

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THE BURE ALO

“How did you get the sheriff ene: Joon?
“Oh, that was easy enough,” the guide replied care-

essly, as if such a task was no more than child’s play.

“Of course, he couldn’t walk, so I rigged up a sled of
pine boughs, which would slip erlong fairly well over the
snow, an’ strapped Jim on with his belt. Then it was a
case of haulin’ him out to Ryerson’s camp.”

“And with no other conveyance than a few pine boughs,

you dragged a heavy man ten miles or more through the

woods?”

ies: and I’m free to say that it was rough on him
at times; but a man is bound to stand a little shakin’ up’
when it’s a case of grinnin’ an’ bearin’ it, or freezin’ to

death, even if the gash in his leg don’t get in its work.

Yes, T was fagged out a bit, but that don’t count when
it has to be done. Jim played fair with me, though, for
he sent me this ‘ere rifle, which must have cost a good
fifty dollars, an’ worried thé county officers into payin’
me for my time at the reg’lar price for guidin’.”

“And what about Tony “Lebrun: ? Have you been so un-
fortunate as to meet him your.

“Deed I have, an’ there wasn’t anything so very mis-
fortunate erbout it, either, though I got mighty shaky
eround the knees aien he hove in sight.. What's more,
Tye had a few drinks of his smuggled whisky within the
last month, for Tony. still runs the business, an’ the sheriffs
haven't caught him yet. Jim Beals is too much of a~

cripple to come up this way-on sich a job, for the

moose’s horn used up one of his legs, an’ there’s no
other man in the State who is hankerin’ to tackle the |
Kanuck, though it’s safe to say his time will come some
day.”

“Tell me about your meeting with Tony?”

“It don’t make any story, ‘cause there’s nothin’ to it.

Twas up onthe Allaguash with a couple of hunters, when

Tony walked out of the underbrush large as life, right
under my nose. I allowed that the time had come when

Td got to put up or be shut up, an’’I handled my rifle
pretty considerable quick ; but Tony laughed as he dropped.

his gun, an’ said:

“Don’t be a fool any longer, Joe Champlin. I’m not
lookin’ for trouble with you, for I never tackle a man
that hasn’t got the sense of a rabbit. Have a drink;
here’s my flask. Things were squared between you an’
me the night you was sich a chump as to leave me for
dead in the snow. Why, man, I got back to my camp
before the boys were certain I'd really left, an’, what's

more, there wasn’t a drink went out er that herrel which

I didn’t get the cash for, or knew who to chalk it up
against.’

“Tony an’ me was real kind er sociable, so long as
there was anything in his flask, an’ we see each other
every now at’ us to talk matters over, like as men
should.”

 

sip =

_ THE HARVEST MOON.

Many regard the harvest moon as specially arranged to
give additional light to people at work in the harvest field
in the autumn months. But the rising of the moon at
nearly the same time for several nights in succession
occurs at some time in the course of every lunar month.
It is because this phenomenon occurs at the time of full
moon. in September in our northern hemisphere that it
receives special attention. The harvest moon is seen at
its best when the full moon in September occurs on the

twenty-third of September, the day on which the sun

BILL STORIES. ) ee

crosses from the north to the south of the equator. At the
equator there is no harvest moon at any time of the year.
The time and the extent of the phenomenon which is
called the harvest moon depend on latitude. The nearer
either pole the greater is the service rendered by the har-
vest moon; the nearer the equator the less.

 

WHO WAS GEORGE BRYSON?
By W. BERT FOSTER.

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
The narrator of this story, upon leaving a Broadway surface

‘car at Union Square, suddenly discovers that he has lost all -

knowledge of his identity. In one of his pockets he finds a wallet

containing twenty dollars and some visiting cards with the name ~

of “George Bryson” engraved upon them. Taking a room at a
hotel, he searches his garments for further clews to his identity.
These garments consist, in part, of steel-gray vest and trousers,
apparently new, a well-worn black coat and a soft, new hat. The
young man finds a receipt for a box at the Monadnock. Safe De-
posit Company, a key, and a fragment of a letter which reads:
“Bring the ten thousand in notes to the dock when I land from
the San Logo on September 18. Don’t fail me. If you do
In the box at the safe-deposit company he finds a package con-
taining ten thousand dollars, and securities worth more than
a hundred thousand dollars. Uncertain what to do, he places the
money in one of his pockets and goes to the Grand Central Sta-
tion, where he rescues a beautiful young woman who is about to
be run over by a switch locomotive. _When he gives his card to
the young woman, she and an elderly woman who is with her
read the name with expressions of amazement. In a newspaper

e reads of a man who is being treated for loss of memory in
one of the hospitals, and he becomes interested in the case which
is so like his own. He visits the various Brysons whose names
appear in the city directory. The widow of a Bryson tells him
she has a stepson named George, and conveys the impression
that he is a scapegrace.
rescued. She tells him her father is looking for a George Bry-
son, but that he is not the one. Bankley, a detective, seeking

 

~George Bryson, decides he is not the person he wants, but asks

him if he knows Colonel Parrott. When the San Logo docks
Colonel Parrott lands, but the narrator does not know it until
Parrott has disappeared. The narrator is at breakfast when he
is touched on the shoulder by a man who introduces himself as
Professor Woodmansie. The stranger recognizes him as one of
several men who were called from the audience to be hypnotized
on a stage where the professor was giving an exhibition at Coney
Island on the preceding Sunday night. Woodmansie also says
that one of the men hypnotized was brought out of his trance
with considerable difficulty and then found that one of the other
fellows had gone off with his coat, which contained his wallet and
other articles. Woodmansie and the narrator start for Coney
{sland to find the man who lost the coat.

CHAPTER XL
DANGER THREATENS.

We arrived at Coney, that preposterous place, where
two-thirds of Greater New York finds its recreation six

months in the year, and nearly a quarter of the popula-

tion all the year around. I was impressed with one
strange fact.

I knew the place—I remembered it; but it (onic dif-
ferently from my secret conception of the town. I seemed
to have seen it, but much of it was new and strange to
my eyes. And yet this mesmeric humbug of a faker de-
clared I had been here less than a week ago!

