ee Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1892, by Street & Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress. eee ee 2 a + ‘ Watered as Second class iar { Matter at the New York, N. ¥.. Post Once, March 2, 1889, [sued Weelcly. Subserintion Price, 85.00 Per Year. April 28, 1892, i eter at - ity. ® No. 163. Srrewr & Surriu, Publishers, NEW YORK. 31 Rose St., N. Y. P.O, Box se , 10 Cents, . et A pt : He oy i is A = Ni AT i i x Wi E ars: oe wars : SS ; ee eu ; i { . i tH) nu me x i XX AN | ; vl i RY-RSTHER, BUT HER WRIST WS CAECKED BY 0e"STRONG HANWOF GENTLEMAN Jf oR. THERE CAMB ‘THE CRACK OF UVOLMEH, AND DHE-GIUT-EDGED SPORT FE Pie FT HK hy 58 H LOG CABIN LIBRARY = . if eh® had a horse,tha = igwas ever Walt: way fitted for locks, and viciously pricking the blue-roan with its keen point. “Catch ’em up! We've got to catch ’em up—in time.” ARDSCRABBLE. But even as those fierce words passed her lips, the fair amazon caught a sound that turned her face still paler, chilling her heart as though a frozen hand with fingers of THE HUSTLERGE p iw By JOSEPH HE. BADGER, Jr. ice had suddenly closed about it. BBS. “Wheels!” she gasped, her brain whirling dizzily, her¥ ; head drooping slightly, as she mechanically tightened the CHAPTER I. reins. “A hearse! Can it be that they’ve—steady, you : AN AMAZON IN THE SADDLE. brute |” 9 ‘4 . She wrenched the blue-roan up, leaning forward in the § =On, you brute! Faster—faster—faster yet. saddle, and gazing fiercely along the stage-road, listening §) With each word came a stroke from a sharply-spurred | for a ‘repetition of the sound, which a favoring puff of heel, and a nervous hand sent the long reins of the cow- | wind had brought that way. _ boy-bridle flying from side to side across the blue-roan’s| [t came again, and so distinctly that there was no withers, attempting an impossibility; for already the jonger room for doubt; clattering hoofs and rattling good horse was doing its utmost. | wheels; almost surely one of the clumsy coaches which Wrom rock toroek the swift echoes were flung, until at) were still in vogue here among these mountain mining , times"t seemed a aay scores of iron-shod hoofs were’ camps, and which formed Hardscrabble’s only regular beating upon that iimty trail, in place of only one set—|jine of communication with the outside world. irom ahead, from the rear, from either side came the) Foy q score of seconds horse and rider remained motion= moeking echoes, fairly defying the human ear to keep cor-' jess, but that was long enough for Queen Esther to make rect, Bcore ; yet,.to that reckless rider, it seemed creeping | gyre the vehicle was coming that way, and, withtwin rather than flying. | spots of red leaping into her cheeks, she sent) her horse "Paster! oh, faster! We'll be too late—eternalby too yt of the road into a clump of bushes which afforded an late. On, you snail! Satan’s holding hears hoofs, and— ample screen for her purpose. | gebthere! We've got to get there, I tell you. [ice See ae . : é oF Already the piierinh’s sides were turning black with |, She Bren ee — yal which Set ee to es hat, ‘sweat, while flakes of froth dappled his counter, and) ron ey ki Eh Se ang Aut 3 eee y a vittle a Wecreamy lather marked each spot where that heated hide ae LWRICR REY Beer .eF Ok Count a eet. ae was chafed. att 5 Mor miles that killing pave had been maintained, up hill | and Gown, over Siliooth going and-rough, now tearing |, through a shadowed defile, then speeding along the verge Of a dizzy depth where a trip or a stumble meant certain | This precaution taken, Queen Esther waited the Bp: death to both horse and rider. : en 4 And now, thqogh the long slope of Dead Man’s Tobog- | Proach of the stage, outwardly calm and composed, in- )gan had just been surmounted, no time was given the, Steed »for catching breath, but reins and spur urged him) ee ready for use. to portray. pitilessly onward, that fierce mingling of hope and despair | It was a fairly level bit of road, and the team came on 2 —préaking forth at brief intervals, those blazing eyes con- @t a brisk trot. Less than another minute brought them stantly bentahead, searching for what the reckless rider | into view, 4nd Queen Esther caught her breath sharply knew must still be far in advance, whether all had gone|@S8 she recognized the driver—Samuel Frisbie, or Sleepy well, or ali had turned to evil. |Sam, as he was better known in Hardscrabble. j Déwn the slope thundered the good steed, scattering | True to his title, Frisbie was nodding in his seat, but Pebbles and bits of flint with each stroke of those iron-| for once he received a thorough waking, for horse and god hoofs, urged to break-neck pace by his,rider, yet rpg rider pressed through the bushes, and a leveled revolver ¢eiving little or no assistance from hand or rein the while.” *en 8 a To step on rolling stone, to tmp or stumble now meant; “Halt! hands up, Sleepy Sam! cs: death or broken bones to each; yet only one cry came| _ The horses flinched, recoiling, and Frisbie jerked at the from those blanched lips: “faster! still faster !” | ribbons as he flung his whole weight upon the brake-bar, ‘A, puff of wind caught the flowing skirt, and wrapped it | Coming toa halt as he dropped the reins to fling up his @r@und a broken branch; the sharp tug which followed hands, spluttering : a . cared rider to sway in the saddle, and horse to partially| “Don’t shoot, fer the love o’—up she goes, sir!” b lent emphasis to the sharp command : teal its stride before the leather-bound goods gave way ;|__ “Steady then, or come down in a heap, Samuel) »added yét the only notice paid came in the shape of a still fiercer| the fair road-agent, keeping the drop on. that comer ¢ut, a sharper cry that was almost a curse. | figure with a marvelously steady hand. ‘“Who’s: “Steady, you clumsy brute!” rung forth the tones of | this trip? Esther King, backed by steel and leather. ‘‘Fail me, now, | “ Jest nobody, mum sir, fer they ——’ and Pil—faster! For his life! To save him from—faster,| A strange, half-suffocating cry cut him short, and Qmeen TL gay !” ‘ | Esther sent her horse alongside the stage, glaring in/at ‘Aud then, for the first time in many a long day, some-| the lowered window. The stage was empty of all human thing akin to a prayer went up from those lips, for Queen} freight. : Esther was riding to save the life of her king, her husband,| Hither through voice, cry, figure, Frisbie recognized the and she felt that the odds were most heavily against her; perso who had so neatly held him up, but that discovery in that attempt. |by no means lessened his personal fears, and feeling that Seok a few hours earlier had she bidden good-by, with | he would run less risk in being shot asa flying target than Seultation burning in her dark eyes, both husband | by «awaiting the.questions which he plainly foresaw, he > ind Pathiccling that the dangerous game. they had been caughf up the lines and kicked back the brake; but thas Pr aye Meminst Gentleman Joe Gentry was all’but won. | was ally SA ae i i Ad ™oy | A‘touch of the spurs sent the roan forward, barring thea The Qeath-trap.mightbe sprung, but the victim would road, and, with the silver drop covering his freckled face, == abblow "Asa King Geiitle— p. Whereidtia. be“ Asa King, chief of the Royal Flush, instead of he for Qtleen Esther asked : 2 * whom that,cunning lure had been fashioned. ; joesthTou bade loa Pa Paf-she had-only discovered that daiining evid@hgean’ mai Joe, Race Magle, and /a strange 6) gadeteins * how reablier. «Af they had.uot been so quick inwetion, or you.dump them, Sleepy Sanh, Apik ee ions ag vendetta : a, tremendous stake. . ar , So ; 3 5 “Faster—faster yet, you snail!” Queen Esther almost . on wt shrieked, plucking the gilt dagger’ from her abundant From the silken webbing about her waist, she drew a a revolver, thumb and finger deftly manipulating the cylinaa) 3 der as-her eyes told-her the weapon was fully loaded and ® wardly suffering tortures beyond the power of cold type ~ we apes. m No, 163. za ( THIS LOG SOB BVSEBR AR Ve sac “Where, and how? Was there any row, first? Was— 4 who wore irons?” ® Sleepy Sam flinched still more perceptibly, and his freckled face turned a shade nearer white. upon his box, and, if looks go for anything, he surely wished himself anything but himself, jusfthen and just there. “Speak, or lose your number, Samuel,” sternly added the amazon. “I know too much for a lie to pass me by. Was there any fighting? Did your passengers leave you before—of their own accord?) Where did they leave you, T repeat?” “Nigh the Ten-pin Rock, ma’am,” came the quavering response. Queen Esther recoiled a bit, for now she knew the worst had surely happened, Yet, rallying just as swiftly, she persisted : “Who told youto keep your lips buttoned so closely, Samuel? Lie, and I’ll fix you for planting: talk straight, and I’ll leave you go free, to call others to account. Who warned you, I say, man?” “He swore he’d skin me ’live, ef I said ary word, mum, an’ that——” “Fell only find a corpse to flay, if you refuse to speak a good many words, Frisbie. Talk or croak! Who warned you; I ask ?” “The city marshal, ma’am, ef I jest must.” “Tforace Eagle, eh? And what was it he feared your blabbing, Sam? Out with it, or fare the worse, I-say.” “BF I knowed I’d tell, ma’am, but ef I don’t, how kin 1?” protested Frisbie, with a desperate affectation of in- jured candor. “’Twas jest a kick an’ a howl, a hold-up an’ a back-’round, a-droppin’ o’ freight an’ a turn-back | An’ the city marshal, him jest a-pokin’ his | fer Scrabble. two guns atwixt the jaws 0’ me, an’ makin’ his dayy he'd send me on a through trip, ef I didn’t keep a tight cairb onto——”’ “You can chatter, so sing in tune, Samuel, or go up higher,” once more interrupted the amazon, the dark eyes glittering redly through that masking vail. “You say your freight left you near Ten-pin Rock? You hint ata row of some sort? Now—which way did they go, @fter leaving your hearse ?” “Jest out o’ sight, ma’am. Jest sort o’ melted ’way, so to speal, fur’s I kin tell, ‘long of the city marshal a-shovin’ of his guns——” “What did they do, Iask you, man? There surely was a row*of some sort? One of them held back, or said some- thing, @r—which one of*the four wore bracelets, Sam Frisbie ?% Shasbetie f came that demand, and, as the question ei ueen Esther backed it up with her revolver. Wins eyes said shoot so distinctly that the driver mistake their meaning, and, as the present mies Scems the greatest, he abandoned his feeble M@eoiurted forth the truth. fmg—but I couldn’t help it, ma’am., ye F Wifhouch she more than expected just such an answer, fhe woman was nearly crushed by it, now that it came. o A harsh, choking cry rose in her throat, and there “Seemed to stick fast. She swayed blindly in the-saddle, * and both hands moved toward her throat, as though to re- lieve that horrible constriction. The pistol which one hand held, struck her face sharply, and the blue-roan backed out of the road, as the stiff curb answered the jerk given the reins by that other hand. Sleepy Sam saw his chance, and with rare decision for him,.at- once improved ateby giving his team word and silk, sending them off at a jump, himself dropping flat upon the footboard and covering his precious carcass from the-lead, which hé filly expected would follow that,break- ame SS ee py oe Queen Esther rallied at that pl a short, harsh cry feng up Ver +h “was hiddén from view jusitheny and ‘as ne to 16 ferrible » instinetively. & back “upén~ Ke shieghathy ‘Samuel-Frishie*= ~~ I jest He cowered | ig | Gentleman Joe 7 Sie d and murdered) And t—I atped’bait the trap !“T hélped—sheol’s blackest cuisés on |their heads, one and all. J’ play even if it takes"mMy life |time. I’ll never give over until my darling—oh, Aga! Oh, | ny love, my soul, my all!” “ee It was a brief, fierce outburst, where grief, love, venge- ance, all did battle for the supremacy, and, after one short struggle against woman’s weakness of body, Queen |Ksther rallied, urging her good steed along the stage-road at top speed, knowing that she was too late to save, but might still avenge. “On, you brute ! Too late! Trapped —trappe Faster—faster—faster yet |” CHAPTER II. THE TRAP THAT FAILED. “Nothing in sight, yet?” “Nary a move nur mover, boss, es I kin ketch onto,” “Keep all eyes open, and, if a sign comes from the point, - fetch it to me, the quickest you know how.” “You bet I will, boss.” Thomas King turned away from thé manon wateh, pacing slowly back to the cover in which his main foreée was concealed, only a few yards from the stage-trail lead- ing from Hardscrabble to Camptown, and still more dig- tant mining points among the mountains. “What’s keeping them?” he mused, a dark” frown wrinkling his brows, one set of fingers plucking at his fall beard, their mates almost nervously toying with the ivorys; handled revolver at his right hip. ‘‘If all’s gone well, they’d surely ought to be here by, this? If? Ithas=it must. How could there come a slip-up?” Leaving the road, King pressed through the leafy . screen, pausing in front of his men, whose eyes were. turned expectantly toward him, silently asking the ques- | tion their lips hardly dared utter. ie “Nothing in sight, as yet, lads,” their present. chi 1 said, with a return of his wonted coolness. ‘ They euba lee ing it easy, seems like. ’Tisn’t as’ though they knew whole trip had to be made, though.” He broke off with a short, hard chuckle, ast grim jest lay hidden under those words. Then, Wat abrupt change of manner, he once more spoke: ye: Wy “ What are you here for, boys?” s “To do the doin’ you want done, boss,” prompts swered one of their number: a hulking fellow, whose luxuriant beard of flaxen hue could not entirely mask® numerous cuts and bruises which covered his face, ne “Right, Big Casino,” with a nod of approval. “ And that ‘doing’ means to ‘do’ for one or two tough nuts, then?” “Why, boss, we’ll crack ’em, to be course.” : ae Big Casino, as Daniel Diamontl was more often called,” glanced around upon his mates, and received them aps proval in nods and muttered words. His answea ; theirs, and Tom King had only to command. " That arch-knave knew as much before their ans was given, vetit gave a grim smile to his swarthy ff | just then, and when he spoke again, it was with mi more pleasant tones than at first. | “Q@lean white, the bunch of ye!” he declared, lnod of approval. “I knew that when I told you of \this duty, but it’s none the less pleasing for all that,” “What you say, goes as it lays, boss,” ventured on the lesser lights. ‘ You’ve only got to point, for us hold. Yet, wouldn't we be better able to do the joby knew just what sort of job it was before us, sir?” | Suppose I was to say we’re going to hol& up a Vickers?” . “ Hold-up it’d be, of course, boss, Yet, isn’t it ¥ late—or early—to look for a stage from Hardsg¢ way ?” ; Tom King gave,@low chuckle at this shrewd, if t offered. Suggestion, “You resn0bo be the order of th Tet =a little more ee] os % ta 1; Jim, and since waiting seems to our, reckon I might do worse than to wat: in on the subject. So-you knoy eo rigs ‘Who don’t in fhesozparts, boss 2 More ‘than wilever kuow himragain, after this day . S and his rather short but strongly aquiline nose, addéd to rather than detracted from his sullenly fierce expressiGn. ) ame Harold Catherwood was several inches shorter than (hay? at the ends, was like his thick, crisp, tull beard of almost)” a a > ‘ bag’. gt i = % » * ; *, “Don’t count your. blood money so soon, youshoutidy? *. viciously retorted King. “You’ve caught the wronggcoons Fay: # es ¢ THE DOG CABINGEIBRAKY tective ever being hung for freezing fast to the wrong fel; low—did you?” #1 can prove I wasn’t within five hundred miles of Kan- sas City, when that fellow—cattle-man, you said. didn’t you?” “Dealer, raiser, buyer, and seller, just so,” nodded Catherwood. “And you say you can prove an alibi, King?” “Solid enough to satisfy the most exacting, yes, curse you.” “Then why curse me, dear fellow?” blandly purred the detective. “Why not bless me instead? I never knew one of your kidney who wasn’t on the make from start to fin- ish. I’m a property holder. I’ve good money in the bank. I can pay comfortable damages in a suit for false arrest, and since you can prove your innocence, why not laugh at, if not with, me, King?” King snarled in place of laughing, and the detective abruptly changed both tone and manner, leaning across to hold those glowing eyes with his own while speaking, clearly, coldly : *Because you’re a liar born, Asa King, as well asa foul assassin. Because you know I’ve got you dead to rights, and that hanging will surely follow your return to Kansas City. Because——” “You'll never take me there, and gon’t you forget it, you hound.” “7]] take you there, or I’ll take you with me or a much longer journey, Asa King. I know what hope you’re clinging to; I know that you are looking for your twin brother, Tom King, and the gang which hangs at the heels Of the Royal Flush, picking up the crumbs they let fall front their table; but I know, too, that they’ve got to jump me before Camptown is reached, or they’ll jump in Vain.” “They’ll follow you clear to Missouri, if necessary, you Pour.” wr e s 4 s eee Mf they do, 1 know another who'll havea chance to Wlay checkers with his nose back of the bars, my dear fel- low*” retorted the detective, resuming his light, easy man- Her. “There surely ought to be a charge or two filed away a@painst the worthy Thomas, and as for Queen Ksther——” “Name her not, curse you,” fiercely interrupted King, his irons rattling sharply as his hands made a furious gesture. “Only in pity and sympathy, Mr. King,” gravely added (miherwood, frankly encountering that glowing gaze. “Mat is the only part of the whole affair I at all regret ; I daa to deceive her, and I fear she’ll have still worse grief 'ttoesuffer before the end comes.” > dirt. = Drop it, I say, you blood-hound. - You’ve played us all And I tell you vow, in ample time, that I’ll play T never owed debt of that sort without dis- I’) hardly begin even for it all. charging it in full with interest added. ‘with you, be sure of that.” “ Ajlvight, my dear fellow. AsIsaid before, it’s part of the day’s work, and belongs to the profession. I’ve con- tracted to take you to Kansas City, to answer to the charge of murder. My warrant reads ‘dead or alive,’ and you’ve geen enough of wild life to realize just what that means to aman like me.” There came no ‘response in words, though Asa King flashed a venomous look toward ‘his captor, which would ‘surely have slain could its author have gained his most < © fear that the Royal Flush would or could so quickly learn ardent wishes. . Wor half. an hour longer the two men rode along the lonely trail ata respectable jog, both knowing that their Sdostination was drawing nearer, but neither man fully “realizing how surely each one was riding to his doom. EeeAn entire day had passed since that death-trap was Adroitly dodged, and Harold Catherwood had hardly a ifter truth, as to have time to strike again before he ios be Rar closer than the:doomed ‘detective stispected, worse" luck. Without sound or. movement to prematurely alarm either @aptor or captive, a number of masked figures sprang forth from cover, lassoes whirling through the air to close upon each one of the horses, and at the same time a repeating rifle spitting forth its deadly contents at such range that missing a man was out of the question. A single roar—it could hardly be called ery—broke from the lungs of the detective as that first shot rang forth, sending its cruel lead through his body, from side to side. Only that one sound; he knew that death had claimed him for a victim, and, in that awful moment, he knew, too, that he had brought this end upon himself’ by hig over-confidence in sending away the good menand trues who had asked to help him convoy Asa King to a place of greater safety. ’ Harold (Catherwood did not cast even a single glance ae toward those deadly enemies, for he had thoughts only for his oath—dead or alive. He jerked forth a revolver, clutching Asa King by the throat with his other hand, pushing muzzle fiercely against his breast and desperately working the trigger, shooting even as he fell to earth a corpse. CHAPTER IV. : A ORY FOR VENGEANCE. Crack, crack, crack! In swift succession rang forth shots from a revolver OFF heavy caliber, startling Camptown from its midday mealgy and causing all, householders and bummers, young an old, evil and reputable, brave and cowardly, to flock té ward the rudely kept square, which marked the center@ that aspiring burg, and was dubbed the “city park.” Crack, erack, crack ! A second gun was called into service, and the rush fo ward that quarter became precipitate, more than on@g would-be “ chief” drawing gun in readiness to take part m= the “ circus.” e But as the square, or plazza, came under view, thosegy half-lifted weapons lowered, and hasty footsteps slackened™ to a more moderate pace. A woman was hardly a novelty in Camptown longer she had long ago passed that stage of mining existence ; om but this woman, pale as death, her face’ plainly teargae marked, though she sat her horse so firmly, seemed somes thing more than an ordinary woman, just then and jus oh there. : “This way, gentlemen!” cried aloud the man who ha been exercising his weapons, at the same timé@ deftly ejett ing the empty shells and replacing them with fresh carts ridges. ‘‘Wecall upon you in the name of outraged law and justice. We ask you for——” “Vengeance!” shrilly broke in the woman, her black eves flashing as though backed by living fire, her clenched right hand quivering as her arm flew up to its greatest ex: tent. “Vengeance upon the hell-hounds who have dong " my poor husband to death.” For afew moments all was confusion, following thisie: startling address. * The Camptonians were but mortal, after all, and while the few women whom that wild alarm had drawn to the spot as yet, stared and whispered with on@) se another, the men showed far greater interest, though ingy an even less methodical way. Shouts and cries, a few lusty oaths, a number of aim™ fe less queries, aimlessly directed; then a sudden silence over all as Thomas King flung up his right hand in a ges-™ ture commanding attention. , “Does any one present know Asa King, or ‘Horace Eagle, es i the city marshal of Hardscrabble?” came his first ques-9% tion. ae Z b 8 Safely at the town where his guards were even now © awaiting his arrival with his important charge. wert: was a grimly joyous twinkle in his eyes, as he| Pee thought-of the double game he had so audaciously played upon the Royal Flush, making both ace and queen help him in his hour of need; winning ‘(bem both,.over to his side as keenest allies, until thategame was fairly in the) snave from which death alone could.extricate him, And now—vhere were the reat vithe Royal Pnsh? 7 “T know ’Race Eagle,” promptly declared a gray-haired, % te respectable looking citizen, stepping a little to the front. # “ And I’ve seen Asa King, too. ‘What about it?” “Have you seen either man during the last two days then?” i 7 : “ Neither of ‘em, sings -but —y “Tm Tom King, twitter fter information congern . O at * val THE LOG CaiBRN: IBRARY is wa khs . ‘He's dead,” cried Queen Esther, with’ a passionate : “ He’s been foully murdered, and I—vengeance, iieve are men born of women. Vengeance for my mur- dered husband! Vengeance for—oh !” Her wildly gesticulating hands flew back to her throat like one on the point of suffocation, and, spurring his horse closer, Tom King flung a supporting arm around - her waist, receiving her falling figure upon his shoulder "arid breast. => Phere was no acting in his manner now, nothing coun- ‘tetteit in the fierce grief which marked his face, as he, criéd aloud : Look, men and womez! See how hardly this poor wife re been hit, then tell me—shall those devils go scot-free ?” ™ Hevould hardly have picked better words for his pur- S pose. Once more all was excitement as the increasing @etrowd gathered around, men cursing and, women crying ESwords of sympathy, all eager to help as far as lay in their aif hai ‘power. : : ee » Hager hands were extended to assist the stricken == swonian, but Queen Msther would have none of it, rallying * @eedesperately, hoarsely crying: se Not me—him. Help him, my poor husband. Save Mima, if it’s not yet too late, avenge him if—vengeance, if > yeare human beings.” > “Yom King spoke a few hurried words in an undertone, ** and Queen Ksther rallied nobly ; she drew back from his Support, holding her fine figure proudly erect once more, sand her voice was even, her notes clear and distinct as . Mphie spoke again: © /“Qne word, first, my friends—for friends ye surely are, els@ your hearts belie your faces. My poor husband—I , degged him not to go, but duty called, and he obeyed. ee NOwWeeswhere is he? He should have been here early yes- a He should have been back home by now. He has Say agg wen’ there, he is not here, then—help me find him, fs. Help me ‘save him, if living, avenge him if— dered.” “Almost in a shriek that last word issued, and as Queen her tossed aloft her rigidly clasped hands, a shiver ran Br each member of that excited gathering. was acting, but the perfection of art, for she felt severy word that passed her lips just then. hastly. pale, Queen Esther drew down her vail, back- hing her horse a little, motioning her companion to take his “Se turn. And Tom King was very promptin his obedience i just then. = . * Words fail my poor sister, triends, but I—I’m looking Yor a twin brother, but she mourns her husband. Wait; Tét me tell you what cause we have for thinking evil has befallen our loved one, then you can talk in turn. “As some of you. know, we live at Hardscrabble, the PoOther side of Dead Man’s Toboggan. A detective came ‘there looking for a criminal. He had a warrant and re- quisition papers in case of need. “He found his man, but was afraid to openly arrest him, lest the gang of heelers not only rescue their boss, but put both detective and papers out of sight. And so, he called a deputy to assist him, in addition to Horace Hagle, the city marshal of Hardscrabble. That deputy “was my brother, her husband, Asa King. And he con- sented to serve the law, though both of us warned him to beware of a snare.” A short, stockily built stranger stepped forward, asking sharply : ; * A detective, you say, sir? “What is that to you, sir?” “Maybe little, may be much,” with acurt nod of the head which brought two other heavily armed men to his side. ‘‘If his name was Harold Catherwood, or-——” “He gave it as William Thompson, I believe.” “His traveling name that was. Ourman! We've been waiting here expecting his coming any time during the past turee days. Goon. Why do you think there’s been foul play ?” =‘ Because/fhompson arrested hisqan soon after noon, ay before yesterday, taking stage for this, point, to which may poor brother agreed to bear him company. He hasn’t ~ comé—you surely would have seen him, sir?” if ‘Surely, yes. He wouldn’t}ave passed by or through -® without picking us up,” came the prompt response, ~ .’ * ¥ What name, please ?” ae move * . € & | « ThenSwetite: Bp 6.t0° F bn along the trail,” fiercely cried King, lifting @ tightly clenched fist, as hem added: ‘‘There’s been foul play, and I know it. One ®f the party, besides the prisoner, was a sworn enemy to my i brother, and——” | “Vengeance!” shrilly cried Queen Esther, once more. | Death to the devils who’ve foully murdered my dear ‘husband. Avenge him, if ye are human beings. Help me | —only help me find the villains who lured my love to his doom.” ; “What enemy? What prisoner?” asked the deputy who jihad acted as spokesman for the trio, but his voice was 'drowned by the fierce, wild uproar which followed that | frenzied appeal from those blanched lips. | Queen Esther and Tom King dashed away from the pub- lic square, heading’ toward the rock-crowned hills which jlay between Camptown and Hardscrabble, and eager to | join in the search for the missing people, a goodly portion |of the male citizens flocked after them, while others, more | prudent or far-sighted, skurried away to procure mounts |for the purpose of easier, if not more effective, work. | The three deputies joined in the latter rush, all feeling | that evil work had been done, but holding their judgment jin reserve until they had better grounds for shaping it |aright. | Intense as was the curiosity to learn further partiowlars, | it was a comparatively easy matter for the two members |of the Royal Flush to evade or postpone answeng to the | flood of questions and grim surmises. The time was not quite ripe for making the final charge, | but it was coming; they two, if none of the others, knew that fact only too well. pny There was achoice of roads offered, either of whigh ma | would lead to Hardscrabble, if followed long enough, by ‘without hesitation Queen Esther took her choice; fom = | King explaining as they dashed along : BaF ie | “We came by way of the other, and I hardly thivk we” ‘could have overlooked signs such as—curses cover #henae from crown to sole.” : | The road once selected, Queen Esther soon resigned the lead, falling back in company with her brother-inslawy > weak and trembling so far as those sympathizing#@yesue ™ |could say. 4 : | And then—only a few short miles away from that haven) =) of safety where his greatest perils would -have been ended —the detective was found. a A fierce, yet startled cry, came back from the leaders, which only too clearly announced that fact—discovered, ™ but in what shape? ° Queen Esther flushed hotly, then turned palef than ever, if that was possible, yet she- urged her horge for ward, Tom King close at her side, “Stop !” hoarsely cried one of the leaders, coming back ; with warning hand uplifted, but with emotion-blanched™ |face that spoke even more plainly than hand or tongue, “We've found ’em, but—don’t let the lady come $0 see what devil's work . Queen Esther recoiled, uttering a piteous ery, but only for asingle moment. Then, under steel and leather her © horse was urged forward, ready to ride down all who should bar her passage. She recoiled once more as those ghastly figures came into view, lying there in their own gore. But one@ more she rallied, leaping from saddle to ground, runniig for- yard, sinking to her knees by one of the silent figures, a choking sound gurgling up in her throat. Tom King was quickly at. her side, and he, too, tumned very pale as he gazed upon the cold, pain, and rage dige’ torted#eatures of his twin brother, now a harmless fumhp of clay in human guise. ger Side by side in the middle of the road lay the two bodies, each one with blood-stained and stiffened garments, each one with bullet-riddled bodies, each one with fierée pass- ions frozen upon their faces. Queen Esther bowed over her dead, touching her lips passionately to those which were unable to return her earesses,. Then, with sudden vigor, the woman rose upoa her knees, one hand.uplifted,.the other softly yet fiercely ; tapping that..cold breast, calling attention to’ the charred cloth which surrounded thoge death-wounds... . ve Look, nen!” she cried, hoarsely. “Murdered !. Killed ats ae >> s . Saad % E LIBRARY. g ’ i by one~for the time being, and all the more naturally because.a whom he thought he had no cause to fear. How else these | scattering took place as powder began to-burn. init "burns? Could any other enemy come so close to him as| Gentleman Joe Gentry dueked his head quickly a this indicates? No, ten thousand times no! He was mur-|shots, his own weapon coming more plainly into vie dered, and I can name the human devil who put out his | he sharply cried forth : - dear light.” |. “Hold hard, I tell ye all! Flag of truce, if you’lWtak “Don’t it look that way, gentlemen?” asked Tom King, |!t i if not, then I’ll do my share of lead-slinging.” ‘§ £ in low, strained tones, as he pointed toward that body, | “Don’t shoot. Peace, everybody, quavered a “a ‘ now fully armed, yet with both pistols in his belt, folry paired member of the search-party. And you, Mr. loaded, and without bonds or irons upon his limbs. Gentry, 130) ea : gee ie | “While guarding an accused murderer, would either of | Kill him! Hang him! Burn him!” screamed Queen’ thesé men let an enemy come so close? Look at the pow-| Esther, fairly beside herself with fury, now that t der-stains on:them both.” | weapons had been arrested from her grasp by just wha “Tt murder, dead sure,” gravely said the stocky dep- |she could not say so intense had been her excitement, 8 uty, in assent. “But I thought—who. was the man ar-| great the momentary confusion round about. ee He mur rested ?” dered my husband! He butchered the detective, who “His name is Gentry, and——” take him, if ye bemen. A thousand dollars for his gar A @horus of excited cries cut his speech short. For | ©ass, dead or alive.” j very few of those present but what had heard of the man; “Steady, there!” came the warning voice of the thang (named, and not many among them all were quite ready to; thus viciously denounced, his handsome face showing le- Seconnect that name with murder so foul as this surely ap-| above the head of his half-frightened horse. “Talk whites “peared to have been. jand I’ll meet you on the same level, but until you si “Wither Gentleman Joe Gentry or Horace Eagle,” cried | fair cause—keep your distance, or lie down, for keeps.” een Esther, rallying once again. “Both of them hated| Only one man facing fully two-score. Only two gum my, poor husband, and I warned him against trusting} but hardly one of all that startled congregation but wh theme Now—look, all of you! Murdered! Butchered| would have taken oath—at least, one-half of that bat [ike a dog! Shot down without word or warning, for his) was directed particularly toward him or her. And ba¢ guns are in his belt, and their muzzles free from powder-| those guns flashed twin eyes which distinctly said shoot smoke.” i Tom King knew that one revolver was intended for i ) She caught the revolvers up, holding them aloft as she | life, and, as he cowered lower, he flung an arm about theme ian. | waist ot the maddened widow to draw her backyeateblie “a for yourselves, gentleman, all! Clean—never a/same time hastily letting fall a few words into her ngares 6. ee: shel fired! And he so quick on the draw, that—venge- | ear. z Cte eo Vengeance on fhe foul assassins.” | | “Who are you, anyway?” demanded John Demeriiagl meé them, then,” cried a hoarse voice from the out- | stockily built deputy, lifting an empty hand in tekem ; temporary peace at least. Who but.Gentleman Joe could have | “Half-white and free-born, pardner,” came the qu . : . |retort. “What’s turned you all crazy-inaswarm? At Who’s taking my good name in| what have I done to——” “You admit that your name is Gentry, then?” “Why not? Why wouldn’t I, when I’ve borne it fr a the cradle where my mother—steady, all.” as CHAPTER V. In startling contrast to those smooth, musical tori in GENTLEMAN JOE AGAINST THE FIELD. came that warning: cold, yet fierce, low, yet penetrating “sa@eeeOlear and distinct rang forth that voice, coming from |S & dagger-thrust from a powerful hand; and once mor z Ponly @ Short distance up the stage-road, where the next that incipient rush was held in check by a single man. Me Miurve began. It could hardly be called sternly peremp-!, “Steady goes, sir,” answered Dement, quickly adding ‘tory, yet*there was a note of command in the tones which|“ As for the row, you're charged with bloody murd provided your name’s Gentleman Joe Gentry.” Mrew all eyes in that direction, stilling each voice as PTO , : Seethough,a magic spell had been flung over that fierce ex-|_. “That’s my name, but he who brings such a foul char i, " citement. | lies in his throat, and if he dares step forward to meéé) ee yA Norseman showed himself at the curve, both man and | 0? a level, Pu make him own up as much, or pay fort "eeeteed plainly upon the keen alert, the sharp ears of the|™Y Own self. 'e latter pricking forward, its head aloft and neck arched|. “I make the charge, you devil,” cried Queen Esther proudly. | breaking away from the grasp of her brother-in law, yet ce The reins lay idly upon that neck now, for each hand of | making no further attempt at using a deadlier weapon than eth Pider gripped pistol-butt, the grim muzzles of which her tongue just then. ‘“ You murdered my poor husband, ier ox 1 t d that gathering as their owner a little| Who was doing his sworn duty to the law.” eeueeeee cs Coward baat 6 a : | “If aman made’ that charge, I’d say he lied. Since ij BS ce my good name in vain, I-ask, once | comes from the lips of a woman, I’ll say—you lie—unde mana '"|a mistake,” retorted the Gilt-Edged Sport, with a swiff & Gantry 1” bow and swifter recovery. ‘‘And, to satisfy the rest off i” you, gentlemen, I’ll add that Ican prove my innocence “ a a “J: M TEMP he io wow sf by Horace Eagle, marshal of Hardscrabble,” hi dad imilar ejaculations burst forth frgm! “ He likewise stands accused—— eg ia ascent and blending with| “A lie, false as sheol itself, then,” hotly flashed Gentry, se . t me a wild, fierce, half-maniacal shriek of mingled |cutting Dement short in his indignation. “If there has hiatwed and revenge from the lips of Queen Esther. ® oe killing here——” : ; She was among the first to recognize that shapely figure, |, “Two men are lying dead, shot to pieces almost,” sternly S and bemt on sweet revenge, she cocked the weapons she interposed the deputy, for the first time betraying strong had so@recently taken from the corpse of her husband, @motion in face or in voice. ‘One is yonder poor lady’s sprifiging to her feet the more surely to catch the drop husband, the other is Harold Catherwood, who came upon that hated enemy beyond. | here——’ With a clumsiness which, under-different circumstances,} “To meet his death at the hands of%as foul a gang of he might have found it difficult to forgive in himself, John cut-throats as everieursed God’s footstool,” fiercely inter Dement, the stocky deputy, blundered against the woman; ruptedyGentleman Joe. ‘The Royal Flush murdered hinj, saving himself from falling: by catehing an arm just'as and——” : , Pe é ¥, sending “Queen Esther just then sprang into the saddle, and ° OS urged) her horse forward, shooting asshe charged, and © wag blockédepigiiily crying : 45. mig ge ‘ a . sens ae ihe = ke Pe Mr « pierce y > lear enough to comprehend this move. x } No, 163. “Take him, dead or alive. Vengeance on the butcher! “ill him as part pay for the lives of—kill him !” Gentleman Joe was hotly enraged, but his wits were He saw that this fierce Amazon was acting as & living shield for those at her back, trusting in her sex to protect her own life from his answering shots. Even yet the tradition was sacred: a woman’s life was * more precious than all laws, and he who willfully en- dangered that life was less entitled to mercy than the wild beast which roamed hill or forest. Other guns than Queen Esther’s were beginning to spit | forth hot lead, and among them Gentleman Joe recognized the tools of Tom King; and, as he jerked his good steed around to flee, he tried to cover that black-bearded face, now half-hidden behind a vail of blue smoke. -Just as he was on the point of pressing trigger, Queen Esther came into line, and, with a quick contraction of the arm, he turned his muzzle upward, sending lead singing harmlessly through the air and far away. “She’s a woman—after all’s told,” flashed through his busy brain, as he made the move that so surely added to his own peril. For that single shot seemed to set the entire gathering wild with an unreasoning lust for vengeance, and, amid éxploding weapons, savage yells for blood burst forth in horrible chorus. . “Take him, dead or alive,” shrieked Queen Esther, as she saw Gentleman Jve turn in hasty flight. “Take him! A thousand dollars for him, living or dead. He butchered my husband! He killed the detective! If he escapes now to laugh at us—take him! we must take him.” As the last words passed her lips, Queen Esther came to THE LOG CABIN. LIBRARY. And, as he lay flat along’ tlie neck of his’ fleeing steed knew that any morent might be his last of lite. E as Yet hasty shootingsisalmost always wild shooting, and while the hunted’man Was fleéing at top speed, headiiig for the next not distant curve in the road, those in ease |were held back by a fear of riding down the widaw in | whose behalf they were now acting. A backward glance showed Genteman Joe this much, and, as he touched spurs to flanks, quickening the pace of ‘his own horse, he began to feel as though he would even yet win clear of this great peril. “IT must—to pay back,Catherwood’s debts,” he sternly muttered, barely above his breath. “Ill even up his scores, or I'll die while trying. Come to the front, Tom King.” If that. niember of the Royal Flush had complied, even 'then Gentleman Joe would have wheeled to face them all, while striking one sure blow against the evil gang Which he had sworn to down for all time. , | But Tom King, bold enough while acting againstiny less dreaded antagonist, took care to keep back inthe ruck while that danger lasted. . | Around the next bend in the stage-road the figitive ‘thundered, then rose erect in his saddle for a panting glance at his pursuers. He saw that Queen Esther was overtaken by the mob, but that was all, though he knew ishe would be*provided with afresh mount, and then the | chase would be prosecuted with even fiercer ardor. | Still, he knew he had a few seconds’ grace, and improved them by examining the condition of his own mount |though without in the least reducing his speed. 4 _ He saw that the poor creature was bleeding freelyaitom more than one wound, sprinkling the white, stony way x the bend in the road where Gentleman Joe had been first | With scarlet drops; and he knew that the end could” nog Ge ie Hey CF 7 tai <0 Beer, and asharpecry of mingled rage and fear escaped her lips; for the man whom all had seen wheel in flight, once more stood at bay, pistols leveled, and one of them Sexploding just as the Amazon mechanically wrenched up 7 piggaim sped that missile, and, with bullet "the poor horse plunged forward upou its “knees, casting its mistress over its head upon the rock- “strewn road, while Gentleman Joe, looking even hand- somer than usual as he so boldly confronted the startled mob, sternly cried aloud : “fold hard, all of you! I haven’t barmed the woman, but I'll drill any man who dares step to the front before I | say come. Tell me, where is Harold Catherwood, or William Thompson. the detective ?” . “Dead, back yonder with——” A hoarse, fierce ery came from the lips of the Gilt-Edged Sport. “Dead? Then I swear he was foully murdered by the Royal Flush, and I’ll never know rest until——” Although her fall had been a severe one, coming as it "* did before she could prepare for it, Queen Esther received no broken bones, aud quickly sprang to her feet, jerking forth one of the revolvers which she habitually carried at her waist. She sprang toward the Gilt-Edged Sport, firing as she came, madly screaming the old story : “Vengeance for my murdered husband! Kill him! Down him, if ye be men! Don’t let hira—fire, ye fools!” For her very eagerness to bring about this hated enemy’s death served to foil her vicious hopes, and once again her lead went astray as Gentleman Joe whirled his good steed about in headlong flight. At the same time, he flung back the words: “See you later, gentlemen! Call on me at Hardscrabble, and [’ll make my charge against the Royal Flush good.” Boldly enough the words were spoken, yet even as they passed his lips, Gentleman Joe doubted, if he might ever ake them good, ~ For the second time lead camein whistling showers, and for the second time his horse gave a spasmodic bound, which only too plainly notified his master, at least, one ©. pullet had found its billet; « How hardly hit the poor creature was, Gentry dared not attempt to ascertain just then, The mob was coming in ‘a yelling flood’ at his heels, led«by. that, unsexed woman, y i ra ae Th ae nee = Eis ee aL ~ Fe | be long drawn out. } “Poor boy !” he huskily muttered, one hand stroking : » she * % that steaming neck with a regretful caress. “ You’ve © caught it, hard! Better master than beast, perhaps; only |for—lay down to it, my beauty,” with fierce earnestness; /onee more giving the horse the steel. “Your raceas well ‘nigh run, and petting can’t save you. So—help me out, !and I'll collect pay for your life as well.” om | Stung by those bits of lead far more sharply than by voice, or by spur, the noble creature sped onward, raéing as only a thoroughbred can race, with grim death at his ‘heels. Death had surely marked him, yet death e¢ould |only claim the victory when the last spark of life had fled. |. And as he raced along, Gentleman Joe took the neathy- coiled riata from where it hung to the pommel, grimly muttering : “‘T dare say they’d like nothing better than to hang a fellow with his own lariat, hut—maybe I’11 fool ’em, even yet.” CHAPTER VI. £ THROWING DUST IN THEIR EYES, i Gentleman Joe cast off the double-hitch whi@} bound the coil together, slipping the lasso over his left am and up across his shoulder, both to get the riata outjof the ‘way, and to insure its not being lost when th¢@ end should come. j good steed was covering ground at a racing pace,srimnm with what seemed even greater ease and freed@m thigi usual; but he was experienced enough to feel sure. it, but the last flicker of life. nae? When the end came, ’twould come all at once. The good horse would die running, and his fall would be that of a corpse. “And they’re coming hotter than ever,” the hunted man said, frowning darkly, as he cast a glance backward, listening to those fierce, vengeful shouts,from the rear. Not one of the enemy were in sight, thanks to the devi- ous course which the road was forced to take, owing to the rough, broken nature of the ground just there. Yet there seemed scant ground for hope, so far as that particular point was -oncerned. Winding, devious though the course was, theone line opened for flight on horseback. 2 sa)" either side rose the rocks, too nearly perpendicular vest aaa ee wae : cr -* there was but tes ne 2 SS aeoee eae se This he knew could not be greatly delayed, althongl Sd i s PRIN jug THE LOC CAB LIBR. ARY: tee inypracticable fe snares for aught to scale With ease, & # horse. A-suré-footed man tight easily ascend either Hs wall, but to do that,he witist surely éxpose«himself Osthe eyes and weapons of those in swift pursuit, and long before hé could hope to gain a place of hiding, those enémies would almost surely pick him off to his death. Genetleman Joe only cast a glance in passing at these rough walls, for he was thoroughly familiar with the trail, thanks to the active, out-door life which he had led ever since coming to that section of the mining country. He knew, too, that a change would be met with at no great distance ahead, and his main fear was that death would claim his good steed before those swiftly flying feet could carry him far enough in advance to carry out the | ‘i “audacious trick which his busy brain had already put in - shape. Tegear up, good boy,” he muttered, patting the doomed | erveature’s neck ‘with kindly hand. “ Tt? s hard, but I can’t Save your life, while you can help save mine if—yet a Miftle longer, good fellow.” Tt almost seemed as though his words were understood and sympathized with, for the death-stricken steed rushed “on even swifter than before, though the red trail became mare plainly marked with each rod of ground passed over. «© *Those flying hoofs sent a long roll of echoes to and from the gray rocks, and Gentleman Joe felt a keen pang of ain and regret as he aided the blood-bay with rein and heel It did seem cruel to thus hasten the inevitable end, yet—what else could he do? Their evil passions heated still more fiercely by that ‘chase, the crowd in pursuit would never pause for word _omargtument, once they were within fair reach of the fugi- tive; it would be killing, then trying, and never a man ‘ * as Jiving realized this moe thoroughly than did Gentry. Another mile, and he felt that he would have a better chamee for his life, than by turning at bay against such long odds. ©» tf 1 can throw dust in their eyes, long enough to geta =téir start for Hardscrabble, 1’!l fight it out on that line.” With any cold-blooded animal, the end tust have come “tong since, but the blood bay was a thoroughbred, and neve" once had his mighty stride shortened or faltered since those biting bits of lead found way to his vitals. When the end did come, Gentleman Joe knew it would come all at once, and the failure would be swift as though ‘beneath the lightning’s stroke. $0 knowing, he gently freed his feet from the stirrups, “and saw that his garments offered no hold for pommel or cCantle. He settled both revolvers firmly into their sprin- top scabbards, and swung the coil of pliant rope around to his back, leaving both arms at perfect liberty. And then—the end came, just as he had pictured it. The smajl head was thrown upward with an almost hu- ‘ike. groan, frothy blood bursting from nostrils and mouth. The poor beast gave one mighty bound, rising clear of the ground, dying in mid-air, then falling i less heap upon the rock-strewn road. Sudmenly, as the end came, Gentleman Joe was not taken unawares, and though he went flying over the head re of falling horse, he struck squarely upon his feet, Bupple joints and active limbs yielding to his weight, . a greatly lessening the heavy shock. en as he took this half-involuntary leap, the Gilt- Z edsSport swung one hand around to grasp the lariat, as° e recovered his balance with cat-like activity, the so-WAS opening, ready to play its part in the bold ruse itch had been shaped during that swift, if brief, death- ride. For the good steed had most nobly performed its part, and, before yielding to death, had carried its master to the point which had given him a hope of defeating the enemy now hotly in chase. To the right of the road still rose the nearly bare rocks, broken here and there by clefts and crannies, with an oc- casional stunted bush or gnarled tree, a patch of vines or | a straggly clump of brambles. *. ran; woreritleman Joe formed a loop in the ringed end of the rope, W hich he dropped over a projecting point of cee near the edge of the gulch, holdin it in place, as he-cag the remainder down the rocks. No. 168.05 The lariat hung straight and clear, its lower end hidden 4 bee beneath a juniper bush, just as it might have been left by a fugitive, whose he aste was too great to enable him te? waste time in attempting to shake the noose clear of th rock above. - This done, the Gilt-Edged Sport sprang) back across the road, nimbly scaling the rocks, his face turned toward the direction from whence the clatter of iron.shod hoofs and occasional yells came with increasing distinctness. A dark frown marred his handsome face as he caught | these sounds, so much more plainly than but a few mo-% ments earlier, when the noise of his own head-long flight | had lent him the impression of much greater distance hayes ing been won. He knew that comparative safety lay but a short dist tance ahead, if he could only cover that space before—too late. He caught sight of the leaders in that death-hunt, and knowing how strong a contrast his dark garments would form against those gray rocks, he crouched lower, creep- ing swiftly into a his eyes. There was no time to spare for picking and choosing, ™ yet Gentleman Joe knew that he might have fared. much worse, as he cast a keen glance around himself. He was crouching behind and partly beneath a divided rock. The one afforded a fairly secure breastwork) im | case the enemy should discover. his trick and attempt toe capture him by boldly scaling those rocks. The other pro- tected him from the rear. A grim smile curled his yellow mustache as a wild; savage cry came from the lips of the leaders in that man- hunt. They had sighted the dead horse lying in the r6 and felt that the rider could not be far distant) 80 “All right, if you only think that wayy mentally said the fugitive, slipping both pit cases, thumb on hammer, and forefinger on trigger, as he! made ears do the service he dared not ask of his eyes just > then. front door, and, at least, a few of you’ll never complain of your warm welcome—in this life, at least.” The leaders came up, and sprang: from their saddle@ eee? dead bay, one of their number brutally shouting” alou “We've run him down, now—find, and run him up.” Other vicious ejaculations burst forth, and the hidden fugitive must have felt convinced that discovery could only endin a desperate fight against long odds, where death alone could be his portion. Queen Esther and Tom King were among the loudest “Tll be at home when you come knocking at my | little nook, which’ was the first to meet yp os there, and they fiercely urged the mob on to renewed ef- © forts, setting the example themselves. Some of the party pressed along the road, guns ready to — meet a desperate man at bay. Others turned to the rocks at the right of the road, declaring that the fugitive, al- most surely, had sought cover in that direction. And still others bent over the edge of the gulch, eager to be thé first to win a shot at the already condemned man. Fortunately for Gentleman Joe, the search of those broken rocks was begun directly opposite where the dead | horse lay, else discovery must surely have followed ina = very brief space of time. As it was, he heard the eager searchers as they scram- bled and slipped, and leaped among those grim nooks, at feast.a portion of their number drawing nearer his place | of concealment with each passing second. ’ He pressed back the triggers of his pistols, as he lifted the hammers to muffle the double-click, then crouched in readiness to open the ball the instant discovery could no longer be postponed. “They'll kill, but ’1] get in a good bit of work before On the other side, leaving barely room for two teams to they fairly know what’s turned loose,” was his grim com-— pass each other, lay a yawning ‘chasm, the sides nearly | ment:to himself: ' perpendicular, the pote densely vailed with trees,. bushes, vines, and brambl Springing ewittia forward, uncoilin agihad fos be a Sap ; - tie a But fate willed that the end should not co fe _ fashion, and just as Gentleman J opas he a Sharp, éxulta amp é she cried : No, 163 “ “This way, al of you! + thé gulch.” ““Whooray!” came a stentorian voice which’ Gentry at once recognized as that of Big Casino. “Now, we jest hev *ketched the pizen critter.” There was an instant flocking to that point, and, remov- ‘mg his hat, covering his head with a white silk handker- chief the better to mask his movement, Gentleman Joe cautiously peered over the edge of his rocky breast-work, taking swift notes of all that passed below him. = Down and after him, men!” cried Queen Esther, her lust for revenge growing with delay. ‘“ He can’t have run far, we pressed him so hard. Down, and take him, dead 6r alive.” * But—s’pose he’s waitin’ fer jest sech a snap?” splut- tered Dan Diamond, shrinking back from the verge as that thought struck him. “S’pose we’d find him too mighty dug-gun close; then what ?” : Something that sounded suspiciously like an oath | forced its way through those full lips, and Queen Esther shook a clenched fist in the bruised face of the giant, as é % “Coward! Do you flinch? Do you ask only vengeance * for the murdered, I ask all. Death to’ the devil who be- ‘trayed my poor husband to hisdoom. Back, you cowards! "If ye fear to follow acraven blood-hound whose hands 4% THE LOG CARB Here’s his rope=he’s., took to Of a i te the Poul snd Was" iusy’slipping down ap ot “Pe marn-hunters were eaporly. watéling, wWeapous out and ready to open fire upon the fugitive the instant-he should be driven from his refuge; but every eye was turned toward the gulch and its many dark lurking-places, A better chance could hardly be expected than this, al with swift, noiseless movements, the humbed’m ne ‘ : forward, crossing that exposed space, alniost ote as.to tigure, yet thinking this increased exposure was more than counterbalanced by the greater rapidity with which he was enabled to move. . A less cowardly man never drew the breath of life than” was Joseph Gentry, yet his skin fairly turned to “ goose flesh” during that brief transit, and every sound that came from the man-hunters below seemed like the savage yell of discovery. Then, with a long, full breath of intense relief, the Gilte® Kdged Sport sank down behind another rocky barricade, hands dropping to his guns, as he turned face toward the enemy, listening intently. Not a sound came to tell! of discovery, and a faint smilé crept into his pale face as he realized the complete succéss of his audacious trick. He had passed over the worst, yet he knew how danger- ous that immediate vicinity was to one beneath sucha * "are even now reeking with innocent blood, I’ll shame ~s ye—i, a woman, will follow, though perdition’s doors > lay gaping just beyond.” The woman seemed fairly crazed with grief and thirst © for revenge, but she could hardly have chosen words bet- = ter suited for the occasion. deadly ban, and how trifling might be the cause that brought discovery. And so, with a parting look in thats ‘ae direction, Gentleman Joe resumed his flight, picking his 3° way among the rocks, leaving the stage-road further Wee@ 7% hind him with the passing of each moment. x ; i : Not until he had placed fully half a mile of difficult fy ground between himself and the point where the mgm ©? Hyen Big Casino was nerved to do and dare by her fierce example, and, pushing aside the men who pressed toward the lariat, he eried out: > “Hust chance me, critters! Git o’ the way, fer I’m > gwine, tail-on-eend an’ teeth a-snashin’. On’y jest—you’ll ‘Keep me kivered, ma’am, an’ you, boss?” = “Rout him out of cover, and we’ll answer for the rest, eyes,” promptly assured Tom King. o “ That’s.’nough fer a hog, an I haint axin’ fer no better, it’s, an* you, ma’am,” declared Big Casino, at the same mime preparing for the descent by way of the pendant so. “Jest you let fly ef he jumps out o’ kiver when @ got the two hands o’ me full 0’ rope. An’ ef he waits vontel I kin make a snatch—waal, once let me git my grip Bood an’ gripped onto him, an’ you'll hev to keep all eyes inned, jest to see the dug-gun critter give even one veenty kick,” SGentleman Joe smiled, grimly, as he looked and lis- tened, for his mind went back afew days to the time when Big Casino uttered pretty much the same sort of brags; yet his’ boasted grip then had lasted hardly long enough to be called one. » ‘Keep it up, you bag of foul wind,” he muttered, draw- 9@ ing back his head and casting a keen glance around. “*Help keep them busy, for Ill hardly have a better |~ chance to make a double than right now.” CHAPTER VII. DOUBLING ON HIS TRAIL Never cooler in his life than just then, Gentleman Joe €ast his eyes over his immediate surroundings, marking "the only practicable line which he could follow without "wholly exposing himself to the view of the enemy below. © Fiven that course would be risky enough, since a single © glance in that direction during the interval it would re- ) quire for passing over more than two rods of bare rock, » would surely result in his discovery, when a single yell of > alarm would turn every muzzle upon him. % After that stretch, brief in itself, but terribly long when Mite hung in the:balance, should be passed, Gentleman Joe fel fairly assured of good cover for his retreat. Pausing only for another cautious glance at the road- way with its dangerous gathering, the Gilt-Edged Sport ® silently crept out at the farther end of his little fortress, © then gathering his energies, ready for a death-dash in, case ©’ the alarm should be.given, he stole one more look at his enemies wa = * hunters had struck the false trail, did Gentry pause again, ©) # turning to gaze back along his crooked course, yet hardly with the eyes of one who believes pursuit is being made, A dark frown waseupon his face, and a troubled light shone in’ his gray-blue eyes, telling how unpleasant Were, * § his thoughts, how darkly disagreeable the predicament = into which he had so unexpectedly been plunged that days ‘“Which way first?’ his musings ran, during those firgt few moments. “To Hardscrabble? Will they stick to the false scent long enough to let me circle ’em, and get to town first? Or—would I find Kagle at home ?” That was another point which gave him trouble, and not altogether on his own account. a “What was it they said about ’Race? He, too, of course, but—have they left him to the last, or have they downed the old man, to make dead sure of both ends against the middle ?” A fiercer light leaped into those eyes at the thought, for Gentleman Joe could fight harder, more viciously for friend than for self, and the events of the past few days © S 4 had greatly strengthened his friendship for the gaunt, un- couth marshal of Hardscrabble. “Tf they’ve done that—look out, you! I'll play even for” him, if I iet my own wrongs go slide, I’ll—well, why not?” Gentleman Joe gave a sudden start, his eyes turning in the direction where that tragedy had taken place. He stood for a brief space mentally debating the point, but ae then he hastened forward, his back toward Hardscrabbléy re his face toward the dead. “Tf they did butcher him—and of that I’ve nevera doubt, aiter what I’ve seen and heard this day—maybe they missed his secret pocket, where he kept his real papers, If so—well, I reckon it’s worth the chance.” Gentleman Joe gave hardly a thought to pursuit just then, knowing that human eyes could never pick up his trail across those barren stones, even should the enemy detect the bold trick he had played them. They might find the niche in which he had crouched during those few minutes, but beyond that they could only be guided by instinct or by guess. Even should chance lead them in his direction far enough to catch sight of him, he felt capable of matching their best, since here no horse could be brought in chase to match four legs against two. It. was purely instinct, then, that led himeto cast fre- quent glances back and to his right, for his brain was busy trying to clear away the ugly tangle into which ci cumgianees had led:him. 5 ; see ey i iy id + @ smoke the trick in time to cut him off? a sale. ABIN LIBUA ay. wre No, 168, 18 GO p ot ow = ton ile had Téd-him towar een after completing his busi- néss affairs at Jim Dandy, in place of heading direct for Hardscrabble. He had told himself he was doing nothing fore than another man would have done, under similar Bence that it was merely to make sure Harold had*passed through Camptown in safety with i bud prisoner, and was now far away on his east- ward trip, safe in the escort of his picked body of deputies. “Dead! Butchered by those hell-hounds! How did they How—and Ace King, too. Dead or alive, poor Thompson vowed; and he meant just that, it seems.” ' Those half-sad, half-savage thoughts acted as spurs to the Sport, and where the nature of the ground admitted, heran at speed, circling around ‘so as to strike the stage- © road at the point where the tragedy had taken place, or to which the bodies had bven transported by the viciously scheming assassins as investigation might prove. _ Duying all that trip he neither heard nor sighted human beings, and as he picked his way for some little distance quite near the road, though hidden from view, he felt tol- erably assured that the enemy had not yet discovered his double. ~, Drawing near the spot he had in mind, Gentleman Jove ® looked'to his guns, on the smooth working of which his lite might depend, then stole silently along until, froma paaet among the rocks, he could take notes. e At first sight, a scowl of disappointment came into his dace, for he had hoped to find the bodies entirely deserted, 1US alfording him a fair chance to search that of the de- Give, on the frail chance of finding papers which would “surely prove his innocence of that black charge of assas- sination, under cover of which the capture of Asa King had been effected. Zhat hope fled, now, for Gentleman Joe caught sight of ‘two armed men standing near the bodies, plainly on guard, and, as he looked nfore closely, he recognized the stocky built stranger who had claimed Sana Cauher- wood as his friend or employer. “Better them than others, perhaps,” flashed eaciah his brain, as’ the Gilt-Edged Sport looked up and then ‘down the road, seeing none others. “ Maybe I can make ’em hear to/reason, if I take ’em the right way.” _/ Before doing aught to make his presence known, Gentry arefully marked out a course for his own feet, for that knowledge would permit him to give closer attention to these armed strangers; then he sprang swiftly forward, pausing only when the faint rattle of a loosened stone called those watchful eyes his way. > “Steady, both!” his voice rang for th sharply. his pis- tols rising to catch the drop on the deputies. “Flag of truce, I’m asking, gentlemen, but I’ll do all the firing, if firing there must be.” Taken completely by surprise as they were, neither of the two men dared even drop hand to weapon, but John Dement quickly rallied, to cry : “Wlag of truce goes, sir, but—who are you, anyway ?” “Men term me Gentleman Joe up this way, but my real mame is Gentry.” * “What! not the man who killed Catherwood?” sharply cried out the deputy, seemingly for the first time recog- nizing that face and figure. “No, but the man who’s sworn by all that’s holy to avenge Harold Catherwood’s death,” instantly flashed back the Gilt-Edged Sport, face and voice both sternly ex- cited, yet brain remaining sufficiently cool for its owner not to lose the drop. ‘They lied who brought that foul charge against me, as I hope to prove to your satisfaction, gentlemen.” ss If you only can. him.’ “Dil agree to do that, then, if you'll play white on your side,” came the swift, earnest addition. “Is it a truce for the present? Will you exchange words of honor to try no trick ?” “What is.it you want of us? double back ?” “Time enough for all that later,” curtly interrupted ill. you, agree.to..the truce Im offerte, or any: Hehyes: eee : 2 If you can show us who did murder How did you manage to oe er Wed Hbher not-fight, a= jc wae riguts, Sir ym: $ Gentleman Joe chafed against this temporizing, for Hon, knew better than he how much maybe. crowded into @ very brief space of time, and how all important the gain, or loss of even a single minute may prove. He saw that these strangers viewed him with strong suspicion, even if they were not fully convinced of his guilt in this ugly case. He felt that, fearing to oppose him in more open fashion, they were hoping to hold thinn in parley until some of the man-hunters could return Na ee claim their prey. He crushed down his hot sense of injustice as best he could, and in graver, more earnest tones, gave the two men a sharp rebuke : “Maybe you mean well, gentlemen, but you’re simply” playing in with the devils ‘who butchered your friend, and working against the man he trusted with his life, when Manet ae discovery of his real mission meant sure death to himself.” “He trusted, you say, yet—here he lies.” John Dement pointed toward one of those ghastly shapesie with steady finger, but with a sudden tremor in his voicg that lent emphasis to his simple speech. If Gentleman Joe had really been the guilty man he wie charged with being, he must have shown signs to thé effect, under those words, that touch of tragic pathos; im stead, he stood more proudly erect as he met those search=. ing looks, to make reply : “Through no fault of mine, gentlemen, as I swear to¥< prove to your complete satisfaction, unless.I am murdered — by the evil gang at whose door his death lies. Youware™ only helping them cover up their tracks, by hunting down | one of the two men who alone can lay bare the whole 4 truth.” “You are one of those two, sir?” “Yes. Is it truce, gentlemen ? Unless rcbbery has ‘be added to assassination, you'll find the evidence of my nocence on that corpse, for Thompson showed me how— “Truce goes, Mr. Gentry,” interposed Dement, after é changing a swifs glance with his mate. “All we ask’is pin this death on the right head, and, if you can help do that, you’re our friend, not enemy.’ “Truce it is, then,” eagerly cried the Gilt-Edged Sp lowering the hammers of his guns and slipping them their cases, as he nimbly sprang down from the rocks if A the stage- road below. Yet, with all this seeming confidence, Gentleman was keenly on the alert, and had faith in his powers swift drawing and rapid shooting to foil any attempt treachery or unfair dealing on the part of these strange should that outward carelessness tempt them to try thing of the sort. Possibly he wronged them in entertaining such picions, or, more likely, they recognized in him an who could ‘and would defend himself to the latest gasp, no such attempt was made during his descent, and ae fairly on their level, their chances of success were rauch less. ' “Tt’s not help I’m offering. gentlemen, for T’ll oven % Catherwood on my own hook, or lose my life trying,” he. GENTLEMAN JOE’S VENDETTA, said, earnestly. “You talk smoothly enough, but——” ie 4 “THs actions that count, you think?” with a faint «bel as Dement hesitatéd in his speech. “Right enough*yow are, too, but just now a few words, as between man and! man, may count for much more than you can give credit off-hand. First, have you searched the—him ?” “What for? Can there be a spark of life lingering, afters —look at his hurts, man!” with a touch of sudden fier ness. : Gentleman Joe glanced that way, a spasm of fa 7 wrinkling his pale face, but his eyes came quickly back. to the stern, dogged faces of the two deputies with whom, CHAPTER VIII. ‘he now had to deal. “You're wronging me, pardnersas I hope to make cle in God’s good - time,” he said, with gravity, unflinchin meeting those keen ‘stares. of my mother apt Se 8 an angel in Heaven; noy ob: LOG. CABLS aca. yous that fi hever harmed this fr one of ours; I row thats £ did all anysone man could to save him from ; ie fates T only knew him for*a féw short days; but I Garned to almost love himpduring that time.” *Yet—you were with him?” *‘Not when he met his death since I’m still alive, sir.” There was a simple dignity in face and voice which mould not help but impress them both, and with milder Sones, John Dement asked : » “Tellus what you do know about it, please, stranger. SeSomebody must. pay for this foul deed, and if you can show us——” *i found you keeping company with at least three of the assassins, and the fiercest of allin crying vengeance was Queen Esther.” “What! you can’t mean—why, man, this was her hus- band.” “Who met death atthe hands of the man they were Murdering, or I’ll never make another guess,” earnestly declared Gentleman Joe. ‘“ He said his warrant read ‘dead Or alive.’ Heswore that death alone should rob him of fis prize, or cheat the gallows. He meant it—how sternly "hee ae meant each word, let his bullet-riddled corpse declare.” | me It’s easy to talk slick,” put in the silent deputy; “but Whar’s the proof to back it all up?” = You spoke of proof for a fact, stranger,” said Dement, rallying from the emotion which did him credit as a man, if not as an officer. ‘“ What proof can you offer us?” “First, have you searc hed his body for papers?” Yes, but found nothing.” *Not even in his secret pocket under his shirt?” per- sisted the Sport, with an expression of bitter disappoint- ment. “He showed it to me before we turned*the trick, @nd said that it was the best he could do to guard his life; ‘5 premature discovery would surely bring on a fight, | ite wich could end only in his death, or the death of the man We had come clear from Kansas City to arrest. » than a mob. I’d surrender to you, off- hand, and trust to My innocence of wrong to bear me safely through this Hasty mix. As it is—will you hear me out?” “Why not since you ask it, sir?” “T doask it, gentlemen, and, in the end, you’ll not regret having givém me so much rope, even though right now Yyou’re trying to see a chancé’to catch me off my guard.” “If we wanted to take you right bad, I reckon——” “You'd never take me alive, gentlemen, so let that thought pass out of your mind,” came the coldly grave retort. ‘‘When the right time comes round, I'll surrender to stand trial, if it must be, but never until I know I can prove the death of this man against those who took his life so brutally. “T’ve sworn to avenge his murder, and never was ven- detta more sacredly sworn by Corsican, than this vendetta of mine against the Royal Flush.” “We're talking of men, not cards, Mr. Gentry.” “T’'m talking of devils, not men or woman. Catherwood, or Thompson, as I knew him best, lost his life through ar- resting Ace King, the head member of the evil gang known in thes> partsas the Royal Flush. And to prove it, in part. at least, listen : “That gang holds-forth at Hardscrabble, and yonder lump of carrion was its head, just as his wife, Queen Esther, is still its brains. Never mind the rest just now. Some of the mob may come back, and I’ve got more to tell you. _»-Thompson came to Hardscrabble, and I won his friend- ‘ship; partly. because I chipped. in to save him from being etek by a couple eet at. poker, but mainly, ~ sarong my openly arg ennlity to thé Sigs, s tye ea 4% LLBIEATLY, “In: an open beitile wi reckon we could have Thompson Avante f him alive. “You know the ¢ crime for which he came so far to make this arrest. He told me all, but that don’t matter somuch right now. Enough that i agreed to see him through, if it lay in the wood, and that Horace Fagle, marshall of Hardscrabble. chipped in with the same intention. “First-off, Thompson wasn’t dead sure’ which on@ of two was his man, for Asa King had a twin brother-Syouw saw him to-day; he with the black beard, worn jush ag yonder carrion wore his; and the resemblance was §80 strong that Thompson couldn’t make dead sure, without getting a chance to find out which brother wore the marks he had noted down. “The better to do this, Thompson seemed to chip im of the side of the Royal Flush as against me, playing @ double,part as only such a man could play it to the end) | “Never mind just why we were at odds. HKnough for now that both sides had openly vowed to break the other up, and run the fragments out of town, if no‘ over the range as well. I merely mention it, the better to maker - A honest then em agai ainwt rogues, T ttle more than held our 6Wngebut and” 6f ‘the gang, and he wanted was ripe for plucking. my chipping in to help Thompson out—a stranger, beim was brought about at last. ; “Thompson was bluffed, when he tried to edge in with the Flush, and, to make himself solid the better to spot his right man, he offered to help do me up, and even suBS gested how that might be brought about without rousing the honest part of town against their dirty work. “In exposing the foul play that night, I had to pin Lucky Jackson’s hand to the pot he was claiming on A cold royal, and that gave Thompson a hint to act upém He offered to cripple my guns, if Lucky cared to bluft me into a regular duel. “Well, the trick was turned, smooth enough, and@an- other of the gang helped make it seem all the more Beal,” ‘though he hardly knew the important part he was playing at the time. “You may have noticed the fellow; a great, hulking brute, with face painted in all colors?” Both deputies nodded assent, but spoke no words, Spite the strong suspicion which had been planted Im thei winning their good-will, to a certain degr ee, Of course, empty speech was hardly evidence to be ace. cepted without question, but they were each moment® growing moie and more willing to hear Gentleman Joe to the end without actual interruption. “T painted that face with fists for brushes, andy setae, doing that, Thompson bent the front sights on both of my guns, which I gave him to hold, meanwhile. © I thas a Big” Casino, then accepted the challenge from J Johnson, of which he was the bearer. “The meeting came off, but the conditions permibfted me to change.guns, and, instead of falling myself, I dewned Lucky with a shattered elbow, then turned on Thompson and raked him down for doctoring my guns. “That gave him a fair chance to openly side in with the gang, and he played them for gudgeons, until he knew which of the twins was his right,game. “By this time they fully believe hatred for me. He swore I killed his brother, near Silver Gulch, and made them believe he was trying to play me even. And then, as the easiest method to bring that about, he proposed to arrest me on forged papers, as th®man who killed a passenger on the Falcon City stage-line a year ago. “They jumped at the chance, and agreed to hold up the stage we were “to take, wiping me out when I couldn't de- fend myself. And he made Asa King promise to go along as a sworn deputy. Catch on, don’t ye?” “Tf King was really a fugitive from justice, would he trust a detective, even on such a smooth story, though?” “Why not, since Thompson swore he was an ex-road- Lagont, and. only ying the part of detective the more surely to draw me into the cee anil replied —° played for a pigeon, as I then thought him—but even wr in him and his avowed= you understand the part we both played when the fruit “It was by no means easy to smooth over the fact of " De- minds against this stranger, his bold, frank manner was | *Y Gentlema: ae “You! ae eae Ss cut, as pt AWwea now I'can only give ye f Bat “Well, AceRing and his ane fairly offered them. Why not, since it was so carefully dis- guised? And they were red-hot to down me, for good and allgyou must keep in mind, gentlemen. at woman took a hand in, luring me out of town mWay from all my friends, as she considered it; then the trap was sprung. Thompson put me under arrest, having th@city marshal to back him up, with King as his second deputy. , “I made no kick, of course, since everything seemed goings our way, and we took stege without going back to "town at all. And then, when a safe distance had been gained, we turned upon King, and put him in irons, never ea him a chance to begin kie king. SNow comes the part that hurts,” his tones growing still aver aS he continued: “Tom King and his gang were Jay i in ambush for the stage, hold us up, then lay me Ouptor cold meat. We left the stage at Ten-pin Rock be- fore. coming to the ambuscade, and avoided it by making bee circuit. inks » BW staid by Thompson until the next morning, and egged him to let us see him safe to Camptown, but he a Ouldn’t have it that way. He said he’d sworn to fetch © his (man, single-handed, and that be stood no risk, with he, ong. start he’d already won. And 80—we just had to iy him have his own way—worse luck.’ How could they have smoked the trick in time to circle a if all you say is truth?” asked Dement, gravely. Phat IT can only guess at, but ’ll swear Queen Esther had @ main share in the nasty work. I'll pay off her score With the rest before I give up, or go under—hist !” Gentleman Joe’s hands dropped to his weapons, as he | Guught a sound coming from the direction taken by the | © mob. He did not pause to make out its precise nature, bub hurriedly added : *Tell allwho.care to know that I’m going direct to} Meee Oc. and thosé who wish van find me by inquir- | agave the Occidental Hotel. | mile Speaking, he backed away in the direction of the | ae horses which were tethered at a little distance, adding | tas he drew a gun: “Sorry to play horse thief, gentlemen, but they killed | hy nag, and time is mighty precious to me just now. [ll | Aust borrow—I know the clay bank—Watson’s beast, and * iéave.a deposit with you as guarantee of good faith.” ® » Gentleman Joe dropped a little roll of bills in the road, Sbacking around to the farther side of the chosen animal, * keeping both astonished deputies covered with his revol- ver while using his other hand to free the halter from the stunted bush. Mesprang lightly into the saddle, still holding the two men macier the drop, while adding : “Pas Watson, please, and say I'll trade back any time Wi@Gvishes. Tell those who are coming back tc look for me at‘my hotel, where I'll be after this night, ready to enter- tain callers and to meet all charges which may be brought Wgaings me. Now, good-by, pards.” , With those words, Gentleman Joe gave his confiscated horse free rein, riding toward Camptown, still holding the drop, until at a safe distance. 4 CHAPTER IX. SHERIFF FULLER IN CHARGE. Viewed from a mining-camp standpoint, Hardscrabble Was an average town, being neither very good nor very micked, yery rich nor very poor. Many another mineral strike had built up a town which could easily discount Hardscrabble when it came to a point of ‘ “toughness,” yet no wandering missionary had as yet seen fit to pitch his tent within hep irregular con- fines, for the purpose of spreading the gospel. The first year of her existence had, indeed, been a “ hard “setabble” to keep alive, and from being “frozen out” by starvation among other drawbacks. From that year of toil] and trouble had come her final christening, and as jing on one of Hardscrabble’s Hardscrabble the camp would end. eadf there was rather less fighting and “* ‘original sin” afloat” Sue 7 rat e NT LIBR ARY ‘tn this {Bien than in the genoFality of aaat eat quite “sufticiént to call for some semblance of, - law ang order,” but now, asémalmost every thingelgey EH. rdscrabbie contented herself with taking average steps, going om so far at a time. She had more than one admitted “chief,” yet neve mayor. Three or four ‘‘judges,” yet none of them du elected to fill office. But, as an average compromise, § did elect a city marshal, then placidly rested on her law rels, watching honest Horace Eagle fall to work with wha os bac king he might find in his own strong arm and caret fully sighted revolvers. : Some such reflections as these were lazily flitting aer Ons, the brain of a certain gentleman who comfortably filled chair tilted back against a small, unpainted plank builds streets on the day following that which brought to light the killing of Harold Cathers> wood and Asa King on the Camptow n trail. > That little building was the “ office” where City Marshal Hagle generally held fort, and this comfortably-disposed ¥ gentleman was avery good friend to that same officiak.@ as events which were even then shaping themselves ie g fated to prove. “A one-horse town, give it all credit,” Alonzo Full was reflecting, his sleepy- -seeming eyes doing full duty from under tie slouched brim of his felt hat. ‘“ But "Rage? isn’t a one horse marshal, and I’m shooting wilder than 5 usually do, if this is a one-horse circus just getting ready) for the gr and parade.” He closed the jackknife with which he had been white tling a bit of Sica casting one away, slipping the other into his pocket. And with the same motion he hitched hig revolver am inch or two farther forward, much as thoughs he anticipated an occasion for using it ere long. Hardscrabble was unusually quiet, even for her, though a single person had come into view down the str |it was only to pause for a single breath, then turn abru back, as though for something forgotten until that insta Sheriff Fuller failed to recognze this person, for hee ‘ | what t might be called a stranger within the gates, buts he. did recognize one thing else—the expected crisis vi ’ most cer tainly at hand. Then the trampling of horses’ hoofs broke the silem and around that same corner came a number of persom those in the lead on horseback, but the majority a afoot. flight from those leaders just then; but "Lon Fuller ney altered his position, placidly gazing up at those pale, @ : perate faces, as the charge came to an abrupt ending omy’ a few feet away. “Where’s ’Race Eagle?” pistol drawn, as though he fully expected it to be upon. "Looking for him, are you?” lazily drawlé@ the sitting: man, giving a little nod im recognition of the fair sex,#as his sleepy eyes roved over the figure of Queen Esther. “Yes; where is he, I ask you?” “In a hurry, too, seems like. What d’ye want of him, stranger ?” “We want—just him,” viciously snapped King, chang# ing his words as Queen Esther gave him a warning stroke with her whip. “And when we want anything that bad, we pretty generally get it, too.’ sharply demanded Tom Kingges A resident of Hardscrabble might have been excused for |e feeling uneasy, or even for taking to his heels in oper : called 9 an The tilted chair came down to a level, and a deft toss of = 7 his head sent back that obliging hat-brim, leaving his faéé exposed and his eyes unobscured. Then Mr. Fuller quietly made reply : “Your luck is considerably above the average, then, my dear sir, but I’m afraid it’s beginning to go back on you =a just now.’ “What do you mean by that, sir?” sharply demanded® the Amazon. “Your servant, ma’am,” with a suave bow. “Sorry I can’t do better, but the very best I can offer you right now is a substitute.” “Where’s Horace Eagle, I ask you? We want him, and. neither man. nor devil shall cheat us-out of our rights Where is he for the last time?” S “Right before your charming eyes, ma’am,” = te 0.108 eo. THI hOG -CABLMLIBRARY 15 «a. gga <3 = ® Fuller. ‘‘The best I can do, remember, thoughedIbadmit|) “Do you deny me thy ight Tom King %” , se I’m amighty poor substitute for Mro Eagle, when it comes} For thé first timé sive that niterview opened Sheriff Sto solid screaming, or to——” Fuller spoke sharply, sternly. His right hand closed upon ; “His\substitute? Are you willing to hang as his substi-|a pistol-butt and without drawing the weapon from. its tute, then?” harshly demanded Tom King. ;scabbard, that touch elevated its muzzle, until the merest The stranger gave a start of real or admirably affected | fraction of an‘instant would suffice to bring it in line with surprise \at those vicious words, but quickly rallying, he | the blustering desperado. , said : | Tom King saw as much, and, despite his brute cou PARC, “Well, scarcely. And yet, maybe I can tell better when | his face paled and his form flinched perceptibly. I know just what you’re trying to get at. Why hang?” | Once again Queen Esther interfered, an empty hand fly- Tom King glance(.toward his sister-in-law, plainly taken | ing up and to the front, as she exclaimed : aback. He had made no calculations on meeting with an| “Hold, sir! Dare to harm my brother, and galt ean’t obstacle of this precise nature, and smoothly though this’ save you.” stranger spoke, the desperado was keen enough to suspect; ‘“I’ll not be the first to break the peace, be sure, he might turn out to be avery serious factor in the dan-|ma’am,” coolly came the answer. “I’m here to help pre- gerous game they were playing to an end. serve that same peace, by the way, ard if Mr. Kifig ques- If Queen Esther felt any such doubts, she made no sign, | tions my right—do you, ma’am ?” breaking forth with bitter words: | “If you stand up for foul assassins against just venge- “Why not hang, rather? ’Race Eagle has dipped his ance, yes!” fiercely cried the woman, once more giving » bands in innocent blood to the very elbows. A double! way to her hot passions. “Ten thousand times over— © assassination lies at his door, and that of Gentleman Joe. yes.” Gentry. I charge them with brutally butchering my hus-| “Prove that assassins are at hand, ma’am, and Dll be | band, and I want vengeance! Blood for blood, life for the first to lift hand to arrest then, and frendship ‘Il eub life. Shall such foul deeds go unavenged, my friends?” no figure, then. But, as I ask for proof—proof must be An ugly roar came from the score of people who had fol- | shown betore killing is talked of.” Howed-at the heels of the two riders, and growing excite-| “Proof? Is it proof you ask for, sir? Go the trail we've emeént made itself perceptible among others who had been! just come over, and proof ye shall see, in plenty to damn s attracted toward that spot, though as yet they hung aloof, a thousand such vile butchers as Horace Eagle and Joseph Seseomingly undecided just what was in the wind. Gentry. Those brown eyes lost their sleepy expression as that, ‘They murdered my husband—riddled him with bullets, angerous sound broke forth, and the broad shoulders, fired so near at hand that his clothes were set afire, Never Squared as their owner cast a single glance over the little giving him a show for his dear life. Butchering him like memob.. No man living knew better than did Alonzo Fuller, a sheep-killing cur. And you still ask for proofs?” ; Mwhat @fittle spark it takes to explode such a magazine,| “Not that killing has been done, but proofs as to who uit his voice showed no signs of uneasiness as he spoke, | did the deed.” ‘ ag" even, grave tones: | “Who could have done it, save those who lied my dar- = * This is a serious charge you’re putting forth, madam; ling into false security ? Who else could have come so near of course, you believe all you say, but—can you prove it?” on evil bent? Who else——” ie “Tf Dean encounter the demons—yes.” | Queen Esther tore at her throat as though suffocatingy)* “Prove it with bullet and rope,” fiercely added King. her fierce words dying away in a choking gurgle that “No one man can bar the way when—who are you, any- | brought an uneasy, dangerous sound from those who had Bee way, sir?” | followed her to this spot. 2 ; “My name is Fuller, ‘Lon Fuller for short, and my reg-|| Tom King reached a supporting arm, but the womane- ular stamping-grounds are down nearer Silver Gulch.” rallying, passionately struck it aside, once more contro Very quietly and smoothly came the words, but Tom| ing the sheriff, to add: : ia. King’s face turned perceptibly paler, as he caught the, ‘If those demong are innocent, why are they in hiding? name which more than one deed of honest daring had Why don’t they come forth as honest men should, to meget made familiar to his ears, even though the man who bore and deny? Why do they skulk hehind your authorityaea ~ ae | “that name was a personal strangergto him and his. |lie.” with another vicious outburst. oe .. Even Queen Esther gave a little start at that name, not | ‘“You have no authority that can shield the foul asgas- =too entirely taken up by her wrongs and her grief, to miss, sins of honest men, whose only crime lies in doing ‘ia a point on which so much might depend. {bounden duty, sir. And if you dare attempt to exereise “ Are you Sheriff Fuller, then?” she asked, abruptly. i that flimsy pretense, I’ll call down the same vengeance “That’s my name and title, yes, ma’am,” bowed the upon your head as upon theirs.” . sturdy fellow, with hand rising to his hat in rude courtesy.| “You're letting wild passion and grief carry you away, “You see, I just happened to hear there was something , Mrs, King,” gravely answered Sheriff Fuller. ‘As for my” going on in these parts, and as I hadn't anything particu- authority, I'll show good cause when the right time comes lar on hand, down my own way, I reckoned maybe I’d as; And now, as proof, let me add this much : 2 well take a bit of a ramble through this range. And so—| “TI have already placed Horace Eagle under arrest to well, since it’s gained me the pleasure and honor of meet- | answer for all or any regular charges brought against him, ing you, ma’am, I’m more than paid for my trouble al-; Ill arrest Joseph Gentry, if just cause is given, but—and ready.” | what I say now, I’ll back up as long as my life lasts—I’1l Pleasant words enough, surely. And, while there might) have no lvnch law brought into play.” be alittle lack of polish from amore easterly point of| Queen Esther seemed staggered for the moment by that™ view, mountain politeness could hardly go further, or stern speech, but she quickly rallied, facing her followers! more completely cover the ground. jand viciously crying : ; ’ x Yet Queen Esther flushed hotly, more in anger than in| “Tt’s all part of the same foul trick, men. Vengeancey pleasure, and certainly showed no inclination to thank |if ye be men! Down the lying knave who thinks he eam 9) the sheriff for his gallant little speech. ‘cheat outraged justice, for——” , “By what authority do you interfere, sir?” she sharply; The door behind Sheriff Fuller swung open to reveal @ demanded, one hand nervously fumbling at the’polished ' the shapely figure of Gentleman Joe, Winchester piflé in - sbutt of a revolver at her hip the while. |hands, and at a level. : “Beg pardon, ma’am. Did I understand—am I interfer- gia peng, shen t CHAPTER X “Oh, come off!” chipped in Tom King, with an ugly Z if : = Soath. “Too much chin-chin, I say. We’re after ’Race . ‘IN HONOR BOUND. ‘Eagle, and we’re going to get him too or know the full} ‘Hands up, or go down in death !” ‘reason why.” Sternly the Gilt-Edged Sport spoke, and the muazzle “But if you can't. get him, my dear man ?”’ {his gun swung smoothly back and forth, one instant * “Who says we can’t get him? Who gave you the right. ering Tom King,.the next bearing full upon Queen st to chip I'd like to know gir?” Lie) 3 Sheriff Fuller stepped aside and backward, bringing 4 ~ ¥ « J Lait 16 ~ ome pbackito the front of the building, a brace of guns swiftly coniing to a ‘level, menacing th} little crowd which had started forward in answer to~ that fierce appeal from the Amazon's lips. “T didn’t figure on it just so, gentlemen, all, but since whe game has opened, I’ll play my cards for all they’re avorth. Keep back, or pay the initiation fee in full.” * Both riders flinched from those menacing muzzles, their animals backing away, yet facing theenemy. To wheel in flight would be hardly less dangerous than making a bold onset just then. “Steady, I tell you!” added Gentleman Joe, making the drop do double service the while. ‘“ You’ve had your inn- ings, now comes mine.” He paused for a single breath, flashing a brief glance Over t@e group beyond, then coldly adding : “Men of Hardscrabble, I’m talking to you just now, and, if you are still white, you’ll hear me through, even as you’ve lent ear to these two false witnesses. “I’ve heard all they had to say, and I denounce them as liars, from start to finish. More: I charge Tom King with murdering the detective, whose corpse was found beside the carcass of Ace King, the fugitive from justice, whom he, as a sworn officer of the law, had placed under arrest. “And I charge Esther King, widow of Ace King, with being an accessory both before and after the act.” “You lie, Joe Gentry.” “J dare you put me to the test before a legal court, Mrs. King.” “ll put you to the test before the only fair court—that Of public opinion, sir,” retorted the woman, rallying from that surprise” ‘‘The blood of my darling is still wet upon your foulhands. Men of Hardscrabble, I appeal to you. “Justice! Vengeance, for——” © “And I say, men of Hardscrabble, wait yet a little longer,” sternly interposed the sheriff, taking a step in advance. “I’m here to see that law or justice has her full dues, and I’ll kill the first one who dares lift hand to ~» cheat either one or the other. © “You, madam, ask for justice. I'll promise you all that, cag you'll agree on your part to abide by its decision.” | “He butchered my darling, and J’ll never give over re ere “Wiife can pay the debt.” © Viercely though those words came, it was clear that meen Wsther was hardly willing to sacrifice her own life ban attempt to execute that vengearice. It would only ‘an attempt, so far as she was concerned, for Gentleman » held the drop, and, woman though she might be, he woald hardly Jet that fact influencé him so far as to yield ; his own life rather than actually endanger hers. )} FP And Tom King was still less eager to press against the pricks just then. He had not even that partial protection, and he knew the first death would, come to him, sure as fate. s 4 -He muttered a few words of warning, but without wait- 4 ins to see what effect, if any, those would have upon Mrs. r ing, Sheriff Fuller once more lifted his voice for peace : “Try and bring calm reason to your aid, Mrs. King, and you, sir. Don’t lose everything, by trying to grab too Much all at once. I’ll pledge my word as man and officer to see that fair justice is measured out to every one con- éerned in this ugly mix,.but—as the first step, you must ) » give up your guns.” ~ =) Gis own weapons were surely covering the couple, and }* Queen Esther shrank back a little, even as she fiercely Hiss > cried out: "= What! Disarm, so yonder devil can add another brace of murders to his blood-stained record? Never, sir!” ““No harm shall come to you or to Mr. King, ma’am, on my honor,” the sheriff earnestly declared. “And now, having repeated that pledge, I’ve got to say just this much more : “T'm in duty bound to see fair play all round, but since the charge of murder has been distinctly made against you two, I’ve got to place you both under arrest.” "You can’t do——” " “Tf not living, then otherwise,” curtly interrupted Fuller, his usually soft brown eyes catching.a reddish 49... glow ashe spoke. “TI’ll take you, alive if I can, dead if I g aust, Now, take your choice, please.” < ee Thy THE LOG: CABIN | particular figure in the point we’re talking over. |main thing, I take it, is to fetch the criminals to law, andes of t 7 |I’m more than willing todo my part toward that ending P ire « Dve had full vengeance for that, far as his miserable | ii har eS > Anke ti . i ory ? a 2 be os .Hé gave a sharp, shrill whistle, which certainly was signal for which allies had been waiting, since the ne moment a force of armed men came from the rear’ of «th little office, their rifles turned toward the astonished enemy beyond. : “A trap, by——” exploded Tom King, flinching from this unlooked for force, yet kept from breaking away in flight by those leveled guns. “No trap at all, unless you’re dead bent on having it, just that way, sir,” hastily assured the sheriff. “ Merely a prudent precaution against unnecessary trouble, and fully as much on your account as my own. No harm shall come to you, if you’re sensible. But—TI said I’d arrest you, and I’m going to do just that. Unless——” : ‘ He paused, leaving a hiatus, but neither of the twos principal opponents offered to fill it just then. But Queen > Esther, flinging -a hand toward Gentleman Joe, who still ®@ naintained his station in the open door-way, sharply. ex=% claimed : ; “Surrender to that foul assassin? I’d rather die, mure dered just as my poor husband was murdered,” 4 “Oblige me, Mr. Gentry?” smoothly asked Fuller, but without turning either gaze or pistols from those still dam gerous adversaries. “With pleasure, sheriff,” said the Gilt-Edged Spor s stepping back, inside the little office, closing the door wi a deftly managed foot. . “He'll only leave this building to face the charge whie¢ stillin that ominously mild voice. “He’s under arresi now, and you—take your choice between actual arre and an honorable parole.” “Just what do you mean by parole, sir?” quickly.ask King, before his sister-in-law could answer for herself “You say that either or both Horace Eagle and Jo Gentry killed your brother, don’t you?” “Who else—yes.” as ke “Allright. They bring counter-charges, but guilty menue would do pretty much the same thing, so that facet cuts no The. if you’ll only help in place of hindering. be “Will you pledge me your word of honor toa ppearim court——” re “ What court is there here, save that of Judge Lynch? asked Queen Esther. ; “Court enough to bind a man over for trial, I reckon ma’am,” said the sheriff, coolly. “Ill promise full satigey faction on that point, if you’ll only let us get that fare Just now the question is, whether I’m to arrest you if Le ee blunt fact, or take your pledge to appear at the time and @” place appointed, to press this charge of murder against ¥ the men I’ve already taken in charge ?” Brother and sister interchanged glances, by no meang happy ones, but Sheriff Fuller gave no sign, simply add=> ing: “T hate to hurry you, friends, but time’s passing by, and .there’s a heap sight o’ work to be done up before night comes. Which is it parole or arrest?” “Parole, then,” quickly said Tom King, one hand catches ing Queen Esther by an arm, as though to check any obs jection she might feel like making. Bh al “That’s hearty !” cordially declared Fuller, his pistol@e coming down and returning to their scabbards. “ Where’ I be most apt to find you, when wanted to present thoser charges in due form %” es Tom King hesitated, but the woman spoke for. both : 5 “When and where will the examination take placé,” rather ?” ‘ pe “Lacking a regular court-room, I reckon we’d better ix up the eating-room at the Occidental. That's the bigges room I can think of, off-hand, like. How does the ideg suit you, ma’am {” “ And the hour?” “Well, two o’clock, say. ‘That'll give us full time f explaining all points, and yet get through before dark comes.. Of course, you'll he on hand, friends?” “And you?” “Tl be there, with Horace Rag le'and Joseph Gentry a “) if need be. go bp Ie, BRAY, 8, ready tdgans wer ° were charge ist ther.” : Pane uce again’ those dark eyes abught ofch “other, and mough no words passed, the two members of the Royal Plush evidently came to a perfect. understanding, for feen Esther spoke again in calmer tones than any she d used up to that moment: = Very well, sir. Pledge for pledge. We'll be there at f¢ hour named, and we’ll expect to meet both you and persons you’ve just mentioned. Now, anything arther ?” om King flashed a sullen, doubtful glance toward the | acer, who had so unexpectedly to him taken full charge ithe case, Possibly he anticipated a demand for his apons, but if so, he was agr eeably disappointed. © Nothing more on my side, ma’am, unless it is a gentle} the marshal’foiti office under. their gydance, siler falling to either side, givin, therk a free and tnobsti ucted passage, eek... ta gi. Not a voice was lifted ii ention ‘or objection, but plenty of eyes wane aglow wath inquiry as Queen Esther and King passed their owners by; and to one pair came an answer. : Only aslight gesture from the woman’s hand, but Big Casino read its language as readily asdjhough couched in the plainest, most simple of all words. “Better luck than I dared hope for,” said Tom King, when fairly out of ear-range of all save his sister-in-law. “Tt’s not so mighty often I grow shaky about the knees, but this time—well, the saddle held me, and ’Lon Fuller |let me go. A Spanish oath came gr atingly through those snapping hint that any unusual disturbance will be met by my white teeth, and Queen Esther gave a vicious gesture with isworn posse here, and nipped in the bud before it can clenched right hand. ; Ov er out in red.” Without deigning answer to this thinly vailed hint, If those fingers had held a dagger, and an enemy had been within arm’s length ! She turned a burning glance upon her companion ween Esther wheeled her horse and rode away in the which caused him to flush hotly, his own eyes drooping ection of her house, closely followed by Tom King. the while. But he half-sulkily answered that silent re- And simply giving his armed posse anod by way of| proach: ders, Sheriff Fuller turned the knob and stepped inside | € office. fhe light was dim, thanks to the one curtained window, “Ym fully as hot as you, Queen, to play even for Ace, but where’s the sense in throwing our lives after his, with- out even the ghost of ashow for our side? That devil it was quits sufficient to show him the gravity which meant shoot, and Gentry had a string of blue pills ready Reh of those two faces wore, as Gentleman Joe and Hor- © Hagle gazed upon him. SDhe city marshal wag tall and gaunt éf ffame. His thin | ge seemed lengthened by the tuft of-grizzled hair which red his chin, leaving,,thin lips and sunken cheeks His jaws were working:rapidly on a section of plug- bacco, and sending forth a stream of yellowish liquid, he ily growled : aal, you jest hev done it, hain’t ye, Lon Fuller?” atow so, old kicker?” lightly asked the sheriff. B more than you could have done in my place under fing circumstances.” Bet yer sweet life ye jest hev, now! Turned them critters loose, to go fer—oh, you’re a honey-cooler, be! y “Koop your linen on, pardner,” coolly retorted the offi- | cermin no wise disconcer ted by that fierce raillery. “I’ve #6d all for the best, and you’ll be first to acknowledge | @s much, after you've taken a fair, square look at both| ‘sides of the shield.” s*Yes, I will! Lettin’ ’em go free, to—git out, you.” Simply because I just had to do that, or do worse, Hagle,” argued Fuller, casting aside his half-mocking de- “meanor, hand on Eagle’s arm as he explained. “Maybe I "saw. more than you did, for I came into the case a mighty >) sight cooler. “hose two did the talking, but their gang was close be- hind, ready and willing to wade in, clear up to their necks, If I hadn’t pretended to humor ’em., a bit, ee would have taken a red bath, thiseday.” ‘ OW aal, reckon Hardscrabble, ’d’a’ got over that, er the: "good it’d ’a’ done the honest part 0’ town.’ )“Hardscrabble might, but others wouldn’t. der the collar, pardner, and I’m not blaming you so ehty much, either. Still, et. If I'd stuck to arresting that woman outright—well, *d have taken her body, perhaps, if my own life had held “out long enough. : “And so asthe next best thing, I put them upon honor before the town. I took their parole, and I fully believe hey’ll keep it, so far as coming to the hotel at the hour) “Still, suppose they do take leg-bail? Won't that clear you two, by convicting them in all honest eyes? If they | 7 eit i in the Gilt-Hdged Sport, with clenched hand uplifted “as he took the oath. CHAPTER XI. QUEEN ESTHER’S Vow. “As their leaders turned to beat a retreat with more or grace, the body of armed men which had followed to E a “i I’ve | —ugh !” Queen Esther made no reply, but spurred her tired horse viciously, looking neither to the right nor the left until the gate in front of her house was reached. There she sprang to the ground, a gesture bidding King care for he horse with his own, after which she hastened to the build-™ ae Ps ing itself, 3 This was rather larger and better looking than is often™ found in a purely mining town, consisting of two stories, built of wood, neatly painted. Along the front extended a roofed veranda, and wooden shutters were at each window. It did not take Tom King very long to put up the hor 3084 but when he entered the house, his sister-in-law had pretty well subdued that fit of fierce sulks, and both looked acted more like her natural self. Fs He found her in a chamber above stairs, from which age clear call summoned him immediately on his crossing the eens threshold—a chamber which contained a single bed ‘upon which lay a pale, haggar d-faced man, plainly suffering from some serious hurt or long illness. This patient was Lucky Jackson, the gambler mentioned by Gentleman Joe in his hurried explanation to John De- ment and his silent mate the day before. In that duel his right arm had been shattered at the elbow, and although he had stubbornly fought against further mutilation, Jackson yielded at length, when con- 7 vinced that only by an amputation could his life be saved. Thanks to a naturally strong constitution, he had borne the ordeal well, and rallied marvelously after it. His face showed something of the tortures he had suffered, but his | spirit was still strong, and a touch of characteristic fieree- You’re hot, T hold that I acted all for the} lup and doing. | pulling at his jetty beard. ness was in his tone, as he greeted the coming of Thomas King. “ Another fizzle, or all eyes lie. Oh, if if I could only be If this cursed arm of mine——” “Or which was once yours?” brutally interrupted the ruffian. “Drop that, both of you!” sharply cried Queen Esther, her hands clenching as they came more prominently into sight. ‘“Haven’t we enough work on hand as it is, with- out clapper-clawing ’twixt ourselves ?” “That’s all right,” sulkily growled King, dropping heavily into a chair, flinging his hat to the floor, then “But Lucky needn’t chin, after his own slips.” “Are you so sure we haven’t made yet another one, Tom ?” Tom gave a sonorous oath, for that quiet question touched a raw spot, yet one which both knew must be probed to the bottom. “That’s what’s making me sweat under the collar,” he said, with gruff candor, scowling until his jetty brows fairly met, forming a hairy arch above his glowing eyes: and 4 “PEE LOG C8 i8 for thé time‘ being. but—isn’t it all adeviliNi tuap? Isnt Lon Fullerplaying im cahoots with Eagleang Gentry?” “Tf he is, you sertainivacted as though you wanted to help him make a sure thing of it, Tone,” retorted Queen Esther. “What else could I do? him was Gentleman Joe, and that infernal posse. gise could I do, Bask you ?” ethers spoke in turn. was still something of importance lying back, and this was what he hoped to learn. But now, as woman and man seemed to lose sight of more important points in their angry or sullen sparring, he thought it time to interfere, after a friendly fashion. “TI say, friends,” he began, only to have his words cut “short by an outburst from Tom King. “You can sneer, Hsther, but that don’t help us out of the mix, and you’re plenty old enough to know it, I say it’s a cursed trap, and that I took the only way of cheat- ing it, even for a short time.” “By showing the white feather in the face of all Hard- scrabble.” “That's a—difference of judgment,” with a brief flash of his strong teeth in contrast with his black mustache. “Ard so I keep on with my saying. and right here you have it; skin out while we can.” “Run away, you mean?” “Skin out, I say, while we’ve gota chance. Run away, #f you like the words better. But get out of Hardscrabble, and watch for a better show.” Then the woman’s fierce temper fairly flamed forth. | } y Her face was hotly flushed. Her black eyes turned fiery as those of an infuriated wild beast. seemed to menace Tom King. “T never thought you acur until right nov, Tom King. } never once thought I’d live ‘to hear such craven»adyice from your lips—lips tinged with the same blood that flowed so grandly through his veins.” “Tt’s that, or worse,” doggedly muttered the man. “What can be worse than to—look at me, Tom King,” with forced calmness that was even more impressive than her undisguised rage. Now. isn’t your twin brother dead? murdered by one who yet lives, just as surely as though his hand had sped those gruel shots?” She paused as if for a reply, but none came in words. | Tom King turned pale in place of flushing; that was the | only change perceptible. “Murdered, I repeat, and his death lies at the door of Gentleman Joe Gentry. Now, didn’t you take solemn oath | Yo never turn back until that death was fully avenged ?| Didn’t you, I ask?” “Vou know I did, so why keep on asking, girl?” “To bring forth the naked truth, you coward, of course.” BEN [ only wish “I-could feel different,” He held the drop, and back of What. | frame. His head and shoulders propped up with pillows, Lucky | Jackson turned an anxious gaze from face to face as the, He knew something of what had | franspired, and could guess at more, but he knew there! Her shavely hands | flew up in savage gestures, then clenched tightly as they | “Look me in the eye, if you dare !| | stone wall? Because I didn’t throw away the only chanee ¢ i : LEB MygY ee andtiplifted, her face-white as that of @ corpse, yet seq ing to fairly glow with heat and fury, Strong, reckless'man though he was, Thomas King ue ually shrank from the woman, who never looked prouden fiercer, than right then and there. Lucky Jackson uttered a sharp, yet almost wailing and, as he saw Queen Esther turn his way, his. lids el and a shivering fit apparently took possession of No. 1684 It was a cunning trick, but one that worked to adm tien. After all, Esther King was a woman, and wi share of woman’s virtues. ce She sprang to aid the crippled gambler, and Lucky Jie son revived only when he felt tolerably sure his point@ade © been carried, and that dangerous outbreak quelled-fombhe time being, if not altogether. ma Then he asked a further explanation, which Queens ther gave him, boiling the matter down into as few#e tences as possible. As she came to an end, Jackson gave a fierce gtOame striking the bed with his bandaged left hand; the § through which Gentleman Joe had driven his dagge | the first act in exposing foul play at cards. rs “All this, and I bed-fast! Oh, curse my crooked ] If Iwas but half a mannow! If I had only str |enough to stand alone, even!” During that nursing and narrative, Tom King had} | Silence, sullenly watching the woman and the gambler ;even while it was plain his thoyghts went far beyone them. But at thisimpotent outburst on the part off | patient, he sneeringly asked : “Well, what wonders could you work, if you we crippled, Lucky ?” ny “Do? I'd find some means of killing Gentry, @ couldn’t raise a mob to lynch him. That hadn’t ough be so mighty hard, either, unless the Flush has clea its grip since I caught my last dose.” “Bah!” retorted King, stung by that inference, thon | Jackson had no intention of flinging forth a slur. “Tall easy, but when it comes to acting—well, you triedait whacks at Gentleman Joe, and each time he downed too easy for any sort of use.” x ‘At least he made a trial, Tom,” crisply interjected#Mram King, the words pointed by a curling lip. ; “And who says I’m not willing to try it on?” a 96 “You did, or I’ve forgotten how to read actions, sit,” “Because I didn’t see fit to buck my head against a = 4 we had for playing even? You’re turning foolish, Hsther, © and if you can’t get down to sober reason, the quicker you™ take to your bed, the sooner poor Ace will be paid for. © And right there you have it, too.” i ws & “While you—over the hills and far away ?” ' ? 5 “While I down Gentry, if I can only find baeking~ enough to give me one chance out of fifty,” coldly retorted 9 her brother-in-law. ee There was a brief silence, during which the twain ga into each other’s eyes, while Lucky Jackson glanced amm |iously from face to face, then back again, tally @ “Coward? Didn’t I lay out—did I flinch when it came | : siete otic ic the pinch over yonder?” hoarsely demanded King, his} ing the weakness which held him bed-fast even though @ cripple. os face flushing angrily. | “Plag of truce, pardners,” interposed Lucky Jackson, |and stern: fearing still worse must come, unless he could effect al « If I’ve wronged you, Tom, I ask your pardon. T really diversion. “Can we afford to break up in a row betwixt thought you wanted to run away, to save your owmesélf purselves, while there’s others waiting for their chips to! from worse. Now—well, I’ve asked pardon for my mis- be cashed ?” 2 i take.” “Talk to her, Lucky,” growlingly said King, letting his | WGdantad. sister, of course, but——” a muscles relax, plainly welcoming that interference. “I’ve| «« Wait,” with an imperious gesture.” “You heard me played my cards the very best I knew how, and, if we take oath to never give over until my husband was fully” - haven’t swept the board, I’m notto blame. At least, I avenged. I ask you to hear me take that oath again, andeae™ ean’t see it in that light. | all the more because of the words you just now let fall “You took the same oath that crossed my lips, Tom! “Ill avenge Asa King} or die*while trying. I’ll never King; ‘you swore to never know rest until Ace was show mercy, never let pass a chance for striking a blow avenged.” never count my own life as aught, until the devils w “Well, isn’t-the devil who killed him, cold meat?” trapped my darling to his death are food for worms. ~ “Yes, but not the devil who put up the whole job, andif “There you have my oath, my vow, and now I’ll say you take water now by the soul of my murdered hus- a little more. band, 111 kill you with my own hand, sir.” “Gentleman Joe is my game. He must.perish unde Queen’ Esther sprang to her feet, right hand clenched hand. If I saw even you, my murdered husband’s we A se Then Queen Esther spoke, her tones even, her voice cold eae as - ; a Whuothery. oh-the.point of taking-his. lif Cab eicam Ofpity, a-ray-of.mercy. : : ‘Well go to the Tteebingy.as.promised... If we fail to et them both, T11kill Joseph Gentry then and there; CHAPTER XII. i SHERIFF FULLER ON GUARD, © Word having gone forth concerning the examination Whieh was on the docket, Hardscrabble hurried up the occas meal a bit, and long before the hour set, or two is rely two-thirds of the town’s population. weet, strong as was the general excitement, this was meept well within bounds, thanks to the cool precautions ken by Sheriff Alonzo Fuller. sebyevirtue of powers which he exhibited only to a select Mhat gentleman took possessioh of the hotel for the sbeing, placing his armed deputies as guards, and Bicly giving notice that any unauthorized attempt to weer the building would be worse than useless. my aimong the precautions taken, were closing the heavy sods shutters with which each one of the windows on “the ground floor were provided, and stationing armed men @t each door, front, side, and rear. Jas for what arrangements were going on inside, the gen- eral public could only surmise as yet. © Outside, despite the surface calm, matters could hardly be said to indicate the coming of the millennium. Although @ crowd appeared to mingle freely, one who had lived rany length of time in Hardscrabble could easily have @eivided that moving mass into two almost equal portions ; Supemose who favored the rule of the Royal Flush, and those Sewne’ favored the return of Jaw and ordér, as represented Horace Hagle, and, less loudly, Gentleman Joe Gentry. Among the fo¥mer. partisans, probably the most con- spicuous was Big Casino, who kept in almost constant mo- Shion, pausing here and there to drop a whisper where he ‘thought it would do ‘the most good for the side he was ad- Vocating. ; ' At first the big fellow was inclined to be a little too Hy Noisy in his efforts. to create or direct public sentiment Sagainst Kagle and Gentry, and after quietly taking notes for a few minutes, Sheriff Fuller left his station at the front entrance, gently tapping Diamond on an arm, as he smoothly spoke : ‘Don’t you reckon you’ve blown off enough steam for e ~ once; my dear fellow? Suppose you take a back-seat now, | and’pive others a chance.” Se Big Casino wheeled with an oath, but it hardly passed Se fislips. And the huge fist turned to a hand once more, as he -caughtthat steady gaze, and read what lay back of those keen brown eyes. efi reckon a critter has aright to his own ’pinions, hain’t ee” ®Yes, so long as they remain his own, and he don’t use them to start a fire big enough to sweep half the town. You catch on, pardner ?” *Phain’t done nothin’ which——’ / 2 Don’t try so loud, then,” with a touch of sternness entering both voice and face. “I’m running this circus, remember, and if you insist on playing clown without my permission—well, [’ll make short settlement with you, understand ?” Only that, but it proved quite sufficient to quiet the big bully. » Inthose eyes he read danger. In that face he saw cold Spesolution. In the man himself he recognized a master, “a and while he did not entirely give ever his efforts, he went about his dirty work with a subdued, half-sheepish de- .aeanor that robbed his words of much of their poison. - fora King appeared on the scene some little time be- fore the hour set for the investigation, and, having at- tracted the notice of Sheriff Fuller, fell back as though ets first point was gained. ~@nty a few of those present spoke to him, and those who fd remained in his company but briefly, leaving as though ‘ébuffed by the pale, stern desperado, & Sherif’ Fuljer smiled slightly as his watchful eyes took | allthis, -b 6no comments, seemingly con- ’ ce tent, o'clock, the Occidental Hotel was the center of interest | Byer ra . bw 3 * * * —s tolet Siatte ails. ULse, Now that. he fairly set them inemotion, hae tial gk ee A% his. wateh niptified him (he. appointed: hour was ati hand, the-sherit gave his bedy-guards féw whispered in-” structions, then stepped to the edge of .the veranda, lifé ing his hat with one hand, raising the other, as he spoke in clear, distinct tones : “Gentlemen, all! A word or two with you before you enter this building, please.” Instantly all became still, every eye turning toward the official. “Tl not keep you long, partly because I’m aman Of very few words as arule, but mainly because I reckon |there’ll be wind enough spent inside before the whole truth lis brought to light. “That truth has got. to show up, though, if honest en- deavor can bring that about. Still, one hot-headed fool can spoil more than a dozen wise men can mend, so—play | white, all of you, unless you’re really anxious to ba painted red,” Sheriff Fuller broke off abruptly, bowing low, but it wag not wholly because he had reached the end, or because he had made his point. The tall, black-garbed figure of a woman was coming up the street, and, recognizing in her the widowed Queen Ksther of the Royal Flush, he saluted her with off-hand courtesy, then quickly added : “To make sure no further killing is done before the law can lay grip on the criminals, we’ve made _ this rule—each person, man or woman, who enters this court-room, must give up all weapons by which life can be taken.” Queen Esther stopped short as these words came to her ears, for she clearly had not calculated on such a move. Tom King moved toward her quickly, and the harsh voice of Big Casino broke forth : “Git ready, ye pore mice critters, fer the trap is baited. “Button up, you overgrown loafer,” sternly cried thd sheriff. “Chip again after that fashion, and I’ll put you | where even mice would be ashamed to go. As fdr the | white portion of this crowd, I hurdly reckon any objection | will ba raised. Hvery person shall receive the same treats | ment, Every dangerous weapon shall be removed by m¥ |deputies, or those» who are unwilling to submit to that |evidence of their honesty and good faith, will be refused. }admittance while the investigation lasts.” 4 | : a Every one, you say, sir”? asked Queen Esther, leaving, pans King, and slowly drawing nearer where the sheri | | stood. ; “So I said, and so I’m ma’am,” bowed he. “And the murderers of my husband, too ?” | “If you can produce those murderers, Mrs, King, youll jconfer a mighty blessing on the entire. community, amd |Spare us all a great deal of talking and bother in general, blandly declared Fuller. “You said you had arrested them, and now—I meat | Joseph Gentry and Horace Eagle, sir.” “Still, you: said murderers, not those you had charged with being the guilty persons, ma’am. Yes, they have been searched and disarmed.” “Where are they now ?” j “Inside, waiting for business to begin, Will you--—” “Enter? Of course,” coldly said the woman, passing up the steps to be checked at the door by the men on gtiard. Sheriff Fuller hasterfed to her side, bowing low as he relieved her of the belt of arms which she wore without disguise. Then he said, half-apologetically : “Shall I call the landlady to search you, Mrs. King, or will you pledge me your word of honor that you’re wholly without artificial weapons ?” “Will you take my word, sir?” “Tf you give your honor with it, certainly, ma’am.” “Very well.. I have no weapons, save those nature gaye me at birth.” “T know which sort I’d fear the most, if I had to vote, ma’am,” with another bow and bland smile; then adding, briskly : “Conley, escort the lady inside to.a seat, please.” As Mrs. King entered the dining-room, Sheriff Puller turned back, to the. veranda,,.where his guards were holq- ‘ing a number of eager men. at bay, all of. whom net perfectly. willing to surrender such weapons as. they mij . es 1 S icduing my word of honor,” Ea Ae gpa one A " $9 . “Sbear, for the privilege.of ron that: guarded postal? Quick Work was made “fzit, since aly 2 men were tobe “handled; and the spacious dining-room was qitite rapidly filling up, when Tom King changed his lounging attitude, | drawing to the front, and bowing SEERY to the man in| charge. “Fall back, gentlemen !”. said Fuller, briskly, at this coming. ‘Mr. King is an important: witness, and, as such, it’s no partiality to give him an earlier che wnce. guns, please, sir.’ hat was Log occur Pe. paler. “You surely can’t expect that, sheriff, when there’s men inside who have openly threatened my life?” “And who have been threatened by you quite as openly, sir,” came the ready retort. “They’ve been disarmed, and——” “T?ve only your word for that.” “My word is my bond, Mr. King, and when this bit of} sober business is at an end, if you are in condition to argue the value of either word or bond, I’ll be most happy to ac- commodate you. But just now—you must do the same as | all the rest have done; give up your guns and knife, or stay on the outside,” “Then I'll stay out, be sure,” growlingly declared the desperado, turning to descend the low flight of steps. ’ ‘Glory to the boss, ary how,” howled Big Casino, now | | aX “Ketch him in sech | - rather more than half- way drunken. ®@ pizen trap, will ye?” “Stick to it, King.” “Tt’s a put-up job to down what’s left of the Flush.” Other fierce or derisive cries broke from the outsiders, and matters began to wear a dubious aspect to one at all | nervous. Sheriff Fuller could hardly be numbered in that cate- gory, however, and, without paying any attention to the howlers, he c hecked Kivg with the rather stern question : “Of course, you know what remaining outside me sir?” “What do you mean, sir?” “Business, Mr. -King, as..you’d ought to know by this! time. You are under parole, freely given. Don't break it without carefully counting the cost in advance, or you maay be sorry for your hasty action.” “Ts that meant for a threat?” “Not unless you really insist on taking it that way, but | I cun use different words, if you prefer. So—you are charged with murdering one Harold Catherwood, just as} positively as you charge others with being guilty’of that | same crime.” **Ourse Catherwood, I’m thinking of my brother.” “Why don’t you show your good faith, then? For, if those whom you have accused of this double killing, aré @leared through lack of the evidence you can bring for- ward, your turn will surely come next,” Coolly, aven quietly Sheriff Fuller pronounced those words, but, had he given them at the top of his strong swoice, the effect could hardly have been greater. Tom King turned paler than ever, but the fierce out- burst which might have been expected failed to come. Nodding his head, he said: “JT understand, but I’ll have to consider it. a bit longer.” Passing down the steps, he moved away, disappearing ‘around the corner of the hotel. Apparently Sheriff Fuller paid him no further notice, yet very little escaped his ‘eyes, and among other items he mentally recordea the fact that Big Casino shortly after vanished in that same direction. This refusal of Tom King to enter, served as a check to the rest, and very few persons were passed through the guard before the return of that member of the Royal Flush. A little buzz of, expectation greeted that coming, but King made no sign to friend or foe, quietly ascending to the veranda, where he gave and received a polite bow. the sheriff. “Well, ves. I hate to knuckle, when there's really no' oe: | But that was not all. Your chances, and it was not until a careful search proved CABIN Which, aa you;-sir, is enforced withotit= fedr ‘or >“ Wagle and Geniryare in yonder; then ro ; “Yes, sir, And Judge Porter is only waiting for’ /coming to begin the inv estigation. Shall I?” Sheriff Fuller reached forth a hand, and Tom King as quietly resigned his belt of arms, which was pas over to one of the guards. Too much was at stake for oe | was wholly disarmed that he was. permitted to eS But King recoiled a bit, his face turning perceptibly | Sheriff Fuller bearing him company. | | : ' | NS, | gory the best of order, CHAPTER XII. AN INFORMAL AFFAIR, There had been some few alterations made in the@® dental dining-room, since it had been taken possession: by the present representatives of law and order. “ig The closing of all shutters, with the laudable intentiol as keeping within any or all of those charged with capita of barring out curious or dangerous persons, fully ag nae crime, so greatly darkened the room that lamps had to b ‘ lit, and these, from their brackets attached to the wallsy wars shedding an uncertain, half-ghastly glow over allyag kerosene lamps are pretty apt to do when called upon ab > 1 unnatural hour of the day. Hari osed as to lend the impression—vague, yet readily recog nized—of a regular court of justice. At one smaller*table sat a tall, portly personage, hata recognizable in his black suit and gold-bowed glasses, @¥ ; by those who had so recently been on terms of closest | timacy with the gentleman. Like the apartment itself, “Judge” Porter might be oe but he certainly did his level best to “look di nt. »” oe goodly number of spectators were there, but they of and merely kept within th@p bounds assigned them, leaving clear a passaye to the doors ‘and a space devoted to the different persons who had @ ( | still dee osity. Both Gentleman Joo Gentry and Horace Eagle, the lat ter having resigned his official badge pending investigaes tion, were in this last-named seservation, quietiy seated, | calmly waiting the coming of the end, Neither man showed signs of uneasiness or fear as to ithe outcome, but, as one of the eager spectators Very justly said, they were both lads of pure grit, and wouldn@ turn a hair even in the face of grim death, whether that) personage came ona w hite horse, or with a hangman’sy noose in his bony hand. a Both gentlemen rose to their feet, as Queen Esther was escorted in by Deputy Conley, and both gravely bowed as the woman passed them by, to take a chair a little nearer the judge’s position, where he sat facing the accused, ; rather than that portly official. : Mrs. King did not deign to acknowledge that salutation, and having performed thejr duty as such, the gentlemen . resumed their seats, patiently waiting for the end. x Another buzz of interest marked the arrival of Thomas King, under escort of Sheriff Fuller, but nothing to re- ward that evident interest-took place. Quietly as though merely an outsider, King passéd over to the wall, seating himself on a window-shelf, knees crossed, and hat held upon the lap thus formed. per interest in the affair than that of mere cur Sheriff Fuller paused in front of the table at which teu” judge sat, bending across it to whisper afew words ito that official’s ear, then drawing aside, his heae respeet- | fully uncovered as he glanced leisurely over the conpeyy a: tion, Judge Porter rose to his feet, cleared his throat, wie his glasses, ran one fat finger around between his neck, The long tables had been taken from line, and so @isme ul as and the stiff collar, which possibly added to his dignifyy | “Thought better of it, Mr. King, I trust?” gravely asked but which certainly failed to make him feel any the more | comfortable, then spoke: “Friends and fellow-citizens: Before going furthe fair. excuse for your putting on so many frills, but since reckon it is best to clear up a point or ‘two, if pnl xe & © go Tee ‘fonkp that-a rule——” spengccssity-- i eae Tes back af ~ ~ “6 ae ae ‘ . THE LOG OA \ | i Span = right to presi ver this ere investigating committee. “I wish to .Mte, first, that I'did not seek this position. ‘Té was, in a manner, thrust upon me. If I didn’t refuse to accept, ‘twas simply because, as a.lover of law and order, ZT deemed it my bounden duty to contribute my mite for that very purpose—to help bring forth order from chaos, “rescue law from revolution, and confound the guilty by uplifting the innocent.” © Judge Porter paused, both to catch his breath and to Meave a convenient. opening for applause, and he bowed Moe lowly, hand over heart, as that applause came promptly on time. “Thanks, gentlemen. With your aid and approval, I hope to hold my end level, although I hardly need tell u that, strictly speaking, I have no legal right to act as Gudge, But, then, neither has any other citizenof Hard- "serabble. We have no right,/viewed purely from a legal Netandpoint, to even investigate this sad affair, much less piry the case as a court.” » “Then what ’re we all hyar fer?” bluntly, yet respect- fully, asked one of the spectators. »=An honest question, honestly put, yet malice could » Hardly hi.ve sent in a more destructive shot than this. S8dudge Porter flushed, stammered, in vain sought Se in his silk handkerchief, then feebly turned to- yard the sheriff with : Pee will you please make a—a few remarks, Mr. Sheriff ?” =e Puller stepped forward, pausing where he could lean Ponc hand upon an edge of the table, giving an easy, yet ferfectly respectful, bow to the company in general. *P'm not so sure it’s nevessary for me todo any talk- is, gentlemen, and you, ma’am,” with another bow, this ne for the especial benefit of Mrs. King. ‘The judge, Sir honored and honorable fellow-citizen, has pretty Sroughly covered the ground. Still, since he has made he request, 1’1l just say how I look at the matter. This, as you all know, is a purely informal affair, so as legal usages go; Hardscrabble has no judge, no Heer, no actual right to try, or even arrest, man or »*ayonian on a State charge. 