I did not remember my visit to the island Saturday

evening. Long ago I must have seen the place; I re-

membered it as I had recognized Union Square—by_ an
effort. .
But I said nothing about this to Woodmansie.

The narrator meets Amy, the girl he —

 
  

 

 

28 THE BUFFALO

 

“Take me around to where you think this fellow who —

lost his coat may be,” I said.

“Why, how can I tell that: ?” he said. “You're expect-
ing too much of mé, sir.

“Tm expecting you to do your best to help me find
him,” I grunted. “Isn’t he an habitué of the place?”

“He doesn’t live here; or, if he does, he has only | been
here since Sunday. I don’t know much about him.”

“Not after you fixed him so that he lost his coat?
Didn't he tell you anything about himself?”

“No. He was mighty close- mouthed,” declared the
professor.

“And you didn’t find out anything ?”

“We-el—not much.”

“Let’s hear it all,’ I said, in disgust. “Don’t you

stippose I want to find him, and exchange coats?”
— “Well, I don’t want to mix up with him any more,
admitted the fellow, at last. “He threatened me, fl
we had to run him out of the show.”

“Humph!” [ grunted,

to the police, and had you arrested.”

But I knew very well why George Bryson, if this

individual we were after was he, did not call on the po- -

lice.

“T hear he has been wandering around the island since
Sunday,’ the mesmerist admitted. .““He had some money;
I tried to square the thing by buying him a new coat—
fact is, I offered him ten dollars "

*l burst into ribald laughter at the fellow’s sancti-
monious air. Ten dollars! And George Bryson had
lost three hundred and seventy-five dollars in a lump,
beside the key and receipt of that safety- deposit box.

“Well, what’s the matter with that?” queried the man.
“Wasn't that lib’ral? If you’re wearing the coat, it
ain't worth much more than ten dollars—now.”

“You didn’t consider what might have been in the
pockets,” said I.

He glanced at me sharply, and I wished I had not
spoken.

“What do you mean? If there was anything of value
in the coat you wouldn't be so anxious to change with
him again.”

“Don't judge me by yourself, sir,’
nity, forgetting that time was, soon after my discovery
of the contents of the safety- deposit box, when I thought
strongly of running away with the ten thousand dollars!

“Well, you saw the coat brought you trouble,’ he re-
marked artfully. :

“Trouble enough, you'd think it, if you didn’t know
who you were, and tried to fit your personality to a
wrong name,’ i growled.

“What is his name?” he asked. :

“Never you mind. You go ahead and show me where
-you think he is likely to be,’ I responded.

Well, that was a fine search!. We went to every cheap
hotel on the island, I believe.

My companion asked about the chap, and I learned he
sported a brown mustache, and was at least twenty-five
years old.

But nowhere did we see the man inet

 

Finally, when well up Surf Avenue, Professor Wood-
mansie suggested going into one of the pleasure parks and
“it only,

looking there. ‘Everybody goes in,’ he said;
costs ten cents, and he might be there somewhere.”

We wandered about with the ever-moving throng, into

BILL STORIES.

“If it had been me I'd gone

a said, with dig :

 

first one booth and then another, almost deafened by

the chatter of the crowd and by the siren-voiced “barker.”
Noon passed while we were here, and Woodmansie took
me to a restaurant, where I paid for the food served us.

I could scarcely eat myself; but I noticed that his
appetite was unabashed. Why is it that a thin man al-
ways eats like a boa constrictor?

My companion was plainly tired of the eae Ve
hinted that he desired to get over to his own show.

He was the main attraction there, where he was sup-

posed to give hourly exhibitions of hypnotic feats.
When he suggested leaving me, however, I told him
plainly what I should do.

“T shall go to the police, and tell them exactly what :
This fellow who is wander- —
ing around here without his own coat should have done

you did Sunday night.

it at first. I would.”

He looked gloomy enough, but said nothing fae
about going. However, I watched him closely when we
left the restaurant. We were crossing toward one of the
artificial lagoons where a crowd was gathered, when
Woodmansie suddenly stopped and seized my arm.

“Look-er that!’ he exclaimed.

He pointed at a man crossing the open space in front

of us, carrying a pail of water. The water carrier was

back to us, and he was without a coat.

“What's the matter?” I demanded.
him?”

“T believe, sir, that the man with the pail is the Geren
you wish to see,” he declared, in his serious way.

“Why, he’s a workman!” I exclaimed, in amazement.

"Why shouldn’t he be?” he asked, gazing at me search-
ingly: “Did you think he was a millionaire ?”

“Well, from the contents of his pocketbook I didn't
expect him to look like that-—— You said he had money,
too.”

“He had a little.” a

We hurried after the fellow with the pail. He went
right through the crowd, and when we followed, I saw
the man with the water pail going along the gangplank
to an island where some sort of an exhibition was taking
place. I tried to reach the fellow, but a guard stopped me.

“T’ve got to see that man !” I exclaimed. “TI must see
him. It’s very important.”

“You can’t go over there, sit,
“Wait till he returns.”

I was pushed forcibly back into the crowd, and turned
to speak to Woodmansie.

I declare! that elusive rascal had disappeared as com-
pletely as though a trap had opened and swallowed him.

“Do oe see

How he had jhidden his lanky, awkward form sO

quickly I could not imagine.

“The scamp has fooled me!” was my first thought, and :

I started to push through the crowd to hunt him down.
Then the guard spoke to me again.

“Wait right where you are, sir. Your man will be back
in a few minutes.”

“Perhaps the professor was afraid to face the other

fellow again,” I thought. “Id better not lose this chance. _ |

If the man with the pail is George Bryson———”

And so I waited quite ten minutes. Then the fellow ay
came up the plank again, and had I gotten a grip.op Pro: |
fessor Herman Woodmansie at just that minute there
would have been trouble. Why, at the first glance at this
fellow’s face, I knew he could: not be the man 1 was |
| ee for. |

’ the guard said firmly.