2" Still, { hold that we have full power to investigate a Meerave matter like this, provided we don’t attempt to Barry it too far: we can decide whether or no it’s worth While to carry the case up higher, or if such explanations S are given here don’t clear it all away. “As for my having authority vo arrest persons goes, 41 take particular pleasure in producing my papers, when he right time comes. And letting that point drop, too, I eb at the milk in the cocoanut. ) You are all aware that bloody work has been going on 5 in this vicinity. Two men have been done to death, and eharges of foul murder have been openly made against two pentirely different parties. © © Of course both sides can’t be in the right, while one of them Almost certainly isin the wrong. Which one that is !’'m honestly hoping to discover through this informa] investigation. » “Tfwe can bring this about, as I believe we can, if all do théir level best, it will save a vast deal of bother, not ao mention expense. There’ll be but the guilty ones to ‘care for, and it hardly needs saying that it costs a heap if sight less to guard, try, convict, and legally hang one man han it does two, or half a dozen.” Queen Esther gave an impatient stir, lifting a clenched Shand, but as Sheriff Puller turned that way, respectfully breaking off, in order to give her freedom of speech, she let her hand sink, remaining silent. “T bez pardon, everybody, if I’m tiring out your pa- stience,” gravely resumed the sheriff. “This is the first ime I ever tried my hand at running one end of a court, ‘and Treckon it'll be my last. Still, since I’ve chipped, I’ F have my money’s worth. “As I started to say, there’s been foul murder done by i some Person or persons. If the guilt can be fixed beyond a doubt, all right ;, 11 have so much the easier job on my » hands. Butif the whole truth can’t be got at now and here, [ll arrest every one charged with the crime, and m take them to a rezular court for a regular trial. Psi er person may seo fo question? our oe: My _ “tT make this siee peat advance, 80 thog ¥ a each. ii “Those I ae arrest, Mt he ajnst, all: their Racats or their enemies. Ill have nothing ‘in the ‘shape of lynch law, ‘while my head i is hot andmy guns Mf work- ing order.” Pausing for a few moments, as though to let his words” have due effect, Sheriff Fuller turned toward Queen Esther, with a bow, saying : “Ladies come first, of course. objection to opening the ball?” All eyes were turned in that direction, for interest® E plainly centered upon the Queen of the Royal Flush. ' Mrs. King made no reply in words, and for a brief spaces even Sheriff Fuller heard, or understood. But then, before he could fairly decide to repeat it, @ o a . é ee i sep aR io / Mrs. King, have you any ™ + mG tad 2 Fd ‘a 2 ee a, $5 “ Ne “6 i x doubted if his question had been ee eee Queen Esther rose from her seat, tall and commanding, oe one white hand casting back the heavy vail which had® until that moment concealed her face. Although pale as marble, never before had the woman looked more tragically beautiful, and an involuntary mur- mur broke from the witnesses around the room. Her glorious black eyes followed that sound, but then) came to a pause upon the two men who sat almost directly in front of the position she had chosen, her white hand flying out to point her words, hot and fierce, yet tinged with bitter grief the while: “Vengeance! Justice for the widow! My darling has been foully assassinated, and there sits his murderers.” A hot flush swept over the gaunt face of Horace Hagle at those fierce words, but Gentleman Joe showed no change, If he felt emotion of any sort, his mask was too perfect for its betrayal. Sheriff Fuller gravely Siterposad: one hand uplifted to check the murmur which might otherwise grow to danger- ous proportions. “Silence in court! And you, Mrs. King, pray calm your self. Of course, you believe all you assert, but still it's only assertions as yet. Pray tell your story, then cally our witnesses, if you have any.’ “You are their friend, and——’ “T am the friend of the law, and as such I have favorites, ma’am, as I hope to prove to you. Once m6 will you please make your charge in regular form ?” Queen Esther submitted. If such had been her purpose, her hope, the prompt action taken by Sheriff Fulle® hade put to flight all thoughts of alynch-law rush. The audi: ence was eager, but eager to hear, not to act. “T have made my charge, sir, but since you ask for more, I will try to satisfy even you,” she said, in eold, hard tones. ‘YA man who gave his name as William Thompson, but whom I have since heard called Harold Catherwood, came to my husband and appealed for aid in arresting a notori- ous criminal, whom he named. Pom “He showed us papers authorizing that arrest, detailing the particular erime for which the villain was wanted, far as we could tell, those papers were genuine, his authora ity regular, the proof perfectly clear as to the person whose arrest was demanded. “That fugitive from justice was the person best known in Hardscrabble as Gentleman Joe Gentry. He was wanted” for killing a passenger on the Falcon City stege in Jund of last year. “T hardly need tell you, gentlemen, why the detective chose my poor husband as the person in town best suited for helping him out, nor yet why Mr. Thompson required such assistance. You all know of the bitter feud which had grown up between us. “Mr. King was Joth to take a hand, knowing what would be said by his enemies, the friends of Mr. Gentry ; but when formally summoned as one of a posse, in due form, he was too sincere a lover of law to refuse through merely personal distate. “That arrest would have been openly made, only for my pleadings. I knew how gladly the other side would wel- come any chance to kill my husband, and so I begged them to useall possible secrery. I even helped in that arrest, by luring Gentry out of town, thinking—Hea a ; pity me!—that Horace aaa was also working to save | fe - place of plottin ish art to take it. ee Hert er, ee with a wie in / a tetas. , Si ro te ; ; i re: e 8 J 4 a rt a THE LO, CERES LL mae, 3 ee we at ees 7 myself ‘to loék back, I can*t help seeing what a devilish enough for your offermg.” use Waibeing made of my love for my husband. I" Submit, brother,” coldly added Queen @sther. ‘If wee ‘Horace Kagle swore that no harm should be done, and’ are denied common justice here, we can*demand it else- = though he had long been our enemy, I trusted in his hon-| where.” Sesty, as an officer of the law. | Tom King subsided, and once more quiet reigned. Then, “Only for that assurance, I never would have consented | in obedience to another look from the sheriff, Judge Porter © to my darling taking part in the affair. On that assurance, | addressed one of the two men who stood charged with such: » 5 i I helped send my brave man to—what? |a deadly sin ! “To his death! To his assassination! Before high; ‘Mr. Gentry, are you ready to present your side of this: oe = Heaven he Hn murdered by those whom he was tr usting. case ?” 37 4 Vengeance, I ask, men of Hardscrabble. Vengeance upon; Gentleman Joe promptly rose to his feet, a grave ont ¥% my darling’s assassins, who sit right there.” passing over his handsome face, then leaving it calfa and respectful. CHAPTER XIV. “Shall I make a statement, sir, or do you prefer ques: ; tioning me?” ' GENTLEMAN JOE’S STATEMENT. ; ; i Thi “ Just tell your story, after your own fashion, sir. With one hand pressed tightly over her madly throb- |is not a regularly organized court, and we can afford é bing heart, Queen Esther pointed with the other direct at| ignore the set forms, since our one and only wish igt Gentleman Joe and the city marshal. 2 pane the whole truth to light as quickly as possible.” 7 y It was really superb acting, and might easily have Very well, sir. I will throw all the light I can upom brought on the dvath-rush of lynch-law just as she hoped | the matter , but, in doing so, I can hardly avoid touching it would, only for the prompt action of Sheriff Fuller. | upon points ees may more or less deeply wound the “As you are, "he cried, sternly, pistols in hand, ready | lady who has just given in her testimony.” : for use in case the rush should be attempted. _ “ Keep your, ‘The mere thought of which causes your noble heart fo: wi 4 places, or fare worse. Iam running this show, and I’ll| weep tears of blood through pity,” sneered Queen Esther ee keep on running it, if I have to start a new grave-yard of| «Gince you are a woman, yes, madam,” gravely an= my own. On guard, men ! | swered Gentry, with a slight bow. = a order bn Piglet ae The ce | “T was a woman before you br utally butchered my hus posse had at once taken the cue, and with magazine rifles) pand, Now, Iam an avenger.’ cocked, were ready to meet violence with lead, if nothing) «Where so much is at stake, Mr. Gentry, you call tied e a é 4 ; less would suffice. t hat Seabee no choice,” interposed the judge, gravely. ‘Tell the truth The audience saw as much, and t at first involuntary | ag you sev it, and never mind the rest.” movement was instantly checked. Strongly though their) «] eonsider myself on oath, your honor, and shall sa r 4 emotions were touched, they were not wrought up toa! nothing which I am not ready to swear to,’ ’ gravels oa suicidal pitch as yet. : “i See te Hipieee | sponded the Gilt Edged Sport. Thanks to his precautions in disarming all before per- He paused for a brief space, as though to pick up: her voice, as she pla need d -outia the room. whelr oT re 9 ut When you aré” called to he witness-s ra will be time © mitting them to enter the room, Sheriff Fuller held com-} right thread, then clearly, plainly told his side of “mand of the situation, and all were prompt to recognize | story. 3 that fact. > Realizing her failure, Queen Esther sank back into her! “One of the men whom Iam charged with killing. t helping to kill, first made himself know! n to meas. William 'Thompson. I gained his confidence in the first place by. (helping him out of a foul game at cards, where [Sawa lstranger being mercilessly cheated by Frederiek, @ ‘Lucky’ Jackson, and Thomas King. ; “Until he had thoroughly tested me, Mr. Thompson, @ P%ehair, her head bowed, her face hidden by vail and by hands, her figure shaken by strong emotion, either real or admirably counterfeited. Having restored order after this fashion, Sheriff Fuller once more became the quiet, grave official, and, after wait- amgfor nearly a minute in respect for the witness’ emo- |, , ; ety , : : mew ‘etended to bea ; fion, he gently asked : Tk him, pretended to be an injured husband, seeking “Do you wish to say anything further, Mrs. King? Or | — man oe aa nie nae caine tha’ would you prefer waiting a little longer ?” ne had cause to believe one of the King twin brothers wa “To what end?” cried the woman, lifting her head, her ibe guilty person. : 3 dark eyes all aglow, her white hand going out in a passion- Before long, however, he concluded he might trast) ate gesture. “My husband has been most foully done to|™é; having learned that a feud existed between the party = ideath, while performing his sworn duty as a servant of} locally known as the Royal Flush, and myself. And then. "the law to which his widow appeals in vain.” he showed me papers which plainly identified him as one “That same law will avenge you, madam, if you can Harold Catherwood, a detective from Kansas City, whe Ve= yfasten the guilt upon any one or more persons.” was in quest of a man who murdered and robbed” a am: “Yet you are a servant of that law, and you are shield-pwealthy cattleman in that city, *ing them with all your power, sir.” “He told me why he felt confident one of the two broth- “Tam only giving the accused their rights—a fair trial, |e?S must be his man, but as both wore full beards, while just as I pledge my word of honor to give you and yours, the murderer had been clean shaven at the time the kill- when the same charges are investigated as against you. ing took place, he wished to win a chance to find a secret He flushed a bit as the woman broke into a hard, fierce mark by which the real assassin might be known beyond laugh. all doubt. “Against me? Would I bathe my hands in the heart’s| “Together we hatched up a scheme which promised sug blood of the only man this wide world ever held for me?|cess, and, without entering too fully into details, I may Only one demon enough to perform such a deed of vile|say that in the end it was fully carried out. treachery as this would dare even hint at such an atro-| ‘After considerable by-play, with which all Hard cious action, sir.” scrabble is fairly well acquainted, this Catherwood om Sheriff Fuller turned toward the judge, who promptly | Thompson, as he preferred to be called, succeeded in find spoke up : ing that scar, and declared Asa King was his game, “Treally must call you to order, Mrs. King. If youhave| “The next thing was to decide how best his arr any further evidence to offer, we will cheerfully listen, |might be made. To do so openly, almost surely meant 4% but, really, you must confine yourself to facts, not to as-| fight, in which more or less innocent blood would surely sertions which, no matter how firmly you may believe;be shed; for his friends would. never permit their chiefs, them based on truth, you cannot prove.” to be taken away in irons.’ ’ “What better could you expect, Queen, from apacked! “And hence he must be vilely assassinated,” cried Quee outfit like this?” called out Tom King, from his perch{ Esther, with fierce bitterness. ; { upon the window-seat. Gentleman Joe paid her no attention, quietly resumin ‘ e “Order inthe court |” sternly commanded the sheriff: his statement as soon.as her tones died away. .. Votan pyord your pene. — = tne te Seder “In order to eer the” friends of both — we d A Pa tal RR... , THE N_LOGUEA RIN, ALIBRAR ce $e. cided” play a double part, in one half of whieh Asa King ~ his closest friends were only too eager to join, npson proposed to them yet e, and his ideas were promptly adopted. eKing provided the necessary legal blanks from a/| biond of his, whose name I will not mention, since he | The papers were | knéw nothing whatever of the*affair. stolen, as I 3aid, and Thompson filled them out in strict accordance with the plans he and J had shaped. “fT was charged with having held up a stage on the “Haleou City line on June 17th of last year. The date was chosen for an especial purpose, since I had _ no particular . desire.to figure as a genuine criminal in case an accident ; hould Happen to upset our plans. ® charge was explicit: I had stopped and robbed fege on that particular line and date, and, while doing @ killed a passenger by shooting him through the . ~~ med with these papers, which he declared would be than sufficient, Thompson agreed to enlist Horace Marshal of Hardscrabble, both to give a much- ed touch of law to the arrest, and to hinder his kick- . -against-my arrest. Then, too, Thompson argued, I Would be far less apt to offer armed resistance, if I saw thé face of a friend back of that warrant. “Now, judge, I am’compelled to touch upon a point, which must be more than unpleasant to some of those epresent. Before doing that, I wish to say that I am actu- sated solely by a wislr to have full justice done on those at evhose door this double killing surely lies.” t= Surely lies,” echoed Queen Esther, with mocking em- Sis, udge Porter struck a hand sharply against the table, m sternly spoke: Sheriff Fuller, you will please see that due order is tained in court. If words will not suffice, call upon pputies to lend you their physical services, sir. not read the riot act, judge?” scornfully cried ngry woman, who had more than a shrewd,suspicion the nature of that point on which Gentleman Joe relactant to speak. “Surely there are strong men ih within these four walls to overpower one poor, je woman ?” "that woman forgets her sex, she can’t expect us to miber it any the better, ma’am,” coldly spoke up the s eri, now beside her chair, one hand lightly touching : Bhiguider. ‘ “You were permitted to tell your story interruption, and after this gentleman has had his y you can disprove his statements, if you see fit. o has finished, however, pray oblige the court by he. peace.’ ourt? I deny its right of jurisdiction, sir.” you ought never to have accepted it, ma’am. atters have gone this far, they must go still ‘a you persist on interrupting the proceedings, lly——” 3 Fuller left the rest to be imagined, but his shrug by far too significant for mistaking, and, fearing still rse, Tom King, once more chipped in with: S Submit, sister. We'll play. even when the deal comes Mund to us again. never fear.” bb eriff Fuller did not rebuke’ his interruption, for he s only too well content with the effect it produced. ing sunk back in her seat, sullenly shaking off that touch, but making no further resistance. mict being restored, Judge Porter signed the witness to e his statement, ‘and in cold, even tones, Gentleman poke again : pwing, as they all surely did that any such charge mot be made to hold against mein any regular court, Bomrse, Asa King had no notion of making my pretended fan actual one. He hated me, and knew that either mal Flush or Gentleman Joe must go down. Thampson claimed that I had been the cause of his death down at Silver Gulch, and that he had n to kill me for that reason. as to be arrested, taken across lots to a stage which Pea gehaes Iwas to be putin irons as well as dis- tos any Kicking when it came time for my Se pean along, the road, our hearse was to _be io 9s rine t another attempt to} held up -by a gang, disg vig a i: road-agents, and I was'to be killed.on old. grudge of some sort. “Tf Eagle tried to make trouble, he, too, was to be mur\* dered, but if not, he was to be let go, as the very best of 4 witnesses for their side. Since he had been so easily des ceived, as they thought, he would hardly smoke the réal | truth after ward, “The death-trap was placed right enough, but long bet fore the trap was reached, we sprang another, shifting irons from my wrists to those of Asa King, to whom thé whole trick was explained. “We escorted Catherwood and his game around the trap, and would have seen him safely into Camptown, where his deputies were waiting, but he was too proud for 9 that. He sent us off, then rode on—to meet his death at the hands of Thomas King, yonder.” “You lie!” fiercely cried the man thus denounced, “T say true, you vile assassin !” sternly cried Gentleman Joe. “And I swear I'll prove you guilty out of your own lips.” CHAPTER XV. PR@VING AN ALIBI. Although having every reason to believe that he who figured as king in the Royal Flush was provided with but the arms nature gave him at birth, Sheriff Fuller turned quickly that way when Tom King burst forth with hig savage challenge. He knew that all the materials for a first-class explosion il 4 were gathered there in that room, and he knew, too, wha a seeming trifle it sometimes took to bring about such am eruption. ; Only for that knowledge he might have felt ashamed On Pa but now—thought itsel iia draw upon an unarmed man, could hardly have equaled the rapidity of his moveme just then. “Steady, King,” he cried, sternly, as he covered the dess perado with one of bis guns, holding the other in waiting for any rash advocate of the Royal Flush. “Lift § much as a finger, and I’) drop you cold.” i At the same time the armed deputies called attention t themselves by bringing rifles to a ready, and once more ~ quick wit and iron nerve of a single man brought for order from what promised to be chaos. Qucen Esther had sprung to her feet, and taken a single. stride toward Gentleman Joe, but that was all. The» chance, if chance it might be called, was ended before” even she could improve it further, Tom King sat in his window-seat, pale-faced, grimly d fiant, but, in a measure, cowed by those ready pistols, in the ugly bore of which he could gaze on trial. It is by no means certain that his fiercest efforts coul avail to bring ona lynching rush under the circumstances, but he knew that the first actual effort to do that, would surely bring death to himself. Sheriff Fuller would shoot to kill, when forced to shoot at all. A brief silence followed the stern speech, then Queen’ Esther gave a low, bitter, mocking laugh, as she’ sank back into her chair. Neither curses nor threats would have moved the sheriff in the slightest, so long as he felt himself in the right, but this sound from a woman’s lips brought the blood hotly to his bronzed face, and banished what little of sympathy he might have felt for the widow as a widow. He turned that way, speaking with cold emphasis, which none could mistake : “For the last time, everybody; I’m here to preserve order; and I’lldo my duty from start to finish without fear or favor. The next person to break that order will be” placed under arrest, and guarded until his or her case can be regularly tried. Now, judge, it’s your chip,” , While meaning well, Judge Porter was hardly the right man to fill such a position over such tough material, and by this time he began te realize as much. He gavea ‘start at this hint, and as his eyes chanced to rest first. upon the still standing figure of the Gilt-Edged Sport, he naturally caught at that hint. “Mr. Gentry, you were about to say—what.more have | Jit ae, 4 We mS ei a @ a ey + ‘ [ ¥ « ‘ you to offer goncerning this truly lamentable affeir, wit- | ness?” Lia. ie: ea “Ti he LOG: CABINSLIBRARY, sig se “i. “Only this, your honr,” came the grave response. “Harold Catherwood showedus the genuine warrant he carried for the arrest the’ person’ Hardscrabble has known as Asa King. That warrant read dead or alive. And when we parted from him, he said that no mortal power could rob him of that prisoner while life lay in his own body. “He was waylaid by the assassins whom we helped foil the day before, and made his word good—Harold Cather- wood killed Asa King, even as the rest of the Royal Flush murdered Harold Catherwood.” “Ts this merely a deduction on your part, witness, or can you prove it as a sworn fact?” **T will prove every word of it, your honor, unless I am killed by the partisans of those I publicly accuse,” quickly replied Gentleman Joe, then drawing back a step, he added : “Now, if you please, I would like Horace Eagle to take the stand.” “Oblige us, marshal,” spoke up the sheriff, so quickly that it gave the impression he feared another sneer or out- ~burst from Queen Esther. But none such came. Proudly erect the widow sat, her heavy vail flung back, her face stern-set yet still rarely beautiful, now that twin spots of scarlet marked each cheek, in keeping with the steady glitter in her large dark eyes. She was biding her time, like one who feels vengeance is only delayed, not wholly denied. Horace Eagle promptly rose to his feet, and made his bow to the