 

    

   
   

   

This workman was all of forty-five, and he had a
stubby growth of beard all over his face. But I stopped

him, and inquired politely if he had lost his coat the

_ Sunday evening previous.
7 “Naw,” he said, and walked on without further ado.
4 I was pretty hot under the collar. Woodmansie had
\@ fooled me.

All he had wanted was to get away from me, and get
back to his own show on Ocean Walk.

“Dll ix him!” I thought, and after making sure that he
could not be hidden anywhere within this fair grounds, I
set out for the address on the mesmerist’s card. It was

 

rate circus, or ina cheap dime museum.

I thought to myself: ‘‘Well, there must certainly have
been something the matter with me if I went into a
place like this on Sunday night. This abberation of mind
was surely coming on, if it had not already gotten me in
its grip.’

But what I wanted was to find Woodmansie, and al;
though I saw his name plastered all over the outside of

_ the place in letters a foot high, nobody seemed to know
anything about him.
" “Say, boss, you’re lookin’ for a dead. one,’ I was in-
eee by a tough- looking fellow, who acted, I believed,
spouncer,) ¢ bles gone away | from here, Dolly Gray,
ie Dolly Gray! | We aint seen int.

I thought the fellow lied, and I was not slow in telling
him so. I was too angry to choose my remarks with
care, and he got mad, too. There were several other
men around, who all seemed to have: an interest in the

Place ius

It looked like personal relics for a while, but a
-policeman hove in view, and ordered us all to keep the
.peace. I could get no satisfaction out of either the of-
ficer or the showmen.

It was my conviction that the mesmerist had made a
quick run for the place, and was now in hiding until I
should go away. The afternoon was waning, and I was
tired, and wished to get back to my hotel. Besides, there

ment published that morning in the paper. :

This clew to a solution of the mystery seemed balked;
I had to put my hope again in the advertisement. So I
wandered out to the car station, and took a trolley back
to Brooklyn.

I was not successful at once in getting a car in which I
could be seated. The afternoon crowd was leaving the

island.

And when I finally secured what I wanted I was sur-

_ prised, and not a little displeased, to notice that one of the

men on the seat with me was the fellow who I had set

down as the “bouncer’ at the mesmerist’s show.

: He did not appear to notice me; but his presence dis-
| turbed my mind. I looked about the car, and thought |
| recognized another of the fellows with whom I had quar-
a reled.
. The situation looked suspicious, I thought.

_ As we started across the marshes I buttoned my coat

 

ing air was growing chill. I had several times incau-
tiously mentioned the contents of the black coat pockets,
which Professor Woodmansie declared I had worn away
@ from his Sunday evening séance by mistake, and in a way
_—] to lead him to believe they were valuable.

Besides, the kick the owner of the coat. had made

 

 
  
 

 

THE BUF FALO

a sort of a side show, such as one might find with a third-_

might have been some answer in reply to my advertise-

tightly across my breast, and not alone because the even- |

_ was well used to delivering just such ‘blows.

BILL STORIES, 29

showed him that something of importance had been in
the coat. Now, here were the Professor’ $ tnderstrappers
and friends following me.

_ I did not care to be robbed, and I watched the tough
who sat nearest me with very ‘sharp eyes. On my other
hand was a smooth-faced young man, with his hat pulled
down over his eyes, and his hands in his trousers pockets,

He looked inoffensive, and I moved over as near him as
possible, and kept the tough at a distance.

The car whizzed along over the trestle, and I was glad
we were moving so fast; we would the sooner reach the
lighted streets. Suddenly I saw the motorman seize
his brake, and, having turned off the power, wind up
the crank with both hands. The car shivered and jarred
desperately; but its speed was hardly checked.

Directly before us was a bridge over a creek. Its
beams cast some shadow on the tracks, and not until he |
was within a few yards of the bridge did the motorman
see our danger.

A flat car loaded with gravel stood on the track, two
workmen shoveling the stuff over its sides.

They were in haste to get through their day’s work, ‘and
had neglected to hang a lantern on the rear of the car.
Well, sir, we struck that flat like a battering ram

against a city gate.

The lighter car must have been Galea yards up the
track, But it was the long, heavy, open car full of strug-
gling, shrieking humanity that suffered.

The passenger car rose right up like a tearing horse;
I declare it seemed to be trying to climb on top of the
flat car. But it didn’t follow the flat.

Its front truck was thrown completely from the track.
We bumped over the sleepers for a few seconds, and
then—crash !—the car plunged like a diver off the trestle
into the water and mud below!

CRAP EE Re OOTt,
. A RENDEZVOUS.

That wast a most shocking plunge. The car struck
upon its hood, which was bent and broken like so much
cardboard, and the splintered wood and broken rods were
driven back upon the people in the car. :

The front windows were smashed, and that added to the
horror of the catastrophe, for the pieces of flying glass
cut many severely.

Then the wrecked car rolled over, and two men, one
the brave motorman, who had stuck to his brake, were
held fast beneath the car in the deep water and mud.

I was myself thrown upon the bank of the creek. Most
of the passengers in the rear of the car were equally for-
tunate. Only a few got into the water, and some had
jumped at the instant the collision occurred. The women
and children suffered the most.

I landed with sufficient force to have broken some
bones had I not found somebody occupying that particu-
lar spot ahead of me. I fell, in fact, upon the side of the:
fellow who had occupied the next seat to me—the one who ~
kept his hat pulled down and his hands in his pockets.

He yelled.’ So did I; a iy cry was for an entirely
different reason.

In the darkness I felt a pair of hands gtoping for the
breast of my coat.

I seized one of these hands and received a most: vicious
blow under the ear from the other fist, which, I judged,

 

  
30

Tt pretty nearly put me out of commission; but I con-
tinued to struggle. 1 knew instinctively that somebody
was trying to rob me.

_ Indeed, there were two ae. in the game.

“I rolled off the fellow on whom I had landed, and
called faintly.-for help. Two men were on top of me—
one holding my legs while the other ripped open my over-
coat.

They were the two young thugs I had noticed in the car.

I fought not to save myself from harm; but | thought
of the wallet, the money in it, and the key and receipt.

I thanked Heaven that I had placed the packet of ten-
thousand-dollar bills again for safe-keeping in the clerk’ s
safe at the hotel.

But I would have fared badly at the hands of these
brutes had not help come most opportunely. The man I
had fallen on picked himself out of the mud, and suddenly
the rascal searching me yelled with pain.

He had received a fearful kick in the arm. I heard
the bone snap.

He rolled off me, yelling like a coyote, and rising to his
feet ran into the darkness. I ‘arose up and smote the
other fellow myself. .

I wish I had hit him harder, but he seemed to think it
good and plenty, for he turned tail, too.

“By Jove!” exclaimed my friend in needs ‘ole’ oF
those fellows slammed right down on me. I believe
he’s broken a rib. I can scarcely ee Are you hurt
MBC I >

It was not a propitious moment to explain to him that
I was the person who had fallen on him, but I assured
him that I was not greatly damaged. |

yas

Then we set to work to do what we could for 8 of

our less fortunate comrades.

But I saw soon that this young man was really seriously
hurt. He became very pale in the flickering lantern lights,
and frequently he put his hand to his side and seemed to
breathe with much difficulty.

I must have done him some internal injury, I told my-
self; and as soon as another car, city bound, came along,
I forced him aboard, and went with him to find a doctor.

Half the people on this car left it to attend to those in-
jured in our car; so we found seats easily. Then the car
was sped to Brooklyn, ‘and ambulances and surgeons
sent back to the scene of the wreck.

I went with my new friend to the hospital, and there
it was declared that a-rib had really been fractured.

They wanted to put him to bed, but he refused, and
with such emphasis that the doctors ‘had to give it up.

But they told me that he must have rest and do no work
for some days—better if he laid a-bed for a fortnight.
I had already explained to him that I was the unintentional

cause of his misfortune, so it was easier for me to per-

suade him to let me do for him,
He was really weak, too, and when I sent ier a car-

riage to transport us to New York, _ did not resist,

but went like a lamb.

He had given his name as Henry Hopkins at the hospi- ;

tal, and beyond that I knew nothing about him.

But I felt in honor bound to see him through, and as
he said nothing about his home or folks, I judged him
to be as much alone as myself. We

The driver of the carriage filed objections to our sit-
ting on the cushions, and spread a ce over them,

THE BUFFALO.

BILL’ STORIES.

Really, our clothing was in a terrible muss. The long
garment I wore had shielded my suit for the most part; _
but my companion’s ns was both torn and caked
with mud. :

When we arrived at the hotel, dnd I smuggled him up
to my room by covering him with my long garment so
that the employees. could not see the state of his clothes,
and he removed his coat, one really couldn’t have told
what it was originally intended for at first, glance.

It was ripped completely up the back, one arm hung

by a thread at the shoulder, and it was mud-stained be-
yond recognition. A tailor might make the vest and
trousers presentable in the morning ; but the coat was be-
yond repair. .
.. Hopkins seemed glad to follow the surgeon’s advice
and go to bed; he was so utterly exhausted with the pain
he had suffered, that he fell into an uneasy sleep almost
immediately. I spread out his clothing to dry, and emptied
the contents of his pockets into a drawer of my dress-
ing case.

He had evidently trusted to my being honest, for he
had not even removed:his money from his wet garments,
and he had quite a roll of small bills, perhaps fifteen dol-
lars. In the pockets of his ruined coat was an empty
bill case, and a letter or two. As I dropped these into
the drawer I noticed something which brought me up
short.

The letters were worn as though they had been carried
some time in his pocket, but the addresses were legible. —

And they were not addressed to Henry Hopkins at all.

Instead, the name on both letters was “Mr.
Collins,” with an address in the city of Albany.

“Humph!” I muttered; “the fellow is traveling under
an assumed name. That looks bad.”

And then the thought smote me that I was doing the
same thing myself! I was registered as George Bryson
in this very hotel, but I knew very well that was not my
name.

“T reckon the pot needn’t call the kettle ace ” T mut-
tered, and put the matter aside for explanation when my
new friend cared to open his leart t0 me—ii he ever:
did.

That night I didn’t know but Hopkins, as he called nie:
self, would quite “go off his chump.” —

The shock of the accident and the fever of his wound
threw him into a light-headed state, and I feared I should
be obliged to send for a physician before morning. Two
or three times he was up, groping about the room, and
muttering to himself.

“See here, old mau!” I would say, urging him back to
bed as firmly as possible. “This won't do. The hospi-

Harvey

tal doctor told you to remain quiet.’

“T can’t find it! I can’t find it!” he kept muttering.

But at length I put him on the back side of the bed, and —
lay down myself on the outer edge, where I could take
better care of him.

In the morning he was quite sensible again,

“Did I make much trouble. for you last night?” he
asked, in a worried tone.

“Not a bit.” I lied beautifully. But, then, seeing that
T had fallen on him and smashed his ribs, I could afford to —
be put out a little.

“I didn’t talk much when I was out of my ‘ head, then: 2
he continued anxiously. ;

% a

 
 

 

  

THE BUBFALO

“You were looking for your clothes, that’s all,’ I said.
“Now you are all right, and you can make up your mind
to remain right here with me till you can get around safely.
After breakfast I’ll go up to the druggist’s and get the
prescription filled they gave me at the hospital.”

We had breakfast sent up to the room, for I knew Hop-
kins ought to keep as quiet as possible. He was a very
silent and uncommunicative fellow, but I began to like
him—rather,

He never asked a question about me,

I kept my promise about the trip to the druggist’s after
breakfast. ‘That neighborhood on Sunday morning is as
peaceful as one can imagine. I found I must go as far as
Sixth Avenue to find a drug store open.

This carried me past ‘the office of the newspaper in
which I had inserted my personal, and I dropped in and
inquired if there was any letter for me. To my delight
there was one. It had been delivered scarcely an hour

7 before, the clerk told me, by special messenger.

T grew excited and opened the letter as I hurried along
to the drug store. It was written in a man’s hand, and at
once | jumped to the conclusion that it must be from the
person who had inserted the first personal threatening
“G. B.” if he did not return the stolen property.