judge, every line of his strong tenance proclaiming him a devout believer in the majesty fof the law, if not the infallibility of all its representatives. s “May it please the hon’able court, I’d a heap sight ruther ‘be swore in jew form to tell the truth, the hull truth, an’ nothin’ but the truth, afore I begin to testify, sir, your Sheriff Fuller stepped briskly forward, glibly adminis- ® tering the oath according to the statutes so made and pro- * vided, and then the witness audibly kissed the little duced. a copy of the Bible which he had himself pro “Not but that I reckon I could stick to the plain trail o’ edtspare ee truth,” he gravely spoke, as Fuller fell back to his} xo 0 rmer position. ‘‘Them as knows me, knows I hain’t a “liar fer the pure fun of it, let alone gwine outside o’ the truth when thar’s mebbe more’n one life hangin’ onto the everdunce which I’m so fixed as to offer. But now I’ve tuck the oath o’ law, an’ ef my testimony was to hang my own son, I’d give it straight as a string. == “So much as a starter, now—on my solemn oath, tuck 2 in full view o’ both sides o’ this nasty mix, I want to = say that every word spoke by the last witness, Gentleman Joe, is gospel truth, so fur’s it come under my eyes, or into my "good ears. “The trap to ketch the man Thompson said was wanted at Kansas City fer killin’ onlawfully, was.sot jest ’cordin’ to Gentry’s say-so. It was fooled, the same way. An’ Thompson turned us off, when he felt he could manage the rest ’cordin’ to his own tastes without our help. “But thar’s ’nother p’int which I reckon was left pritty much fer me to explain, an’ thatis jest why the seven- teenth o’ last June was picked out fer the date to stick in them thar forged dockimints. “%Cordin’ to the evidence already spoken, your honor, on that day Gentleman Joe Gentry held up the Falcon City stage, and made cold meat out o’ one o’ the pilgrims which chainced by bad luck to rize his ebenezer, ‘*Please take good an’ hard notice o’ the time an’ place ; the stage line out of Falcon City, an’ the seventeenth o’ last year June.” “The place and date is on record, Mr. Eagle,” gravely responded Judge Porter, pencil in hand and hand on paper. “ You may explain just why you are so’ emphatic on this point, if you please.” “To show that Gentry never done no sech job, fer one thing, your honor, an’ so he couldn’t——” Horace Eagle broke off, as Queen Esther rose from her chair. She lifted a hand, facing the judge, who politely asked : ‘i “What is it, Mrs. King?" « age , homely coun- } Mae iL speak a word or two, without being Sheriff Fuller’s coarse insults, sir?” “Do those few words touch upon the presé ma’am ?” “Yes, if you are honestly trying to get at 0 truth, If the arrest of Joseph Gentry was based upon f me papers, my husband knew nothing aboutit. Since hem ~ sole object was to murder a man whom they feared to. meet in honest tight, would they hesitate about ne lie, more or less?” Ce “Possibly not, ma’am, but please confine your remarks — to the partic ular point which you wish noted.” ject to. “T think ’tis already made, your honor, but Pigpupi ti more clearly since you desire. What if Gentlemam, JO does prove an alibi, so far as the Falcon City stay flair is concerned, does that clear him from the sin of rol ee sassinating my poor husband ?” From here and there came a subdued murmur, W told Queen Esther she had séored at least one point rather than turn the risk of weakening its effectepy turning more, she quietly resumed her seat. Neither Gentry nor the city marshal seemed affe this counter-hit, and Horace Eagle gravely continued: og statement under oath : ee “What I set out to say your honor, runs like this: Ree Thompson claimed he wanted to down Gentry, beea’se ; Gentry killed, or fetched to be killed, a brother to him which was then gwine under the name o’ Dick Turner., | 9 “That killin’ tuck place jest outside o’ Silver Gulch, anu > Dick Turner passed in his checks on the seventeenth: June last year. The very day on which Gentry was sé to hev killed a pilgrim on the Falcon City road, mindy everybody. z “On the sixteenth o’ that same June, Gentlenanys |was held by Dick Turner an’ his pals, a pris’ner eo som. On the seventeenth, he was bein’ tortured him to time, an’ he was trussed up han’ an’ fog Henry Tyson sot him free, after shootin’ Dick An’ on the eighteenth o’ that same month, Gentry Sw ea ¢ ‘sick in his bed, through the torture he’d hed Pe | him. ee reckon that settles his bein’ a run-off rom ju “So far as your unsupported word can settle ite said Queen Esther from her position. 2 ‘Which is one reason why I sent word to Lon mebbe it’d bé jest as wellfer him to take a ramble Hardscrabble way, your honor,” calmly continued™ marshal. ‘Ferhe hed keer o’ that little mix ® Gulch, an’ he kin say ef I’ve made ary mistake? the facts afore ye all. How is it, sheriff?” & “Straight as a string, so far as the Silver Gulclt concerned. As for the rest of it, I'll be happy to ness, after you have told your story.” “All right, and I’ll finish my testimony the b know how. “This is why that pertickler date was fixed false papers, your honor, an’ hevin’ tuck time whe head was cl’arest to look over the ginewine dé which Thompson showed as backin’ fer his word, D to go into the job. Of course, I knowed it called” good bit o’ lyin” on my side, but I knowed, too, ef T help ’em out that way, worse’d shorely come on top: “The gang wouldn’t let thar boss be tuck, “ee Thompson swore he’d hev his man, by hook or by cro In a fight sech as that would ’a’ brought on, it’s giner a the innocent ones as ketches the most hurt, an’ so== I’d help trap the trapper. “T sent word at once to Silver Gulch fer Sheriff, to come to Hardscrabble, meanin’ to hev him sort? the hull job, but he was held back, an’ couldn’t gry ontel after the trick was turned. “We couldn’t put it off no longer, fer the gang ginnin’ to git scarey, like, an’ so—waal, Gentle was tuck, ’cordin’ to the way them as hes gone bore witness. . “When. Thompson, or Catherwood, bluffed wi Gentleman Joe struck out fer Jim Dandy, both to do bit 0’ ‘portant business which he hed on a string tha an’ to keep out o’ sight ontel Sheriff Puller: could, hold o’ the ribbons fer 23 rept 2. the gah THE LO in the flames. And when Sheriff Fuller, his smoke-giy ae ea face bearing an anxious expression, asked who could tell- him what had become of Gentleman Joe and Horace Kagt the cry instantly went up that they surely were amo the lost ones. $ CHAPTER XVII. A TLITTING BY NIGHT. Although circumstances combined to prevent his prone ting greatly thereby, Sheriff Fuller made a very shr@ guess as to just how Tom King had been enabled tol that treacherous shot, and the manner in which hea | ward made his escape from the burning building. When the king of the Royal Flush passed out of ;around the corner of the hotel, as noted at the p place, it was to learn just why Big Casino made him #6 ‘urgent signs. And having taken note of one partigile * window, with its broken shutter, Tom King returnd@ quietly submit to the general disarming process. q Shortly after he took his seat at that particular wi Mr. Kingywas in possession of a “forty-four,” and biding his time for a favorable opening. How that came has already been explained. aces Tom King had perfect confidence in his own gh whether as a snap-shot or a deliberate aim, and he Hewer - for an instant doubted that Gentleman Joe, in failing was going down for good and all. He saw Sheriff Fuller turning his way, and kn what he might expect from that worthy, he tried to @ the same drop-shot on him; but thanks to the sudden | and fall of the officer, both men were spared a shot. All was intense confusion, even so quickly, and th? ing open the shutters, which he had taken care to were unlocked, Tom King neatly turned a back somersa’ through the opening, alighting safely upon his feet, i pistol gripped in his right hand. e But his abrupt emergence attracted no attention the many outside. They were wholly absorbed in W ing or following that miserable wretch who ran screaa howling, cursing, a pilar of firé, ‘Until ground, a blackened, blistered mass of quiiy It was already growing twilight, and To away to a comparatively. safe* distan ) rl followed his lead through that window2"anemne ¢ low ejaculation of fierce delight, as he saw Queen E among the first to issue therefrom. seks Amid such wild confusion, it was no very difficult matter for brother and sister to get together after that, and knowing what surely must follow when quiet was once more restored, they hurried away in the direétion their own home. ; ‘*Vou- killed first wordsye > el “4 ne fr his life or yours. > Quéen,”: hastily said emembering her vow to slay the one who dared “Tf I hadn’t inj ven attempt to forestall her vengeance. hipped, where’d you be now?” ee ot know, and I’m more grateful than angry, brother. “Only —1 saw where your lead struck the demon—squar ely Mm the forehead. I saw the blood come, and—if my hand ad only drawn it.” efom King was glancing back over a shoulder, his face I@ and his eyes taking on a hunted expression, as he u ht the confused ‘sounds from near the burning hotel. iou’ll have chance enough to draw gore by the bucket- 4 papirl, if we don’t skin out of Hardscrabble in a holy mry. Hark! You’d ought to know what it means when fe band begins to strike up that. tune.” Queen Esther gave a sound, half-laugh, half-sneer, for too, was listening, and woman though she was, she ae ed far less perturbation than the professional desper- ) fade at her side. Pee eRack out it’s ee shying at your own shadow this early. sj yelping on general principles, and never a one of *§ wasting thought onus. You’re sure no mistake i Was made about the animals ?” Sy ee They're in waiting, all right. What’s worrying me most eis the ever getting to them, though.” saat we can get tools—here’s the house. 3 got to be, of course, Tommy, but don’t Ready with | gunif Fuller has thought to set a guard on—make | 'y shot count, if you have to pick trigger, Tom.” f no such necessity arose, and they were speedily in doors, Tom King devoting his care to securing Sapons and such valuables as they did not care to aban- | ; while Queen Esther hastily related to Lucky Jack- what had oceurred. crippled gambler gave acry of vicious joy as he fu that their worst, most dangerous enemy was dead, thr ough the brain. an d give my other arm, “6 idy’ With an oath to lend emphasis to his words. wee there’ll be an afterclap, of course, Queen?” Bure! Weve got to rack out, and I only came to give the cue, Lucky. Stick it out that you haven’t seen almost, for the privilege, ” he “ Bub | ing of us since before two o’clock, and don’t know | an case and skill which told how thoroughly familiar theyay way we’ve skipped. As for your own self, I hardly they’ll do you hurt, since all can see how——” Cripple? Never worry over me, Queen,” with a grim . “Since Gentleman Joe’ 8 dow ned, good luck will back to all of us, sure.’ mn King came into the room just then, eyes glowing, Dale, with mingled fear and excitement as he spoke: pme, girl! If we don’t skip now, we'll go up a tree, ighty sudden. So-long, Lucky! Wish you could go im, too.” food -by, Jackson. You'll be cared for, as arranged. n lips, remember, and wait until you hear from us ‘ ith that the two leading members of the Royal Flush hasty left the room and house, crouching warily in the | Marleveranda, with revolvers in hand, until fairly well P assured the coast was still clear for their flight. The tumult in town seemed wilder than ever as the ‘éouple stole away from the grounds, keeping where the : shadows ° lay deepest, forced to pursue a circuitous course Minorder to avoid observation, as well as to finally head @inect for the point they had in view. Several times the fugitives were obliged to seek cover @ lie low for a space, to avoid being discovered by some the excited citizens in their running to and fro; but, hh time the peril“passed them by, and in the end ‘they “elear of the town without having to burn powder or ke a blow. Ob until then did Tom King draw. a fairly free breath, But Now, as he turned fora look at that ruddy glow, he Iét fall the bundle which he had brought with him from “the house, muttering quickly : - Bs Wve" zo safe grove here, Queen, and 7 reckon you’d eve ng : to. ba that.infernal g a show by “his yelp here. that: back ¢ They’re | Lesa flsiad + oak “the <4 > sate r ap the bundlewnd stepping over to’a Tittle cleritt Sean b- bery, which she utilized as a dressing-room. time, consideri ing her sex ; but this was not Queen Esther's first appearance in masc uline garments, and it is said that practice makes perfect. th Her feminine garments were quickly rolled up im7@ | bundle and tied securely, then Tom King once more took the lead, followed by a remarkably trim-looking younge | ster, who bdére small resemblance to the “black-robed woman, who had come with him to that spot, now that night had fairly fallen, and prevented a facial examination, “Of course, there is no chance for a slip-up, Tom? Queen Esther asked, after the town was fairly lost sight of, and a stranger to the lay of the ground could only have located Hardscrabble by the lurid glow against the heavens. * Just how do you mean ?” “About the horses. Big Casino told you ?” “Yes. Said they were at the spot named, and ajl ready for work.” “Was he drunk, then? I know he was full to the neek when I came to the Occidental. Diamond sober is good |as his name, but Daniel drunk is a mighty unreliable |quantity, as none ought to know better than yourself, brother Tom.” King did know that, but he gave an irritable grunt. | Was this a time for fetching such ugly thoughts, to the | front? | . “Dan was sober enough when he did the work assigned him, Queen, and I reckon you’ll have to look for so : thing else to croak about. What has caught hold of vote |girl? Usually you’re the one to cheer, rather thanv#e | croak.” , ‘Changed, am 1?” with a bitter laugh. | twin brother—can ask w hy?” y Ton: King made no reply in words, but his hand sought | hers in. the ‘gloom, jsure. | After that, the fugitives picking. their way through that really difficult tract with “And you—his | were® with their present surroundings, and how clearly” they had their destination in view. 5 No! 16 Essie; ; _rejoined-King, as he crouched lower, to! steal ward>sin-the direction from whence that ‘sound ‘fad sessed: Although he hardly anticipated the trap of which he had se ®poken, Tom King held his thumb on the hammer of his drawn revolver, ready to shoot at sight or sound, and made as good use of his eyes as the gloom would permit, » Slooking for what might be, yet which he hardly thought | "could exist. He caught sight of two horses hitched at the edge of a} little patch of trees, but failed to discover aught else. And as one of the waiting animals gave vent toa gentle} whimper at his coming, all his vague doubts fled, and he lifted his voice to call out: “ @il’s clear, Queen, and you can come forward.” As he gave that assurance, King stepped carelessly for- ward, putting up his pistol, reaching forth a hand to stroke the nearest horse, which seemed pleased with his coming, as though waiting had grown tiresome. Queen Esther hurried forward to join her brother-in- law, coming up just in time to catch an indistinct glimpse of a dark shape leaping upon the desperado, striking as it came. A single sharp ejaculation broke from her lips, but ere she could touch a weapon, another man caught her in his arms, and foiled any desperate effort. Tom King, only partially stunned by that blow, aimed in the dark as it was, staggered back with a savage cry, but then went down beneath his assailant, who first tore _.away the belt of arms which the desperado wore, then © dextrously snapped handcuffs upon his wrists. » Blow and fall had pretty effectually stunned Tom King, | and, seeing as much, his captor sprang to the assistance of his companion, who was still struggling with the woman, | fiandicapped by her sex even more than she was; but| then, as she recognized the new-comer, Mrs. King gave an | hysterical scream, her tense muscles relaxing, her senses Heeting. CHAPTER XVIII. GENTLEMAN JOE’S CAPTIVES. “T reckon you can manage her now, ’Race,” spoke the| man whose face, indistinctly seen though it must“ have ‘gbeen in that dim light, had produced such a oe re- 'sult. “I?ll finish caring for King.” None tooo0on, as he instantly saw, for the desperado was-even then trying to get at a revolver with his ham- pered hands, as yet too greatly shocked to at once discover the loss of his belt with its appendages. “Easy, Tom King,” sternly spoke his captor, pushin the ironed villain back with his foot. ‘“You’ve enh gs Sthe end of your rope, and you’d better spend your re- ‘f smaining minutes in begging forgiveness for your count- Mess crimes.’ es “Gentleman Joe! Alive!” hoarsely gasped the desper- = ado, his eyes wildly protuberant, as they recognized one . “whom he felt sure had gone down in death, with a bullet Sthrough his brain. ©) “Well, that’s a bit: of truth to set against your many lies, Thomas, "laughingly retorted the Gilt-Edged Sport, "not ashamed to betray something of his fierce joy at hav- ing taken such a long step toward keeping the vendetta he d sorecently vowed. “Gentleman Joe, and still liv- ; very much alive I reckon yoi’ll find him, too, my uty.’ **Tom King made no reply. He seemed stupefied by this a Wonderful resurrection, and lay like alog while Gentle- fan Joe completed his capture by applying strong thongs is his ankles. eantime Horace Eagle was similarly engaged, and lo g before Queen Esther rallied from her swoon, she also “was most effectually bound. ““What comes next, pardner?” asked the city marshal, coming up, but cutting his words short at a sign.from Gentleman Joe, who led him far enough to. one side‘to be _ out of King’s hearing. “No need to let that fellow hear too much,” by way of explanation. "Race? : ces es said Gentry, wt “What were yes gbout to askyp. “Jest what you redone werd better digo | éin, USL off. »” . ts a | “Well, Dhaven’t had time to decide as yet. I ‘could sie plans before knowing I’d have subjects to ‘woite upon. Still—I hardly think we’d better risk taking? them “ to town to-night?” : “Nur me, nuther,” came the instant response. “ Wed ; hev the gang tryin’ 'to git ’em oft, an’ we'd hev to fight, ’ | mighty hard, even ef we manidged to hold our grip at all.” : “Then you think we’d best lie out to-night ?” “T do, fer a fact, but you’ re the boss, Gentry. Only fe you, I’ d never thought o’ this trick, an’ so—it’s all Sa say-so.’ Z “Then we'll shift quarters a bit, to guard against d | covery in case any of the gang should take a scout up way,” decided Gentry. f This was done, the prisoners being placed upon horses, their ankle- fasts being temporarily removed that purpose. Thus they were conveyed to an even secluded retreat, where there was little risk of their bei discovered, even should others of the enemy come to the | Spot where the horses had been placed in waiting ee | Casino. Then, too, such a spot was so selected that the parteeee could defend their prizes, even though a strong ( should discover and attempt their rescue. 2 With their captives securely bound, and the horses. placed in hiding, the two friends prepared to spend the remainder of the night on guard, and while neither them were particularly malicious individuals, it hardly be expected they should concéal their fierce fication over their success. “You've had your last chance to down me, Tom Ki said Gentleman Joe, squatting near his captives, only, moon affording them light for seeing each other. all the others, it was a dirty trick, and like them it fag “Qurses on the gun that didn’t do its work better, t “The gun was all right. The master was lacking,”9 ithe cool retort. ‘Although I wasn’t looking at yo | face was turned that way. If it had been my back Aa | might have plucked up merve enough to make a fair. hot | in place of a graze. Maybe it’ll leave a bit of a scar you'll never live long enough to recognize it as your Tom King.” ; “That means another dastardly assassination, you mon,” fiercely panted the woman, her eyes fairly bl hatred the while. | with 7 | “Tll attend to you later, Mrs. King,” coldly 4 ;Gentleman Joe, thén adding. to his male captive? | for you, fellow, you’ve run your length. Iswore I’ a | you to justice ‘for killing Harold Catherwood, and, another sun shall set, I’!] have made that oath voc “T mean to hold you here until daylight, then tak back to Hardscrabble, there to prove your crime; swore I would, out of yourown mouth. After— promised to hunt you to the gaHows, and thoug Royal Flush coud boast ten thousand backers, I’ll fo ail.” Tom King‘made no reply. Despite his boasted nerve, hé was shivering like a leaf. Abject terror had claimed@iim, and, seeing this, Gentleman Joe turned toward Que Esther, speaking i in colder, graver tones : F “As for you, Mrs. King, I’m trying to hope: a bet ending isin store. In spite of all you’ve done, I’m sorry for——” A fierce cry cut him short, andin a tone of bitter hatred, the Amazon broke forth : “How dare you offer your pity to me, sir? You mu dered my husband, without giving him a show for } life, and now—oh, you devil! If I could only have the use of my hands for but a single minute.” “That would avail just as little as it has in the pag Mrs. King,” gravely said the Sport. ‘Like all the rest of the Royal Flush, you’ve done your worst, and it has ‘onl ¥ recoiled upon your own head. “Ag for killing your husband, you know I had no veilh in that, else Catherwood never would have shared tha same fate.” “You lured MM to His dead & pic it into the pit your o er G ntleman Joe, wi bandy words with you, madam, If you'll let me, | wish to save your life, but——” Vd rather die a thousand deaths than aceept my life bin Your bloody hands, you villain.” “Words are easily spoken, Mrs. King, but when it comes of tosthe test, that’s quite another matter. Yet even you must itd w that going back to Hardscrabble means certain death i) Wom King; and if you are taken there, a prisoner, in his company—well, I’d really like to spare you that much, for, all told, you are a woman, afte? all.” ra ye #Though a woman, I swear to have your life, Joe e try. » 2 Will you listen, Mrs. King? I’m trying to offer you a ae -lease of life, and if you’ll only promise to try to repent for+-— ae =Kill me, even as you killed my husband! Kill me, or _ oeaehave your life, you devil!” raged the woman, fairly ‘ dieside herslf. , Realizing how worse than vain it was to try further, Bitleman Joe drew back to where Horace Hagle was ebtcd. The two men were almost out of their captives’ ht, though still near enough to take note of their slight- Smovement, ready to foil any endeavor to slip their ds and thus cheat justice. a short space of time the prisoners remained silent, bly musing over their unexpected capture, and won- g@ just how it had come to pass. But then, as though amon consent, both lifted their voices in a shrill cry that came of this outbreak, however, was a gag for h’peir of jaws. Some little trouble was experienced in ay ing this remedy for noise to Queen Esther, but in the g Ror mouth was securely covered, and any further out- teak etiectually guarded against. either man closed alid in slumber that long night. valued their prisoners far too highly for running the semblance of a risk, and when dawn. came at | fit was greeted most cordially by the Gilt-Edged Sport | rthey his partner. Set taking a look to-be sure the prisoners had not suc- fal in even partially weakening their bonds, Gentle- oe drew Horace Eagle to one side, speaking gravely : time’we were getting a rove on, pardner. Now, hich do you reckon is the wisest trail to follow?” eekon, ef ’twas all my pie, I’d hit the nighest route ov. Gentry,” came the prompt response. iad risk having their heelers try for a rescue ?” ardly reckon they’d dast do that, but even ef they tale a notion, reckon we kin fool ’em. Fuller ll B men ready, sure, an’ wn yender, turn ’em 0: -er to the sheriff, an’ let him Baihe rest o the sponsibility. See?” fear eyes metin along, keen gaze, then Gentleman Modded his full comprehension. And, without another mammene turned away to bring up the horses for the re- io ; a Ly p- ; pite their efforts to foil the move, both Queen Esther om King were lifted into the saddles, there to be secured. Strong bonds connected their feet beneath Bly of the horse assigned to each, and other thongs pm to pommel and cantle. mm, with one man at the head of each horse, the march begun. ljGentleman Joe and Horace Hagle fully realized the Heer which almost certainly lay in the path they had aeiod to follow, but having once made their minds, man showed sign of fear or of faltering. eyes were constantly on the alert, and while one Bipped bridle-reins, the other held a cocked revolver, v-t0 shoot at sight. once did they call a halt by the way, and that was aching a point which granted them their first view dscrabble. ‘ Td ow, WOT e amJoe warned them rt: nly pike to them, in case é viade to coe do. rescue , ef I was you, I’d jest run broken zround, where their movemer 2 covered atthe point nearest town, and when onge stiles ing the clear level, tRey hurried forward at a bri8k pace, deeming it only wisdom to grant the friends of the Royal Flush as scant time for rallying as might be. ; But, after the stirring events df the past few hours, the town was all alive, and before they could fairly reach jtee outskirts, the little group was caught sight of, and alniost instantly recognized. “There it comes!” grimly muttered Gentleman Joe,as a loud shout broke forth. member. Kill what we can’t hold alive, Kagje.” ‘‘Bet your sweet life, pardner.” They hurried forward, heading for the ruins of the Occi- dental Hotel, but before they could gain this spot, thé crowd was gathering with excited yells, and halting, with pistols touching their captives, Genteman Joe sounded a warning note : “Keep back, all of you! Lift hand or weapon, and well blow their brains out—by the heavens