But evidently he was doubtful on me, for no naine was
signed.

we you know anything regarding G. B., and consider it
of value, meet me at the Beacon Hotel, Ninth Ave-
ntie, at four o'clock this, or to-morrow after noon, Room
eighteen.”

 

That was the gist of the iter,

“Tf Miss Amy's father is the author a this, and of
the personal, he’s a funny old boy,’ I thought, cramming
the letter into my pocket.
of the town is not a very nice pas he cannot live at the
Beacon Hotel, that is sure.’

I was determined to keep the appointment, and to go
that afternoon, however. I thought the matter over and
decided that I should have to tell my story from a to zed,
and to prove my tale, I carried the safety-deposit box re-
ceipt, the key, and the ten thousand dollars with me when
I started for the rendezvous,

It wasn’t a nice-looking place, that Beacon Hotel; but

was as good as hundreds of other corner hotels in the

city. Plainly, my correspondent had appointed the mect-
_ ing here for the sake of secrecy.

_ A waiter let me in, and when I asked for room en
ee me upstairs. -

I knocked boldly and went in Hh when a voice summoned
me to enter. :

It was a good-sized apartment, but the windows were
shaded so that the light was dim. There was a bed in
the room, and the other furnishings were not attractive.

These matters, however, gained but a glance from me.
It was the man at whom L stared, This person was not
the old gentleman I had seen in ne theater box with
my fair young friend.

He arose when I entered, and stared at me keenly, He
was tall, corpulent, and was tanned as black as any In-
dian.
very vividly, for they were snow-white.

I knew him instantly. It was the man whom I had seen
_ leaving the San Logo on Friday; the person whom the
purser informed me later was Colonel Robert Parrott ;

  

_ brows.

“Seems to me that cena

Against this tan his mustache and goatee showed

  

BILL STORIES.

st

the man whose face reminded me, in some way, of Miss
Amy’s father.

“Well!” he exclaimed, eying me from under his shaggy
“Who the dickens are you?”

ChAT ER Ts)
ONE THING ONLY IS CLEAR.

I had not thought to be received in quite so brusque a
way. The colonel stared at me in a most uncomfortable
manner, and I found myself stammering and hesitating
as I sought for words in which to express myself. —

“Well, speak up!” he exclaimed. ‘Who are you and
what do you want here?”

“That’s exactly what I do not know,” I blundered out,
at length.

He, stepped quickly around me and snapped the ey in
the lock of the door. Then he ostentatiously placed the
key in his pocket.

“You'll find your tongue before you get out of this
room, young man,” he declared, and there was an earnest-
ness in his tone that could not be mistaken. “If you
are playing the spy on me a

I hastened to deny that, although the accusation puz-
zled me. Colonel Parrott was not panning out at all
as I had expected.

“T was at the San Logo’s dock when you came ashore
Friday, sir,’ 1 said: “but I did not know you, and, it
seemed you did not know me. I think, however, that
you expected to be met by somebody there?” I insinu-
ated.

He was watching me with unwinking eyes, and his
features were under such perfect control that I could not
tell whether he really paled beneath his tan, or not. He
was silent for several moments, however. .

“What do you know about it?” he finally asked.

“Not very much, sir; nor very much about myself,
either. Mine is a very peculiar case,” I added desperately.
“IT don’t suppose, for instance, that you ever saw any-
body who looked like me?”

“Not out of the monkey house at the Zoo,” he growled.
‘How the dickens should I know you?” -

My last grain of belief in the possibility of my being
George Bryson was swept away, and I sighed.

“Well, sir, I met you at the San Logo because I halt
believed at the time that was George Bryson.”

“What's that?” The words came like the crack oh a
whip, and the gentleman sat down as though suddenly de-_
prived of his bodily strength,

“T really thought so,” I hastened to assure him. ‘‘Most
people would, under the circumstances, I think. I did not
know my own name, or anything about myself, and I
found Mr. Bryson’s pocketbook and his cards in my coat,
and I have been Masductading under his name for a
week,”

“Tell me what you mean !’’ exclaimed the colonel, lean-
ing forward, his eyes on my face. “Am I losing my
senses, or have you lost. yours? Did you have anything
to do with a personal I saw in this morning’s paper?’

“T inserted that advertisement,’ I. said, “in an en-
deavor to reach the person who had advertised a few
days before for George Bryson—or so I believed. You
probably know who inserted the first advertisement?”

_ He nodded silently, never taking his eyes from my face.
I could see uae he was puede’, and that he did not seem

 

 
  

  

ao THE BUFFALO
‘to know. as much about this matter as I would have ex-
pected.

“T thought I saw a chance to communicate. with George
Bryson’s friends, and help straighten out the tangle, so: 1
inserted my personal. ane

“Where is he?” demanded Colonel Parrott sullenly.

Who: pI

“George Bryson.”
“| haven’t the least idea, sir. If I ever met him I
do not remember the occasion. Yet I believe I am wear-
ing his coat at this very’*moment,”’ and I opened my long
garment to display the black undercoat.

The colonel leaned back, his eyes still upon my face,
and seemed to get his breath again.

“You're talking,” he said; “but I don’t jfist catch the
drift) of your remarks: — They are not exactly clear.
oe you explain yourself. How can you know of
George Bryson, and yet not know him? How is it you
are wearing his coat, if you never met him?”

“Tf you, will listen to rather a long story, sir, I will

explain myself as well as I can,’ I began. .

When he nodded, I pursued, beginning back at the very
moment I found myself rounding Dead Man’s Curve in
the Broadway car, on Monday morning, and relating
every event which had transpired from that time until the
present interview.

Colonel Parrott listened with a face like adamant.
There was absolutely no expression upon it, but his
glittering eyes never. left my face, and it was plain
that my story interested him deeply.

“You can easily see, sir,” I said, in conclusion, “how
extremely awkward my position is at present, and has
been all this week. I do not know who I am, where I
came from, or where I was going last Monday morning.

 

| Lies that scoundrelly mesmerist declared, I was at .

his show Sunday evening, and there exchanged coats
with George Bryson, I cannot understand why I did
not go back when I discovered my“mistake and search
for my own coat, unless’”—and the thought just struck
me—"unless I was on my way Monday morning to the
Monadnock Safety Deposit Company to deliver up the
wallet and valuables there, considering that the owner
would probably communicate his loss to the bank first
of all.’

He nodded. But he did not express his wonder at my
story—not in the least. He was evidently a man well
used to astonishing happenings.

“So you went to the dock to meet the San Logo be-
‘cause of that scrap of a letter?’ he asked. -

“Yes, sir. I believed it to be of importance, and I
tried to do just as the instructions read.”

y Pne. ten thousand and all?’ he demanded,

POS. Site

“You might have been robbed,” he muttered. -Then he
cast a quick, penetrating glance at me, eArert yous
afraid of being robbed?”

“I do not think the chance is great,” I said. “Who
would suspect a fellow like me of ers such a large
sum about with him?” -

“Humph! You have it now?” ~ |
I nodded, but could not catch hie eye.
began to pace the room thoughtfully. —
“Now, sir, can you explain all this to me?” I ae
- finally, as he remained silent. “I don’t suppose you can
help me to find my folks; but I’d like to meet the person

He arose and

 

  

BILL STORIES. _

who seems to have employed George Bryson, and to
whom he proved unfaithful: As I have saved his prop-
erty for him, he will probably be willing to. help me——

“Oh, I'll ’tend to that, all right,” eater DOre Colonel
Parrott,
I half turned to see him, as he was behing me, for
ere was a note in his voice I did not understand.
On the instant; however, before I could finish, before

I could cry out at all, something was flung across my ©
mouth and nostrils and T was pulled back in my chair

with great force.

It was a towel. Colonel Parrott had seed: it from
the washstand, and before I could help myself he had
tied the towel with cruel tightness behind my neck!

When he let me go I leaped up; groaning and choking, :
and attempted to tear the towel away. Instantly my hands _

were seized, one after the other they were brought be-
hind me, and a second towel fastened the wrists quite as
securely... He was a very powerful man, and, struggle as
_I might, I was no match for him.

I was almost stifled, too. I had to fight for every
breath I drew, and I felt my eyes starting from their
sockets because of the painful pressure.

TO BE CONTINUED.
————_—_-9-—-@- -—___
A PATRIOT’S REPLY.

A man from Boston, who happened to be in Quebec,
thought he would like to inspect the citadel, which iS
rich in history.

An officer detailed a soldier to show the visitor around,
and he took him everywhere.
leaving, He noticed a small black cannon, half hidden by
the snow, and said jestingly:

Well, if guess I'll take this away with me.’

The soldier laughed.

“T don’t think you will,”
the inscription on it.”

The American stooped down, and read:

“Taken at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, ry78.”

Then he glanced slyly around, and saw the soldier still
smiling. He felt that the latter had the best of it, and
this made him cudgel his brain for a fit EeDty.

he replied, “after you have seen

%

He read the inscription over again to gain time, and then

turning to the soldier, said :

“Young man, you've got the cannon, but we ve got
Bunker Hill.”

That settled the soldier; he was silent,

————-_s-_t-o_—

WRITTEN PHONE MESSAGES.

A new device, which is certainly a marvel, is coming
into use in London in connection with the ordinary tele-
phone.

With it a message in handwriting can be transmitted
from one person to another, and should the person for
whom the message is intended be out or away for a few
hours, the message will be recorded in the receiving ma-
chine in the handwriting of the sender.

Figures, secret codes, drawings, or outline sketches of

any sort, executed on the yee nae device, will be
faithfully reproduced at the other end.

Arms trace the lines by means of Hecical connections,
and all one needs to do is to take down the pencil and
execute the message on the prepared sheet, and it will be
instantly reproduced at the other end by the tracing a
_on the waiting roll of paper.

  

As the American was

    
  
    

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

BILL STOR

ES

 

ISSUED

EVERY TUESDAY

BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS

 

 

There is no need of our telling American readers how interesting the storics 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, consequently, everybody ought to

know all there is to know about him.

In no manner can you become so thoroughly acquainted with

the actual habits and life of this great man, as by reading the BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

You can have your news-dealer
order them or they will be sent direct by the publishers to any address upon receipt of the price in
money or postage-stamps.

We give herewith a list of all of the back numbers in print.

319—Buffalo
321— Buffalo
324— Buffalo
325— Buffalo
326—Buffalo
327—Butftfalo
328—Buffalo
3829—Buftalo
330—Buffalo
331—Buftalo
332—Buffalo
333—Buffalo
334—Buffalo
335—Buffalo
336—Buffalo
337—Buftalo
338—Butffalo
339—Buffalo
340—Buffalo
341—Butffalo
3842—Buffalo
343—Buffalo
344—Buffalo
345—Buffalo
346—Buffalo
348—Buffalo
3849—Buffalo
350—Buffalo
351—Buffalo
352—Buffalo
353—Buffalo
354—Buffalo
355—Burffalo
356—Buffalo
357—Butffalo
358—Buffalo
359—Buftalo
360—Buffalo
3862—Buffalo
363—Buffalo
364—Buffalo
366—Buffalo
367—Buffalo
368—Buffalo
369—Buffalo
370—Buffalo
371—Buffalo
372—-Buffalo
374—-Buffalo
375—Buffalo
377—Butffalo
378—Buffalo
379—Buffalo
380—Buffalo
381—Buffalo
382—Buffalo
3883—Buffalo
384—Buffalo
385—Buffalo
386—Buffalo
387—Buffalo
388—Buffalo
889—Buftalo
390—Buffalo
391—Buffalo
392—Buffalo
393—Buffalo
394— Buffalo
395—Buffalo
396—Butffalo
397—Buffalo
398-——Buffalo
399— Buffalo
400—Buffalo
401—Buffalo

¥f you want any back numbers of our weekli
from this office.