above us, I swear if.” CHAPTER XIX. BIG CASINO’S CONFESSION. Sheriff Fuller did not make very strenuous endeavors to crush down the rumor he had heard, for, if the excited citizens fancied all that remained of Gentleman Joe and Horace Eagle were buried under the glowing ruins of the Occidental Hotel, they would hardly be likely to look for those individuals elsewhere, either for good or for evil purposes. Just before returning to catch that rumor, the sherifi had heard a very different report, however, given him by “Sleepy Sam” Frisbie, and while that report was hardly® as complete as he could have wished, it went far toward allaying his growing uneasiness. “He jest said fer me to drap ye a word, sir, as how% was all right, an’ hoped fer to fetch back big payy ‘long 0’ thar doin’s,” the stage-driver said, with half-timid glances around them the while. “But I wasn’t to let om jest which way they did go, nur yit jest why fer. Fortunately for Banciee perhaps, Kagle ‘had previously assured the sheriff that, barring a love for whisky and a © constitutional timidity, Frisbie could be depended upongy and so Fuller let the fellow down far more easily than hé would otherwise have done. He had a shrewd idea just what lay back of this messes) age, since he had paid a visit to the residence of the Kinga” ae without finding the two members of the Royal Flush inj® whom he now felt the deepest interest. ee “Reckon they know what they’re doing, but I’d really like to have a chance to chip in my own self.” 3 Failing that chance, Sheriff Fuller did the next best thing; made it pretty generally understood that ‘he con® sidered himself still in charge of affairs at Hardscrabblegi and gave his posse orders to promptly quell any disturbaae ance which might, through neglect, grow into a row Orgy riot. Having taken these precautions, the sheriff dropped in me e at the Oasis, but found no word had been left there for® him by the physician in charge of the burned ‘desperado, © who had been removed from the saloon to which he ha@ been taken for a first examination. It was a trail easily picked up, however, and Sheriff Fuller came to his game just as the doctor concludédl his ministrations, and was onthe point of leaving word, aa promised. “Will it hurt him much to talk, think ” i “Not inthe sense you mean, sir,” came the gravé Te-— sponse. “He’s past that point, and, if you have anything @ important to gather from his lips, ’d advise you to learn”) all you can to night.” “Has hewdetany thing-of amPOLs tt, if he aide col 1h eh ancedrop, while-——"), 4 : 6 pane al btabey ‘“ They’ve spotted us, but—Te=) ans at; was hardly a poaTtia which a weak-ner rved man would have chosen, for Big Casino, despite all that had been done for him, was still in torment, and raved wildly |s at times. “But Alonzo Fuller was by no means a “weak sister,” band having acertain point to gain, he devoted his atten- tion wholly to that end. It was by no means difficult for him to pick up a fairly “accurate idea as to just how that fierce fire had started, through listening to the mutterings or the ravings of this poor wretch, and: long before the “night was spent, Fuller had it all registered in his retentive brain. Pieced out, the facts were about like this: Big Casino, who had frequently availed himself of that cheap method of: getting glor iously drunk, had learned how to enter the cellar beneath the Occidental Hotel, where the stores of eatables and other necessaries were atowed away against the hour of need. He had stolen into the cellar on this occasion, while al- teady more than two-thirds drunk, and while groping around in the darkness had, by accident or through foolish purpose, turned the faucet of a kerosene barrel, quickly flooding the cellar, and getting the oil pretty well all over himself. Then, again by. accident or thr ough a drunken desire to aid his superiors of the Royal Flush, he had lit a match, setting fire to the kerosene ; and then, his garments ablaze from crown to sole, he plunged out of the cellar, to run madly until he fell exhausted, a burned and blistered mass of agony. As the night ‘wore on, Big Casino gradually quieted down, but Sheriff- Fuller was not deceived. He knew that this was but the beginning of the end, and when fully con- vinced of that fact, he sent for Judge Porter and the doc- » for to come without delay. The physician confirmed his belief that the giant’s hours were numbered, and then Fuller told him exactly how the ease stood. “Since he can’tlive, talking surely can’t injure thances. He knows secrets which must come out before he dies. Brace him up, if you possibly can, and make him anderstand that keeping a still tongue can’t either save or fengthen his life.” ~ _, : This was done. Big’ Casino was restored to conscious- wiess, and the doctomplainly told him how short was his mortal span. Then Sheriff Fuller took his turn, gravely yet bluntly arguing his side of the question, until Diamond agreed tg make a clean breast of the whole affair, so far as he him- self was concerned. With a nod:toward Judge Porter, who had pen and paper in ‘readiness. Sheriff Fuller began questioning the > mjured man, touching on the most vital points first, lest me death should pay a visit before all could be told if the == witness was left to his own will. = In this manner’‘the whole truth came out before the end, tut it canbe much more briefly stated than by copying that black record, both for the reason stated above, and because much of the truth has already been placed before the reader; Big Casino toid how the death-trap had been prepared for Gentleman Joe, as the members of the Royal Flush fally considered it. The arrest had been planned just as stated in court, and had all gone as the evil schemers ex- pected, Joseph Gentry and possibly Horace Hagle, would have been butchered without the slightest show for their dives. om King had been in charge of the gang which was to play road-agents, and Big Casino formed one of that com- pany. They waited in ambush until the coming of Queen ether told them how terribly they had been duped, and ow. surely their chief, Asa King, had fallen into the pit had dug for his bitterest. enemy. rafter seni. io tie than two hou ny with the § ce Magle a G her ahead depart in ~~. sin y at ‘the stage. driven by. THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. -his* ‘Alliaum.hompson .to join ee had lost. From it, she learned ‘hs Toth tha Wigan Thompson was Har old Catherwood, a détective fromaians sas City, following a clew which surely implicated Her * husband. Hastily taking horse, she rode away from town, h®ping against hope to overtake the stage in time to expose t : double deal, and thus save her loved one, or, if that wa impossible, to’share his fate. Meeting Sleepy Sam returning with the empty stage, gave her the clew, which was finally acted upon, and am efS fort was made to rescue Asa King before he could render™ the task still more difficult by reaching Camptown, where an item in that fatal note-book warned them a force of deps uties were in waiting for their employer. = Thanks to the over-confidence of Catherwood in hinagelf® the Royal Flush had but asingle man to deal withfand bidding his men rope the two horses, Tom King took its upon himself to dispose of the detective. This he did, pouring shot after shot into his body from a Winchester at close range, but even in death Oathe wood kept his vow; he killed Asa King, even as he Rim- self died, both men being corpses before’ they could® ach . the ground in falling off their horses. a ee gee Then came the attempt to “play even” with Gentiéinaa Joe and Horace Eagle, the first move in which was e at Camptown, with Queen Esther as the star actres The handeuffs were taken from Asa King’s wrists; a clean, loaded ‘pair of revolvers were secured toi his D elt,” Those worn by Catherwood were carefully cleanedytheg replaced in his belt. If critically examined, all naist ban such condition as to leave the impression of a brutf ag sassination without word or warning. Then, coming down to later hours, Big Casino tolaares he had taken two horses out into the hills, leaving (het at a spot particularly described by Tom King. This done, he had proceeded to fill tp with bad wig knowing how much greater license is granted a dra }man:than one sober, His cue was to excite the partisans of the Royal and, if possible, insure the death of Gentleman 4% lyne h-law, if nothing better offered. He told how he had discovered a broken shuttey side of the hotel in which the dining-room was and first assuring himself that the trick could beg called Tom King away from the veranda for the of making this discovery known. A hasty examination proved his words correct, then did the present chief of the Royal Flush § being disarmed by Sheriff Fuller, and escorted improvised court-room. Watching his chance, Big Casino utilized thats shutter by passing’a loaded revolver through it to ter, then moved away unseen, or, if seen, unnotice He told how he entered the cellar at a later hou drunkenness fancyng he could best help his friéw@ creating an outside disturbance, under cover of they could kill Gentleman Joe. He purposely flooded the cellar from the nearly § rel of oil, and in his drunken folly touched it o match. ‘After that—— “Hell ketched me, I reckon,” the miserable gasped, with a shiver of agony. Big Casino gradually yielded to the influence of ‘the’ ates administered: to relieve his horrible torments, ani his physical powers began to fail him just so his } grew less acute. The watchers knew that he was surely dying, } ing more than had been tried could be done for’ they were thankful that the end was coming so eagiby Big Casino was still alive, when, nét long after gu a sudden uproar burst forth, out of which . Fuller the excited words: “Looky thar 1. ae ve sot “ein both, or I'm a W ie 3 eae an Bae oe | Be his Bist awe pward: ‘until its muzzle was ho Soe réatly over his*rapidly beating ‘heart, while Horace Hage served Queen Hsther after the same fashion. 2 Seep your distance, all!” the Gilt-Edged Sport sternly commanded, , “I’ve taken oath that Tom King should hang er murdering Catherwood, and if I’m- forced to shoot him instead, those who make me break my vendetta, | must settle with me later.” ‘In the name o’ the law, citizens,” shouted Eagle, as his | quota. } m@ithe eager citizens halted, then recoiled a hit, for their | £¥sh had been born of curiosity rather than with any | might of rescue, to do them simple justice. | mM few vicious words and cries came, but it would not/ beeasy to decide which they were directed against—cap- ! $0ts or captives.” nd then, guns in hand, the powerful figure of the Silver ich sherifi came, plowing a passage through the ranks, | Wheeling about as he gained that little opening, to coldly | shout : | =Back, and make way, all honest citizens. I’ll clear off | ® 6vil scuin that remains behind, and don’t you for-| get it,” /Moregraceful speeches have been made, butnever one | thapsaid more in the same length of time. And realizing | ag much, the crowd gave way, and, without having to fire ile shot, the law triumphed. | mraee wagle gave Gentleman Joe a warning glance, | f recalling the words spoken back in the hills before| "ae for Hardscrabble, Gentleman Joe promptly took | em hint. ! licly surrendered the two captives to Sheriff as tec one highest in authority just then and| ) fhe charge was gravely accepted, and the sheriff | iiule Speech to that effect. Then he summoned his | With them as escort, the two criminals were at | | Abbie as jail. : ¥ acing armed men about the building, and giving them Iissruciions to permit no one to reach the “jug” with- oub bringing a written permit over his signature; Sheriff Fuller hastened away to rejoin Gentleman Joe and the marshal of Hardscrabble. They were found near the ruins of the Occidental Hotel, standing together, the center of a curious gathering, yet with an ample space left clear all around them, possibly | because both men had their pistols drawn and ready for | suse in cage of need. Fuller smiled grimly as he noticed this, but entered the | ringywith a sign of peace, after which he quickly set their | minds at rest, by assuring them Big Casino had made | fu na tree confession, clearing them from even the sus- | picion of Having a hand in @iat double killing. Both gentlemen expressed themselves as greatly de-| lighted with this speedy clearance, but then Horace Eagle | bliintly spoke out : | “That's all right, fur’s we go, Fuller, but hyar’s any | quantity of other good people who want to know jest, which color to call us—white, or dirty black. S’pose you} up an’ tell ‘em ?” ; 71] do even better than that, Horace. I’m little more} than a stranger within the gates, and since my coming, [| +do reckon I’ve trod on more toes than one boot can cover. | ®— what’s the matter with having Judge Porter read the | Je confession to the citizens?” ' rue seemed _an improvement, and the two most deeply | Macerned at once accepted it. Then, in a voice which car- d Stesthe outermost man in that gathering, Sheriff | yy Suliler made the announcement. \PNithout stating just what that confession consisted of, | fe said. cr wto let all know the entire truth had been | Mw re Ope M6 a select few, which would be shared with all! Lt@oeather near the Oasis, from the front door of | rter, their honored and respected fellow- Pread the confession: un Joe, Horace’ Hagle, aifd ‘Sheriff Fullersst “Porter when that worthy, stand rn hig most..sone 1 Dia ‘ ‘ if they had tted ity Gentlemd would: hav@ received a 10Bi0 us 0 But ihoy were more thaw credit cleared, and béginning rand of sleep, they left Sheri crowd, while they stole away by @ TOOL Tor at once to another hotel, where they ate a Hearty then locked themselves into chambers where they songs the sleep they had lost duting the last two nights, Those slumbers, however, were not permitted to come to a natural ending, though they did last until the sig was sinking to its ‘rest. A vigorous thumping at their doors roused them both, and they hurried into their clothes in answer to that start ling call : “Devil to pay, you! They’re lynchin’ Tom King, an’ § do reckon they won’t spar’ the Queen, nuther, onless you hurry to back up Fuller.” It was the excited voice of Sleepy Sam Frisbie, now most thoroughly awakened, and as quickly as possible the two ‘men were armed and out of doors, rushing swiftly toward the rude jail. They were too late to save Tom King from the rope, He was already giving his final kick under a sign-board, and). taking this in at a single glance, they hurried over te where Fuller and his posse held guard over Mrs. King. The worst peril was over before their arrival, and thei# coming only helped tip the scale farther to that side though Sheriff Fuller gave them a cordial welcome. And then, with their force rapidly growing, the adve cates of law and order escorted Queen Esther out of im- mediate peril. She seemed completely cowed by the danger she had se narrowly escaped, and tearfully listened to the assuranees of even Gentleman Joe, without betraying a sign of her recent deadly hatred for him. She was placedin a stage, with Sleepy Sam. as driver e . and the atmed posse as escort, strengthened by John De- ment and his two brother deputies. The word was given by Sheriff Fuller to conduct her without delay to Camp- | town, from which place she was to be permitted to turn which ever way she might elect. But before that departure took place, Fuller gave the Queen of the once Royal Flush some very good advice which she appeared to accept at its full value. “Tll go—I’ll leave the country, sir, as you advise,” Mra King said, in low, broken tones. “I’ve nothing more te live for, now. Only—I can’t die like—like poor Tom.’ With a few words further, this leaf of Gentleman Joes eventful life-history may be closed. ; Lucky Jackson recovered from his hurts, and, as soon as possible, took his departure from Hardscrabble, never again to return. Rig Casino never knew what fate overtook his master, Tom King. He was dead long before that lynching took place. i Horace Hagle was elected Mayor of Hardscrabble, and long filled that office, with honor to ,himself and profit (@ 9% the town, Sheriff Fuller returned to Silver Gulch, feeling litt remorse Over his part in the death of Thomas King. Queen Esther left Camptown by stage for the East, a Hardscrabble knew her no more. She was the last of tf Royal Flush, and never another such dangerous aggregae | tion was permitted to exist in town under the honest, 1% stern, rule;of Horace Kagle. F Gentleman Joe, however, felt ill at ease in the places and greatly to the regret of the many friends he had inade there, resumed his eventful wanderings. Though he showed no outward signs, his heart was still sore over) the loss of his first and only love; the belle of Silver Guleh. (THE END.) e p' » hy Aagek’ ‘Reberte: ad will wl pha ay Ay of tHE Sc ADEE . ar ig _ The White Caps; or, Among the Knights of the Switch. 9—The Kawance Bank Robbery; or, The Mysterious Banditti, By J. R Musick, $—Seven Picked Men. 4—Jeasse the Outlaw. Shackleford. $—The White Cap Detective; or, Midnight Gallops with the Buckeye ‘ Riders. 6—Captain Kate, the Heroine of Deadwood Gulch. By Leander P. Rich- ardson. 7—The Pinery Den Detective; By Mark Merrick. 8—Bill Tredegar, the Moonshiner of Blue Ridge, $—The Irish Judas; or, The Great Conspiracy Against Parnell. ence Clancool. {oeThe Gold-Hunter Detective; or, Wild Life in the New Mining Country. ii—Thie Oklahoma Detective; or, Boomer Saul’s Long Trail. By Old Broadbrim. 12—The Miner Detective; or, The Ghost of the Gulch. 18—Harry Lovell, the Gentleman Rider. By Sherwood Stanley. By Judson R. Taylor. A narrative of the James Boys. By Captain Jake or, Among the White Siaves of Wisconsin, By Clar- _ 14—Tempest Tom, the Trapper; or, The Terror of the Southern, Pampas. By Oll Coomes. 15—The Great Cronin Mystery: Mark Merrick. Esq. 16—The Johnstown Hero; or, The Connemaugh Valley Conspiracy. Jack Howard. i7—Silver Mask; or, The Serpent of Siskiyou County. By Delta Calaveras. An exciting tale of the Chesapeake Shores. e Fits “the Jockey Wonder; ot the or, Old Broadbrim’s Wonderful Case. By By or, The Mystery Race 101—Jesse Jaines’ Successor; 102—Big Mink, the Trapper; or, The Daughter of the Brigade: B p LIBRARY. IN LIBRARY. = 10 CENTS EACH. PRICE, No, 718—The Pearl of the Reef; or, The Diver’s Daughter, 19—Mocceasin Mose; or, 'Che Trail of Death. 80—Sensation Sate, the Qneen of the Wild-Horse Bange. $1—Beaver Jim; or, The frail of the Secret Brotherhood. By Maurite q ingsby. 82—Rattlesnake Ned, the Terror of the Sea. peicgee ¢ o ee the Scout; or, The White Rider of the Demon's Gorges, Oll Coomes i 84—The Red Rave! n; or, The Mysterious Cruiser. By Harry Hazel ni. 85—A Knight of Labor; or, The Master Workman's Vow. ‘By John BY B rett. 86—Gulietta the Waif; or, The Girl Wrecker. y 87—Rube Burrows’ Last Shot. , 88—Who Shot Chief Hennessy; or, The New Orleans Dagoes, By Absinthe. pc t 89—Wildcat Ned; or, The Mountain Men of Oregon. By James L, Bower , 90—Jesse James, Rube Burrows & Co. i eae Rival eg 3 he aa or, The Missing Bride. By A. C. Monson) q The Birchall-Benwe Tragedy; or, Tracing a Mysterious Crimes) By Pere Absinthe. e 7 —The Sky Traveler; or, The Magician of the Lakes, Myers. 94—Jesse James’ Double; or, The Man from Missouri, 95—Clint, the Grizzly; or, The Outlaw’s Daughter. By W. H. Bushne 96—The Last of the Burrows Gang; or, Joe Jackson's Last Leap. By ter L. Hawley. 97—Big xe oot Wallace, the Giant Hero of the Border. 98—The Raven of the Nor th; or, Lhe Mysteries of the Tsles Coomes. gk By Red By Py Ham ton } 99—Big Foot’s Band; or, Captain Wallace’s Last Charge. hawk. 100—Untmasked at the Matinee. or, The Raid on the South Chicag@ pak Trapper. By Jack Howard, 90—Guiseppe, the Weasel; or, The Italian Secret Society. 91—Cattle Kate; or, A Woman’s Wild Life. By Lieutenant Carlton. 22—Old Man Howe; or, The Regulators of ‘Graud Prairie. By Wm. Stoddard. BAPyenomenal Pani, the Wizard Piteher of the League. By John Warden. 9—The Shanghaier of Greenwich Street; .or, Liverpool Jack, the Slave Trader. By Henry Decring. 95--Darrow, the Floating Detective; or, The Shadowed Buccaneer, 96 =—Huco, the Frehter; vr; Lhe Croton vinviedagger and the Cord, H. Bushnell. lg o7-—Jack, the Peoper. By Harry Temple. $82Tie Great Yacht Race; or, Skipper Bob’s Long Chase. 9-The Lights O’ Gotham; or, The Gilded Villain. By Ralph Royal, Shadowed and Trapped; or, Harry the Sport. ‘The Hinman Vampire; or, Lhe Elixirot Life. By K. F. Hill. tainon Aranda, the California Detective. : The Road Agents. By Leander P. Richardson. 24 «Kentucky Kate: or, The Moonshiners’ League. 85--ol Singleton; or, The Double Penalty. By David Lowry, 86--His Wichest Stake. By Edwin S. Deane. a7—Cy, the Ranger or, The Red Man’s Terror, G8—Alf, the Chicago Sport. $0-—Barnacle Backstay: or, The Gray Eagle of the Atlantic. » 40.—The Great River Mystery. By Bartley Campbell. 41—Tho Stony Point Tragedy. By A. L. Fogg, 42—Pie Hattield-MeCoy. Vendetta; or, Shadowing a Hard Crowd. 48>Red Rude Burrows; or, The King of the Ontlaws. By Edwin 8. Deane. 44—Pictail Demons; or, The Mongolian Highbinders. By Harry Temple. 45—Mowntain Tom. A story of the Diamond Fields, 462Gotham by Gaslight; or, Dan McGinty’s Ups and Downs. MeGinty. 47=The Black Riders of Santos; or, The Terror of Wood River, 48—The Ocean Detective: or, The Trailof Death.. By Richard J. Storms. 49-The Younger Brother's Vow; or, Hunted, Down in Arkansas, By Jack Sharp. - §0eePrank and Jesse James [In Mexico; or, Raiders of the Rio Grande. feJenvice, the Telegraph Operator, By R. M. Taylor. 62 Ruzzle-Dazzle Dick; or, The Fellow Who Livec i by His Wits. By Donald J. McKenzie. 68-—Coonuskin, the Scout; or, The Prince of Bordermen. S4—Jesse James’ Oath; or, Tra¢k ed to Death, Bove Stranglers of Ohio; or, A Dark-Lantern League, 66-—-A Borde ay Vengeance; or, The Fate of the Regulators. 103—Buffalo Bill at Wounded Knee; or, Lhe Battle-Secret of the Bada 104—Jesse James Among the Moonshiners; or, The Traim Robber’s 7 Kentucky, 0. By John E, Batre 105—The Landlord's Crime; or, The Curse of Innisfail. 106—Bold Sitting Bull. 107—Jesse James in Chica £0. 108—The Rising Tide. By John E. Barrett. 109— Merciless Ben. aed 110—Jesse James in New Orleans. Ty Wren 141.The Matia’s Foe. 112--Silver Wing, the Angel of the Tribes. 113—Jesse James on the Mississippi; or, The Duel at Midnight. x 114—Tho Hillsburg Tragedy; or. Murdered for Gold. By John EB, Barret. 11h5—Jack the Ripper in New York; or, Piping a Terrible Mystery: 116—Captain Jack; or, The Seven Scouts. ; 117—Jesse James’ Cave; or, The Secret of the Dead,” 118—Du Barry’s Revenge. By Fr rancis A. Durivege. 119—Buekskin Sam, the Sealp-taker. a ie James at Bay; or, The Train Robber’s Trail. 121—The Reveuue Officer’s Trftiuuph; or, The Sunken Treasure, 122—Scarlet Face, the Renegade; or, The White Chief of the Bhawanese, Maurice Silmgsby. 123—Rube Burrows’ Pard; or, Chased Through the Florida Swaiipa, 124—'The Lion's Leap; or, Harry Brenton, the Sailor's Adventures Sun Pr. rates. By Roger Starbuck, 125--The Thunderbolt of the Border; or, Daniel Boone on the Wa 126—Jesse James in Disguise; or,.The Missouri Outlaw as a Sho 127—Buffalo Bill’s Best Shot. 128—Buffalo Bill's Last Victory; or, Dove Bye, the Lodge Queene 129—Tom SACS OR the Terror; or, The Long Island Outlaw, By, L. Hawley a | 130—The Queen of the Plains; or, Calamity Jane. By Reckless Ralph” 6 131—Jesse James in Tennessee. ag 132—Texas Jaek, the White King of the Pawnees, 133—Roe ky Mountain Sam; or, The Wind-Spectre of the Blackfeet, 134—Buttalo Bul’s Best Bower. By E. W. Wheeler. 135—'The Witch of the Ocean; or, The Lady of Silver Spray. 136—Little Buckshot; or, The White Whirlwind of the Prairie. 187—Gentleman Joe. By Bob Howard, 138—Jesse Jaines Among the Mormons. 149—Long Mike, the Oregon Hustler, 140—Red Dick, the Tiger of California. 141—Dashing Charlie, the Texan Whirlwind. 142—Midshipman Angus, : 2 anon : Mystery. or ute Fie ines in St Louis; or, The Mysteries of a Great City. 143—Maratina, the Female Brigand. By Ticut. Murray. Hthodex Jeems, eat . is : Segre “aod Buck; or, The Players’ League in the South. 144 Saas the Wyandotte; or, Captain Kenton’s Keutueky Ranger BY f arden. 7 c 4 @0-—frackless Terror, the Unknown Avenger. By Roy St. Leger. ro eee ma Nene PPaTOW aes Tugs ea Death Si—esse James at Long Branch; or, Playing for a Million. 146—Monte and the Mystic Ten: 62 sal aire Bull-Fighter; or, The Victim of Fate. 147—The Red on Renegade; or, The Destroyer oF Black Bird’s Band. apd. ne. i i Joln F. Cowan. ee peaaeod Afloat; or, The Mystery of the Sealed Packet, By John | 148—Jesse James’ Journey; or, The Prisoner of the Cave. ee one28 aa ue _ masirten of the Pl: ee By John FEF. Gowan. BRING Be Ses ere or, “Ehe tresses Sas jay Ball; or, Brotherhood Boys in Florida. By John Warden. 50— re rPeASNTe mess act of the Prairie; or, The Scont and the Renegade. By Buffalo | a en eat ee ee ill, 529—Bufis i >» Borda The WhiteQ 67—Red Donglass; or, the King of. the Black Forest. a Barelo Beer King + or, The 2a neen of 68—A Home Rim; ovrekfow the Great Game Was Won. 153—Old Luther on Deck; or, The East Rivet 69—TLooney Lorton; or, THe Rose of Slige. 154—Bol Sis’. Fearful Oath: or, “The Fata 70—Tiie Rangers of Gold Strea Outlaws: : ; i ped cote a pane) ata or, The Wall Street Banker's Seeret, 465—Jousa Janies in Dakota; or, The Prinice 6 t Road Agent’ F- Rover Wildsdibe Jolly W. B. Lawson. W3—seven-Foot- Billy or, en oune the Scont.” By Je@eMeKenszi Wofesse Janesin New Works or, A Plot to Kidnap SayeGould. ..the Detective; or, Working up a Great Cage. -Vendettay or, The Hustlers of. fa Yee lazcl-Cyé, the Girl Trap tive Grimes Abroad. By A By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. By Dan By Duke Cuyler. i 4 + ¥ of H. M. 8. Plantagenet; or, The West Indian Sem 1 By Ralph Ray- y John By Francis A. By John Warden. By John F, Cowan. By M. Silingaby. 1 patery. 6—The Black Pant; or, The Bag ge MY Capp on, The Ran ere olive P.O, ROX 2734:>