BiisSmeViaZzep paw lesen.
BUNS Gav DSi an Oeics trates
Bulls Gold@Huntence wi jen.
Bill in Old Mexico... ... Sues
Bill’s Message from the Dead
Bill and the Wolf-master....
Bills Flying Wonder........
Bills Hidden Gold..... SAaBoc
Bitlis Outlawa tans: eae
Bill and the Indian Queen...
Bill and the Mad Marauder..
Bill’s Ice Barricade..... anes
Bill and the Robber Hlk.....
Bills Ghost Wameer snes esac
Bill’s Peace-pipe........ A
Bills" Red Nemesisz 3.75. 0) 2%
Bil’s Enchanted Mesa......
Bill in the Desert of Death..
Bills Pay. Strealkwes hae cats
Bill on Detached Duty..... °
IBIS CATInN MEV Shei yer sis oes
Biss SUD RISC ealiitovyietc ss sees s
Bills: Great iRiden ce sees case
BTS NVatem winanle ees
Bills Ordeal’ of nine. 0% a 5.
Bilis Casket Ot, eearlseia. a.
BITES KvaebllOtea ee
Bills” Totem’? os
Biss Mat boat  Drittess. os.
Bills Ont DeGeneres tt,
Bill and the Broncho Buster.
Bill’s Great Round-up.......
BIS Plcdoe team hee ce,
Bilbse Cowboy grandes scene
Bill and the Emigratits.....
Bill Among the Pueblos.....
Bil’s Four-footed Pards.....
Bish Procter Ghee acne a se
Bills Pi Ckoupr we scrote es
BillisrQuestei cae worn er
Bills Wat ofthe Plaimce. 22
Bill Among the Mormons....
IBLE EASSistamcen ener es
Bill’s Rattlesnake Trail.....
Bill and the Slave-dealers...
BE Se SerOney sAucti nea ae ae
BulseGirl Pardee mse
Bills tron Bracelense a5 ees
Billise Jade -Amuletas 2.)
BUS Miaic Cauvani ates aie
Bills, Bridgenom hires. ..42..
Biss Bowlenen a
IBD S ae Pay -stheake sens).
BYES Mine ee eee en eile
Bilis Clean ula scene
BilVSM RUSCH ita ee io nentals
Billy @Overboandaen...

IBTIGS RAT OR Gre nua wenn Nara.
Bills esto Wontrae ieee e.
Bill and Calamity Jane.....
BU Seid Beardie ees
Bill’s Desperate Plight......
Bills Heartless Stand. 5)...
Bill and the Yelping Crew...
Bill’s Guiding Hand
BiLlese@ueer Ouest see
Bills Prizes Getaways. oo.
Bill’s Hurricane Hustle.....
BUNS Stat cela vee eee
Bill’s Bluff

IBVERSe rack ence a ene
Bilis Dutchasbardeews. ean
Billand the Bravos see.
Billvand’ the, Quaker... 95.0)
Bill’s Package of Death.....

CLOTOLOLOLON OLOLOTOUOLOTONOTOUOT ON

Ot

CLOTOTOTONOUOTON

 

| 402—Buffalo

403—Buffalo
404—Buffalo
405—Buftalo
406—Buftfalo
407—Buffalo
408—Buffalo
409—Buffalo
410—Buffalo
411—-Buffalo
412—Buffalo
413—Buffalo
414—Buffalo
415—Buifalo
416—Buftfalo
417—Buffalo
418—Buffalo
419—Buffalo
421—Buffalo
422—Buffalo
423—Buffalo
424——Buffalo
425—Buffalo
426—Buffalo
427—Buffalo
428—Buffalo
429-—_Buffalo
430—Buffalo
431—Buffalo
432—Buffalo
433—Buffalo
434—Buffalo
435—Buffalo
436—Buffalo
437—Buffalo
438—Buffalo
439—Buffalo
440—Buftfalo
441—Buffalo
442—Buffalo
443—Buffalo
444-_Buffalo
445—Buffalo
446—Buffalo
447—Buffalo
448—Buffalo
449—Buffalo
450—Buffalo
451—Buffalo

453—Buffalo
454—Buffalo
455—Buffalo
456—Buffalo
457—Buffalo
458—Buffalo
459—Buffalo
460—Buffalo
461—Buffalo
462—Buffalo
463—Buffalo
464— Buffalo
465—Buffalo
466—Buffalo
467—Buffalo
468—Ruffalo
469—Buffalo
470—Buffalo
471—Buffalo
472—Buffalo
473—Buffalo
474—Buffalo
475—Buffalo
476—Buffalo

Bill's Treasure Cache....... 5
BUS Privates Wath see a, 5

Bill and the Trouble Hunter.

Bill and the Rope Wizard... 5

BTM HOST ay ences eeu en coma eain
Bill Among the Cheyennes..
Bille Resiere din acs anes
Bill and the Red Hand.....
Bills. ree trunks Writes...
Bill and the Specter........
Bill and the Red Feathers. .
SES GING ae S ERO Keni ane mise et
Bill, the Desert Cyclone.....
Bill’s Cumbres Scouts.......
Bill and the Man-wolf......

Bill and His Winged Pard... 5

Biulleaty Babylon aye cece al
IBIS Swion'g AMM eee ener
Biles esteeleArmmyards ease
Bill srAztecs Guldem aac ssn.
Billeands) Mitte: Minetyers. cc.
BUM WNewA Tees Cliny es ye
Bills balloon Hseaneue so...
Bill and the Guerrillas......
Bills eBordermwWialinncse eae
Bill’s Mexican Mix-up.......
Bill and the Gamecock......

5
Bill and the Cheyenne Raiders :

Bill’s Whirlwind Finish.....
Bill’s Santa Fe Secret......

Bill and the Taos Terror:... 5

Bill’s Bracelet of Gold......
Bill and the Border Baron. .
Bill at Salt River Ranch....
Bill’s Panhandle Man-hunt..
Billsat Blossom Range... 25.
Bil ands Jumiperesoeec +...
Bilis hinalsScoopes 2. -e.
Billeate Cleanwaerwcan se ae
IBS Wammiinics saa ee)
Aide Cia Claes Oana is ee ets
iS Commadesuvacs wc ey
Billie coer Ageia se. ste
Bill and the Boy Bugler.....
Bill and the Heathen Chinee.
Billvands the: Chink Wat...
Biles Chinese: @haseny.. a...

Bill’s Secret Message....... 5
Bill and the Horde of Her- .

TV OSE es UO Se iweramees se anatase es tier Mca nar
452—Buffalo Bill’s Lonesome Trail....... f

Billish, OWantinyeveict a ann wae
Bile ineWerdwOOd arcs se
Bil Seino erAN Gaia ceeae |

ey
Bill and Old Moonlight..... 5

Bille Re pal dence soi ee,
IBIS) Mao EKO, 6 Sa sue oe 6
DB THIRS es S orate WS Ce Taree aos
Bilis New Pardue, owas:
BTMES aan re Ga VCO ye -ce «
Bill’s Pieces-of-eight.........
Bill and the Hight Vaqueros.
Bills’ Unlueky Siesta... .....
Bills zeApache Clie ee. sae
Bill and the Anache Totem. .
Bill’s Golden Wonder.......
Bis enWestae Nicht we sie
Bill and the Hatchet Boys..
Bill and the Mining Shark..
Bill and the Cattle Barons..
Bills one Oddsee. 1 es
Bill, the Peacemaker.......
Bist nomIsel comedy meee

Bil’s Diamond Hitch....... 5

Bill and the Wheel of Fate.

 

477—Buffalo
478—Butffalo
479—Buffalo
481—Buffalo
482—Buffalo
483—Buffalo
484—-Buffalo
485—Butffalo
486—Butffalo
487—Buffalo
488—Buffalo
489—Buffalo
490—-Buffalo
492—Buffalo
493—Buffalo
494—Buffalo
495—Buffalo
ers
496—Buffalo
497—Buffalo
498—Buffalo
499—Buffalo
500—Buffalo
501—Buffalo
502—Buffalo
503—Buftalo
504—Buffalo
505—Butffalo
506—Buffalo
507—Butffalo
508—Buffalo
509—Buffalo
510—Buffalo
511—Buffalo
512—Butffalo
513—Buffalo
514—-Buffalo
515—Buffalo
516—Buffalo
517—Butffalo
518—Buffalo
519—Buffalo
520—Buffalo

man
521—Buffalo

522—Butffalo
523—Buffalo
524—Butffalo
525—Buffalo
526—Buffalo
527—Buffalo
528—Buffalo
529—Buffalo
530—Butffalo
531—Buffalo
532—Buffalo
533—Butffalo
534—Buffalo
585—Buffalo
536—Buffalo
537—Buftalo
538—Buffalo
539—Buffalo
540—Butffalo
541—Butffalo
542—Buffalo
543—Buffalo
544—Butffalo
545—Buffalo
546—Buffalo
547—Buffalo
548—Buffalo
549—Buffalo
550—Buffalo
551—Buftalo

Bill and the Pool of Mystery
Bik and the Deserter.)). 2.2%
Bulls elanGdain tne cAdmar. ess
BUNS es WG ature ee ene vet
IBIS IESE tee ace eon e yee Mien
Bill and the Ponca Raiders.
Bis sBoOldest  SErokesin =. . 5
SDE See HO aA eeestnee se orats e si
Bills) Blockade se wrysec oe aes 5
Bill and the Gilded Clique...
Bill and Perdita Reyes.....
Billeandsthe Boomersin oss.) 5
SVS Cols ise ele ieney swe are 5
BULIZS OSGi een a netce mentale el ors
Bullen Canon Dia blOses che ec 5
Bilis Miran sterainrisice miscete si 5
Bill and the Red Horse Hunt- .

Bill’s Dangerous Duty...... 5
Bill and the Chief's Daughter
Beare an aeeVVelicn a sien 5
Bill and the Men of Mendon. 5
Bill am Rainbow sind... 3.
Bill and the Russian Plot...
Bills Rede mrtamoles sk vives
VS ARVO mallee US Mae oe) ae oe
Bre SeAlra rim ewes ese se
Bill on the Upper Missouri. .
BUS OrOwas GOUUSm a ae lis
iS @ pilin Gasere sets ood.
BTS WAC Gratien es sce ce is
Bill’s Mountain Foes........
Bills me Battle Gives seen
Bill’s Fight for the Right...
BU Se Barbecues vee. . ee.
Bill and the Red Renegade..
Bill and the Apache Kid....
Bill at the Copper Barriers.
Bills Raeiiice Rowell. «sae es
Bill and Chief Hawkchee....
Bill and the Indian Girl....
Bill Across the Rio Grande. .
Bill and the Headless Horse- s

»

OULOULOTOL

DOT OOOO OL OVOUOUOUST OT OUOTOT

Bill’s Clean Sweep E
Bilis wbiandiwit-Oreeeartss. 4.

PSUS FRU DOM OCS een es ess §
BTEESE AOS RO telmen ts ieee oe 5
Bill and the Pawnee Prophet
Bill and Old Wanderoo...... S
IBS Mie tiny a Wide sisi co ae a
BillvandeGriaglve Dame Seve. 5
Bill at Lone Tree Gap...... :
Biullsiratleo Deatinwc.as = i
Billeag Cimaroone Balada 5.

Bill and the Sluice Robber...

Bit VOnMImOSt RA Vieleemis ais 5
Bills a mhnynderp Olt... os k
BTSs StouUxe CICS sis noer:
USE Sto uxeelicek Gree em nc
Billi and the Talking Statue. .
BES Mie dicineranlie aye meron
Bill and the Knife Wizard...
Bill and the Red Bedouins..
Bill and the Prairie Corsairs
Biles Scarlet Pick-up. 6-4.
Bill’s Mental Magic........
Bill and the Lost Indian....
Bill’s Conquest eicielete
Bil’s Waif of the West.....
Bil’s Juggle With Fate.....
Bill and the Basilisk.......
Bill and the Klan of Kan...
Bill and the Sorceress......
Bill in the Ute Outbreak....

LOUSTOT

one

UOT OVOT ON

CLOUN

es and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be obtained direct
Postage-stamps taken the same as money.

 

STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, 79-89 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY