Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1892, by Street & Smith, in the Office othe Librarian.of Congress, Washington, D. C
September 8, 1894,

Entered as Second-class Matter in the New York, N. Y., Post Office, September 8, 1894 Issued Weekly. \.,uwbseription Price, $1.25 per Year.

31 Rose 8t., N. Y. P.O. Box 2734.

5 Cents.

No. 97,

IStREET & SMITH, Publishers,

NEW YORK,

|

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BY Ww. B. LAWSON.

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9
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NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

No 9 @

 

_DIAMOND DICK'S DEATH-DASH;
‘THE SWAN-MIMOH OF THE SASKATCHEWAN.

By W. B. LAWSON.

CHAPTER I.
ENSCO’S STORE.

_ Four members of the Dominion mounted constabulary, tall,
hardy, North-west frontiersmen, rode slowly in from the savage
but wildly beautiful region to the westward, and dismounted at
Ensco’s store, an old Hudson Bay Company trading station, at
@ point in the upper left-hand corner of the Province of Assini-
Doia, where the Red Deer and the. Medicine Eye Rivers unite to
form the broader and more important waters of the South Sas-
katchewan, and not far from Deepwater Lake.

‘Any news.o’ them cattle-lifters, Hnsco?’ demanded one of
She officials, who appeared to be their leader, as they all strode
ap to the liquor bar of the trading store.

-‘Hech, mon!” was the gruff response of the trader, as he set
out the bottles and glasses, ‘‘its unco lichly, now, that ’d know
as miuckle aboot the raiders as yersel’s, an’ ye a-travaissin’ the
eoontry a foortnicht past in sairch o’ what ye seem fated never
to find. Naw, it’s naethin’ I knaw aboot the raiscals, an’ ’f they
keep frae liftin’ me ain stock, it’s little eno’ I gar ’f I niver know
anything mair o’ them.”

He was a gigantic half-breed of Scotch paternity, with the
Bhrewdnees of one side of his race, and the fierce savagery of
Blackfoot maternal stock, rather in bad odor throughout the
Province by reason of his grasping avarice and daring uunscru-
pulousness,but_accounted fairly honest in the main—a man to
be both respected and feared in a frontier country.

The men laughed, and, seating themselves with their liquor at
@ small window overlooking the road, fell to diseussing the
shances of eventually bringing to book the Hoof-Lifters, as they
were called, a powerful and secret organization of cattle and

 horse-stealers, whose uniformly successful depredations through-

out Assiniboia and the contiguous Provinces of Alberta, Sas-
katchewan, and Manitoba had been- bidding defiance to the
Dominion authorities for a twelvemonth or more.

«The villains are Americans, I’m satisfied of that,” said the
first speaker, a fine-looking young Englishman, named Marden,
who was a lieutenant in the mountain constabulary force. ‘‘Only
experts from over the Yankee border—in Montana or Idaho—
could have kept up this game for such a length of time, with-

— out giving the least inkling of their leading spirit’s identity,

“or their place of rendezvous.”

“No doubt you're right, Ned,’ observed a light-haired,
blue-eyed, devil-may-care young rough-rider, named Anthers,
and suspected of being the happy-go-lucky heir of some proud
‘English title in roving disguise. “It takes the American
foughs to wake us up on this sleepy side of the boundary
fence. By the way, they say that Mr. Shadwell, the new rich
rancher down at the Springs has just missed another fine
dove, and is as mad as a hornet in consequence.”

“Why shouldn’t he be, after suffering as much as he has
already at the rascals’ hands?” said the first speaker. ‘But
Mr. Shadwell is an American, too, isn’t he—freshly up this way
from California, or New Mexico?”

“No, you're out there, Ned,’’ corrected Anthers. ‘Mr. Shad-
well is a true Englishman, and glad enough to get back here
under the queen’s flag, though he was a rancher over the line
before coming here. J’ve heard him say so_ himself.
he’s a little over-fond of airing his loyalty, it strikes me.”’

“Anybody seen anything ef them three odd-lookin’ Americans
who were makin’ inquiries ‘bout oia. Altannah, the Swe,n-Witeh,
Gother day?” suddenly asked a veteran constal} eS Beezham,
otherwise Old Beeswax, by name, the oldest a ee the party.
«Moutn’t they be on ther look-out fer thyse same \Hoof-Lifters,
well as we ‘uns? Sort of on the America® detective line, ye
know?” |

_His companions looked up in some surprise, slightly nod-
ding, as if the suggestion were a new one, that might ke worth
some consideration.

But Ensco, the store-keeper, who had been stolidly lis\tening | after which they made themselves scarce,
hehind | whisky for companionship,
‘ndian | in Warsaw,” so much to Mr. Ensco’s satisfaction an
= grunt. &

fo the conversation with folded arms, while still standing
the bar-counter, shook his head, with a sort of half-

~

 

 

In fact, |

| fian, while equally brutal, is
\ American congener.

“They war in the stoore this marnin’, the thray o’ them,
Hoot, mon! might na they be raiders an’ Hoof-Lifters theirsel’s,
’stead o” daytictives ta kaitch them? Na gude in any as wad
be ents wi’ the Swan-Woman o’ the Saskatchewan, a’ tell ye
that!” ;

“Nonsense! you’re too suspicious, Ensco!” cried the fourth
official, a huge-girthed, dwarfish man, apparently possessed of
enormous muscular strength, and whose short, comparatively
spindle-legs were greatly bowed, as if he might have spent the
greater part of his life on horseback. ‘‘I’ve seen and passed the
time o’ day with the Americans you speak of, and, save that
they mind their own business, a more modest, agreeable trio of
strangers I’ve never met in these parts.”

“Over soospicious, am I, Mr. Dexter?’ grumbled the trader.
‘‘Hech, mon! let be, let be! Yere coomes a gentleman as may
be oover soospicious, too, an’ wi’ gude raisen. Good afternoon
till ye, Maisther Shadwell.”

And he nodded somewhat obsequiously, while the others looked
up with the respectful interest usually accorded to a personage
of more than usual consequence; as a tall, fine-looking man, with
a strangely scarred, disfigured face, made his appearance.

“We waur talkin’ 0’ the Hoof-Lifters, Maister Shadwell, an’
also o’ the old Swan-Witch an’ the thray Amairican strangers,”
observed Ensco. :

Mr. Shad well’s—for this was the rich -rancher who had been
alluded to—face darkened as he tossed off his brandy and water.

“The villains!” he exclaimed, furiously; ‘‘they’ve lifted
another hundred hoof for me. And as for the old witch of the
lake, perhaps it would be a good thing to twist her neck on
general principles. Why, gentlemen, if these robbers are suf-
fered to have their own way much longer, her gracious majesty’s
domain up here will have almost as bad a name as the cursed
Americans have earned for themselves down over the border-
line!”

‘‘We’re doing the best we can, Mr. Shadwell,” Marden took it
upon himself to reply. ‘‘Our mounted force is short-handed—
short manned, you know—and that is all there is about it.”

Then the new-comer asked about the three strangers, of whom
it seemed that he had not heard before, and on receiving such
information as there was to impart, he looked the reverse of
pleased, if not positively uneasy.

‘Three Americans—two grown men and a handsome boy?” he
said, frowning. ‘‘Who can they be, and what up to? Humph!
Suspicious characters, like enough. I’m disposed to agree with
Ensco in that. You see, my friends, the laws are so lax and ruf-
fianism is so rampant down over the American side yonder, with
their accursed republican form of government, that-——”

He was interrupted by tramping steps and roaring voices out-
side, and then, as even the gigantic trader took on an air of anx-
ious concern, a mob of uncouth, desperate-looking lumbermen
invaded the place, loudly ealling for drink.

The new-comers were already fighting drunk, for the most
part, andin less than a minute after fresh liquor had been
furnished them they were carrying matters with a high hand.

Strange as it may seem, Mr. Shadwell was about the only one
who displayed no timidity in their presence.

Presently two of the Iumbermen became engaged in a brutal f
fight. The constables undertook to interpose their authority,
and-were set upon for their pains and driven into a corner, |
while still hesitating to draw their weapons. The trader leaned
back behind his counter, folding his arms, and philosophically
hoping that there would not be an undue fiow of blood. But
the disturbance waxed from bad to worse, and pandemonium
was the order-of the occasion.

At this exciting iuucture three unobtrusive looking strangers
entered the store, whereupon the face of affairs underwent a
speedy and decided transformation.

The foremost of the new arrivals—a handsome, picturesquely
attired man, with a naturally colorless face and a black mustache |.
“on being purposely jostled, promptly knocked one ruffian ©
senseless with his fist, and propped another against the wall
with the muzzle of a sekf-cocker stuffed half-way down his throat.

His companions—a brawny, devil-may-carish rustler, with a
‘whisky loving nose, and a handsome, blue-eyed boy of seventeen,
whose familiarity with the revolver seemed somewhat phenome-
nal—were similarly prompt and fearless~in dealing with the
emergency. As a general rule, the representative Dominion ruf-
less fond ‘of gunpowder than his

Almost in less time than it has taken to describe it, the original
disturbers of the peace were- content to laugh off the matter,
with several jugs of
and “order was once more restored
migliot that

he at once ‘set them up” for the last arrivals, though

 

 

 
~ tality;

 

ee

NEW YORK FIVE

CENT LIBRARY.

 

as much surprised as any one else at the extent of his own hospi-
When the strangers had imbibed, Anthers, the youngest con-
stable, who had been eying them interestedly, suddenly ap-
proached their group with a pleased, frank smile.
_ Why Diamond Dick, how are you?” he exclaimed. ‘And
- what can be bringing you up over here on our slow-coach side

of the border?”
The chief of the three strangers thus addressed-—-whenever he
~ moved, innumerable little crystal or diamond buttons, with
which his splendidly fitting black velvet costume was orna-
mented, sparkled gayly—replied in kind, introducing his com-
panions as Bertie, his son, and Handsome Harry respectively,
and soon the best of feeling and comraderie was established all

round.

~ Mr. Shadwell, however, had seized the first opportunity to
take himself off, though not escaping Diamond Dick’s observant
eye in doing so.

‘In a few moments, the latter and the young man who had first

introduced himself were conversing apart in a retired corner of
_ the great store-room.

_. *So, Lord Chabdis,” said Diamond Dick, smiling, ‘‘you ask
me what I am doing up here in the Dominion, when I might put
the same question to yourself with equal reason.

‘Tire of °em? Ishould say not! But, by the way, Dick,”
with a laugh, ‘‘I’m not ‘my lord’ anybody over on this side, but
plain Jack Anthers, of the mounted police.”’

“Ah, indeed! Mr. Anthers, eh? Well, it’s no use trying to
sink my own personality, however advisablé that might be in
accordance with my present mission over here in Assiniboia. So
_ that it’s as plain Diamond Dick that I shall have to remain here,

_ as at home in American territory, I suppose.”

‘I should say so, Dick. One of the penalties of greatness,
you know,” with another laugh. ‘You'll find, I’m afraid, that
your fame has preceded you almost as extensively up herein the
Dominion North-west as elsewhere. But I’m really rejoiced to
meet you, old fellow; and anything that I can do to further your
_ mission, whatever it may be, shall be cheerfully done. What!
shall I ever forget my jolly hunting expeditions down there
through the Rockies, the Bitter Roots, and the Cascades, when
you scouted so ably for my party, and helped us out of so many
tough serapes? Not likely.”

In a few minutes, Diamond Dick had made his companion
something of his confidant as to his intentions in Assiniboia, and
secured the other’s heartiest sympathy therein.

‘So, you are on the trail of the Hoof-Lifters, in the interest of
American sufferers by their infernal depredations?” observed the
young Englishman at last. ‘Good! My mates over yonder and
I half-guessed as much; and perhaps we can pull together with
your party to the same praiseworthy end, eh?”

‘Likely enough,” was the reply.

“But why do you imagine, Dick, that the old squaw known
as the Swan-Witch of the Saskatchewan, can have any connec-
tion with the desperadoes we are after?” :

“IT will. tell you of that later on. All I ask at present is that
you will give me directioas for ‘reaching her mysterious island
retreat in the lake, sooner or later.”’

‘*With all my heart, and whenever you like. Where are you
and your partners stopping?”

‘At the village inn, a short distance down the river.”

“You must come with us to our camp, only a short distance
further on,” cordially. ‘You will not only be more comfortable
and private there, but, as our guests, Mrs. Marden, our lieu-
tenant’s good wife, in charge there—a jolly and capable little
backwoods housewife—will make you agreeably welcome.”

“You are very kind, my—Mr. Anthers—very! Thank you
kindly, though I must beg to be allowed to think the matter
over. By the way, that pretentious looking gentleman, with
the searred face, who skulked away so suddenly after my pards
and I had relieved you fellows of those mysterious wood-chop-
pers—Shadwell, by name, eh?”

“Yes; bought out the big Mackenzie ranch over beyond Deep-
water last autumn; and seems to be a go-ahead chap, with no
end of money. You might have known him; for he has ranched
it in more than one State and Territory over the line.”

“Says he has, I suppose you mean?” coldly.

“Exactly,” with a rather surpriséd look. ‘‘But he’s mightily
down on the Lifters, who have already run off several hundred
of his best stock.”

 “Tikewise according to his own assertion, eh?”

Anthers looked at his companion keenly.

‘Look here, Diamond Dick,” he said, interestedly, ‘I grant
that there’s something mysterious about this Shadwell, and we
can’t exactly make out whether we ought to like or distrust

{ For I know]
* you didn’t tire of our ways over in Montana and elsewhere.”

 

my friend, given for what it is worth.”
“But do you know anything against the man?”
“Not for certain, not quite yet.” eal

“Go slow in making up your minds, then. A fool’s ad Figs, -

“Well, Diamond Dick,” smiling, ‘‘you’re privileged to be«
enigmatical, of course.” ?
“But I don’t want to be. Only wait. Tell me, Anthers, my/

&

companions and myself were perhaps under discussion before wey

showed up here to-day?” .
‘Frankly, yes: though nothing whatever to

your discredit—
solely in a speculative way, you understand.” :

“Of course; and how did Mr. Shadwell take the discus-’ |

sion?” Re

‘‘He seemed uneasy and disturbed; we all noticed it.”

“Humph! thank you.” <-

Here there was a shot through the open window at which they

were standing, and as they started, unhurt, to one side, Ensco.

:
t

gave an unearthly yell, and was seen to have been wounded.

CHAPTER II.
THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND.
The situation explained itself.

A murderous shot made an ugly but not serious furrow along ©

the tip of the half-breed trader’s ear, besides smashing a bottle
of whisky on the bar-shelf, just before which he had been stand-
ing.

Sena was instantly made for the would-be assassin, but with-
out success. 2

However, when all hands returned to the store-counter, Dia-
mond Dick laid thereon a strip of newspaper, on which was
punctured with the point of a bowie-knife, a diagram the size
of a man’s foot-print. 2

This was the sole trace of the intended assassin which had |
been found in the wood, in a single soft spot of ground di- |
rectly on a line with the window which the shot had been -
fired. oe 4

«« "Fis naething!” cried Ensco, stretching forth his huge hand |
angrily toward the paper, while the men were discussing the |
diagram. ‘Ugh! all nonsense!” ; a

‘‘Hold your tongue, sir!” interposed Diamond Dick. ‘‘Now,.
gentlemen,’’ he continued, indifferent to the trader’s scowl, |
‘‘you will all agree that the foot-prints here reproduced, must |
have been made bya particularly large and peculiarly-shaped |
foot, wearing a man’s boot.”

Nearly every one acquiesced in this, while all the constables”
were at once unanimous that the print could only have been |
made by ‘‘Slab-foot Skillen,” a brother of Ensco’s, in Mr. Shad- |
well’s employment. :

“Oho!” exclaimed Diamond Dick, carefully securing the dia- |

eram, while eying the store-keeper keenly; ‘‘and perhaps you
recognized it also, which would explain your haste to destroy the
incriminating clew.” :

x

 

|
|
|

‘“‘Naething o’ the soort!” roared the giant, his swarthy Indian |

face flushing with his hot, half-Highland blood. ‘Wha’ d’ye
mean? D’ye think me ain brither wad hae tried too shoot me
doon?” :

“It wasn’t you for whom the cowardly bullet was intended, as |

you well know,” was the cold reply. And then Diamond Dick |
took his departure, with his. friends, followed by
stables. F
‘I’m sorry for this, Diamond Dick,” observed Marden, as they
all rode away together.
sus, and probably the most dangerous man in the Nor#l
ritory.” i
CARP? replied Dick, smiling; ‘‘as big a man as his brother,
our trading friend, back yonder?” é
‘‘Half-again as big, ’ struck in Anthers, ‘‘and a perfect human-
fiend, when roused.”’ :
“Said tou have killed four men hand-running, over at the Me-
kenzie River mines,” volunteered ‘‘Old Beeswax.” :
“Cut ’em down with an ax, almost his only weapon, Mobserved
Mr. Dexter, the dwarfish Ajax of the party. <
‘However, I’m surprised that he should

-west ter-

the con-'.
2 we:

‘‘Slab-foot Skillen is a perfeet colos- |

|
|
|

|
|

have atten’ ted as-

sassination, even for pay, as was most likely the motive in this —

instance,” continued Anthers. ‘‘And, that notwithstanding the
Ree ee : = s
man’s avarice, which is even more notorious than Ensco’s.
“Why?” asked Diamond Dick.

‘Well, there is a sort of rude chivalry about the brute, you:

see. He is mostly willing, to give his enemy a chance. _A Yavor-
ite fighting method of Slab-foot Skillen’s, for instance, is to part:

witha foe on a general wnderstanding that they shall eo |

to the death, but with fire-arms barred. He has a ready
come out to the victor,in several desperate duels of tha .

acter.” ;

+

}

ehar- —

u

 
 
   

   

 
 
 
 
   
    
   
  
    
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
 
    
  
   
  
   
 
 
     
  
  
  
    
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
   
 
  
 
 
  
    
  
   
  
 
   
  
  
   
   
    
 
  
  
   
 
 
  
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 

|

halted at a fork in the road, and Diamond Dick held out his

. piorning, bright and early?” —

  

tu see them off.

_. group purposely jostled them, the insulters, two in number,

: “Quite interesting, Tam sure. Well, my friends;” they had

hand, “what do you say to accompanying me to Mr. Slab-foot
+ Skillen’s place of employment for an explanation, say, to-morrow

- The officials readily-agreed to, this, and were then urgent for

   
 

with.
‘‘No, gentlemen,” replied Diamond Dick, ‘we are first due

‘will be happy to make the acquaintance of your camp hospitality
to-morrow, after our call upon Mr. Shadwell’s formidable hired
man. And this evening, after supper, we havea particular ap-
ointment with your comrade, Mr. Anthers, here.”
_»True,” said Anthers, for the information of his fellow-officials,
‘am to be their guide to the alleged mysterious island of old
.:itannah, the Swan- Witch.”
‘The parties then separated.

Dad,” said Bertie, when the trio were on their way tothe vil-

‘age, “do you think you'll hey trouble with this hyar slab-foot
~e aloot?”’

_ “I trust so, my lad,” was the reply. ‘It may give mea pointer

‘8 to whom his master, Shadwell, may be.”

*_**I didn’t like ther cuss’s looks for a cent’s worth,”’ interrupted

‘Handsome Harry. ‘But what suspicion hev ye agin him,
patd? :

“Didn’t the man’s appearance strike either of you with being
possibly familiar, in spite of his disfigurement?” And Diamond
Dick looked at them both inquiringly.

But they shook their heads, and didn’t see how they could
piace the big rancher in their recollections. :

‘All right, then; sayno more. Time will tell.”

Crown Point was a rather slow-coach settlement on the Sas-
katchewan, but-a mile or two below Ensco’s store.

‘Monsieur Wade,” said Monsieur Burlot, the affable little
French proprietor of the Star Inn—the only public house in
“the placé—as Dick and his companions entered the bar—Dick
having registered for the three, several days previously, simply
as ‘‘R. Wade and Friends, Idaho,” “‘zare haff been one* man
who ask for you. Oh, mon Dien!” and Monsieur Burlot struck
his forehead, apparently much disturbed.

“What's ailing with you, monsieur?”’ demanded Dick.
who was the visitor?”

__ “Ah, my ‘God, monsieur! a terrible man!

> Grizzly, zey call him.

Leeftairs.”
“Good enough!” cheerfully. ‘Sorry I wasn’t here to meet

‘him. Leave anything for me?”

“Ah, anote. I had forgot; see, it is here, monsieur.” And

‘And

One Gripson Ze
He is suspect of being one of ze Hoof-

: _>~eee the little man produced a greasy envelope with as much light-

fingered dexterity as if it were a dynamite bomb in disguise.
It contained a hideous scrawl, headed by a roughly carica-

<—e tured skull and cross-bones, with blotted, misspelt words to the

following effect:

: ‘DIAMOND Dicx.—Beware! We know your mission, and if you per-
gist in ibjqyour doom is sealed. Tue Hoor-Lirrers.”

“Truly, a fine piece of literature!” commented Diamond Dick,

NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY _

ithe three Americans to accompany them to their camp forth- |

‘this evening at our host’s inn, down at Crown Point village, but

e

No. 97 .

crowd thet
spot.” Sao :

The fellow stared an instant (the river was fully a third of a
mile broad), and then he planked out his money wildly, amid
encouraging shouts from his compatriots. :

“Done!” he yelled. “Hyar, Pierre Chabotte,” to a short,
stolid-looking ruffian, who was grinningly forthcoming, ‘‘you’re
the meat fer the man-thrower ter tackle. Put up or shut ‘up,
stranger.”’ ee :

Diamond Dick—who had suddenly, in manner and speech, be-—
come as rough and uncouth as any of his surroundings, promptly
covered the money, and Anthers, who had stepped ashore, was
induced to become its custodian. SS

4 Then Handsome Harry, who had received the private tip from S
his chief, threw off his coat, spit on his hands, and, assum- |

ing a laboriously serious air,
+Chabotte.

‘‘Remember, now,” cried the bet-taker, ‘‘you’re to fire him
clean across ther river, ’r it’s no go.” =

“Yes, zat is ze bargaine,” panted Pierre, ‘already perspiring
and half strangling in the tremendous grasp that clutched him,

‘Pho! I don’t furgit nothin’,” replied Harry, confidently. ‘A
bet is a bet. Hyar goes!” And, with that, he actually did heave
his burden about ten feet from the bank, whence he went sous:
ing and plashing into the water at a great rate.
. A yell from the Canucks, a demand for the money, and then
the fat little man camesswimming ashore, puffing and blowing
ikea porpoise. | :

“Hold on, you ’uns.” said Diamond Dick, philosophieally, ‘I
ae bet he could do it ther first time. Try him again,

arry.” se

“All right, boss!” And Harry, once more seizing upon his

seized upon the chunky Mr. Pierre

|now dripping victim, ‘the again hurled him into the river a yard

or so further out than before. :

“I’m improvin’,” he observed, stretching up his’ powerful
arms. ‘Ther next time I orter fire him clean inter ther middle.
Then, ez I git warmed up, I orter gradually fire him clean
ercross betwixt now an’ sunrise. Come out o’ thet, me boy, an’
let me git a squar’ up-an-up holt onto yer next time.”

But the fat experimenter, as you might say, had by this time
had quite enough, and, once more swimming ashore, flatly re-
fused to subject himself to any further attempts. ye

His friends, however, with the single exception of the wagerer
were now in roaring good-humor over the American joke that
had been played on them, and Anthers, with the consent of bot:

 

 

parties promptly declared the bet off, handing back the money. —

Then Dick and his party lost no more time iti getting into the

canoe, and paddling off down the stream, leaving not a little —

popularity behind them.

“It was a risky piece of business, Dick,” observed Anthers,
who was wielding the paddle with rare skill, “but luckily you
came out on top in it. As a general thing, these Dominion
toughs don’t understand a practical joke, as you Americans do.” —

“It was, perhaps, better than fighting the crowd,” smiling,
replied Dick, who then, being a good canoeist, likewise seized a
paddle, and went to work. ‘Might that gang be connected
with the Lifters, do you think?” =~

 

after he pad his pards had duly laughed over the effusion.
“Supperinow, if you please. Mr. Anthers will stop here in his
canoe for us in about an hour.”
_ They went to supper, and had just finished a homely but ap-
petizing repast, when Monsieur Burlot came to announce that
Anthers was already waiting for them.

As Dick and his friends emerged upon a rude little dock, ad:
joining the inn grounds, it was found to be thronged with curious
townspeople, and not a few rough-leoking customers, waiting

*j Anthers made a sign from his canoe, as much as to say, ‘Look
out for trouble here. Some of these chaps intend making it.”
But the Americans were feeling very well after their supper,
and the fairly good wine that had washed it down; and regard-
less of the warning, when two or three of a certain ruffianly

were forthwith stoud on their heads by Diamond Dick and Hand-
_ some Harry, respectively, in the shortest kind of order, while
Bertie laughingly put his hand on his revolver to see fair play.
‘Now, look here, friends,” called out Diamond Dick, good-
naturedly, as the ruffians made a threatening movement en masse,
‘we're only bent on a little fun, see? Does there happen to be
a bang-up betting man among you?”
‘Tam suthin’ on thet line, stranger,”
villainous-looking Canuck, advancing, |
bet on?”

replied a particularly
‘‘What d’ye want to

 

 

“My friend here,” smilingly indicating Handsome Harry, ‘‘is
the champion man-thrower over on our side ther border. Ti

‘‘Haven’t a doubt of it, if not themselves actual members of
the accursed organization.”

“This was left at the tavern for me to-day,” observed Dick, —
handing over the skull-and-crossbones scrawl.

The young Englishman assumed a serious expression as he
read it.

‘‘What sort of a messenger left this at the inn for you?” he
asked. ‘Did Burlot describe him to you?”

‘Yes; as one Gripson, the Grizzly!”

“Oho!”

‘‘Do you know the cuss?”’ a

‘1 know him—a dangerous villain, perhaps surpassed only by
Slab-foot Skillen himself in revengeful and untamed brutality.”

“I’m used to the breed, Mr. Anthers,” calmly. ‘‘Now let: us
send this birch-bark affair spinning.”
“They accordingly did so, and, presently threading a narrow
inlet, emerged out upon the broad, moonlighted bosom of Deep- _
water Lake, a beautiful, hill-folded, island-dotted body of
water, seemingly the abiding place of the very spirit of solitude,

“‘Yonder’s Altannah’s island,’ observed Antlers at last,
pausing to point off over the quiet waters to a larger island than
its companions. ‘See; there are the old. woman’s swans, too,
feeding in the moonlight. Pretty sight, eh?’

‘Lovely. Butthey must be tame birds, I suppose.”

‘*Yes; wild ones tamed. It’sone of the queer old creature’s
arts to tame.and domesticate the birds. Winter and summer,
she has them about her in flocks, with regular housings for ’em _
in thecold weather. Strange, too, but both whites and Indians.

  

 
 

ae

    

bet yer twenty dollars ter ten thet he kin throw any man o’ yer —
you pick out-elean across the river right hyar at this —

 
    
  

    
  

E
[
|
be
:

  

- intentions,”

- No. eo

~NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

 

= yeapact her birds; I never hear of one of’em being killed by a
~hunter. Superstition, you know.”

_ They had now resumed their paddles, and were swiftly ap-

-proaching the island, the beautiful birds seeming to be no more

disturbed at their approach than so many prosaic domesticated |

- geese would have been.
. “Fortune-teller, 1 suppose?” queried Dick.
“Witch,” tersely responded. Anthers.
Here Bertie, who was in the stern of the canoe, pointed for-
‘ward, calling. ont:
: “Thar’ sa poate.

euro

CHAPTER IUI.
SLAB-FOOT SKILLEN.~

 & solitary figure, in a very small canoe, was putting forth from
the island, with a large flock of the swans in pen ene: as it
were.

Sols Altanuah, and she’s coming out to question us as to our
said _Anthers, signing to Dick to cease paddling.
“Tt’s her custom.’

‘“‘What sort of lingo must we use with her?” asked Diamond
Dick.
“The purest of English or French at command,” was the un-

expected response.

- then Anthers went on to say:

“What?”
“True enough, though, of course, being a squaw, she can
doubtless speak Sioux or Blackfoot at a pinch.”
‘Why, how long has the old woman been living hereabouts?”
A couple of hundred years, according to tradition.” And
The explanation is, doubtless,
this, that there has always been an Altannah, or Swan-Witch
here, though not one and the same Altannah, during that length
of time. See? The witch-business perhaps passes down from

~ One generation or incumbent to another, without outsiders being
aware of the transmission.’

An?

And then they waited while the occupant of the solitary
canoe drifted slowly hear, and regarded them with a questioning
stare.

“Tt was such an old-young squaw as neither Diamond Dick nor
his partners had ever set eyes on before.

It was the wrinkled, shriveled face of an old, old woman—so
old as to suggest something unearthly—allied with the graceful

and robnst figure of yonth or early womanhood at its prime.

 

Listen!”

      
 

The decrepitude of uncanny old age, linked with the strength.
and symmetry of youth.

The tawny, parchment-like face had a strange, corpse-like
aspect, the eyes glared with a solemn fire, the hair—long, beau-
tifully abundant, and white--fluttered dreamily in the soft night
air.

‘Why are you here —you men?” sternly demanded the Swan-
Woman, and yet with a plaintive melodiousness of utterance.
“T like not visitors to my island; you should know that.”

‘I crave a private interview with you, ma'am,” Dick promptly
replied. ‘I am a stranger in these parts, and with something of
‘a mission anda history that may interest you.”

‘T know both already. Wait!’ she touched her hand to her
forehead. ‘Yes; your name and your Re are now equally
familiar to me.’

‘*What?’”’ in astonishment.

“Peace! you are Richard Wade, otherwise Diamond Dick.
And then, in hurried, yet mechanical and sing-song,

words, she began to drone over a hundred consecutive incidents
in his past adventure- -teeming, danger-strewn life, to his own
unqualified amazement and that of his companions. -

‘That will do,” she finally said. ‘‘The glass of the past grows
dim again. American stranger—Diamond Dick es, I will see
you alone at my house. Come!’

‘She seized her paddle afresh, and shot away back toward the

island with a sudden speed that they could not hope to emulate.

When Dick and his friends reached the island, she was silently
waiting them on the pebbly shore.
Signing to Diamond Dick to follow her, the adventurer quit-
ted his companions and complied without an instant’s hesita-
tion.
‘The Swan-Woman led him straight up through the woods, and
at last paused at a rude and very ‘ancient but comfortable-look-
ing cabin.

__‘‘Wahwahnee!” called out the Swan- Witch, in her eerily melo-|

dious voice, which seemed so contradictory in issuing from such

thin, mummy-like lips, oddly allied as they were to her womanly
beauty of figure and movement. ~

‘Instantly there appeared from the cabin, in which a faint ta-

[ per-gleam had been seen: No glimmer, a young Indian au whom

 

 
 

| ed the Swan-Woman.

 

 

Diamond Dick thought to be the most prormcy heautifal ¢ crea-
ture he had ever seen.

“The night-glass and the night mirror,” commanded. the Swan-
Woman, adding some words in a musical, unknown tongue. _

‘Wahwahnee, as she had been called, retired as she had come.

When she returned, she carried in one hand a battered-look-
ing telescope, and in the other a large disk of brightly polished
copper, about the size and shape of the regulation dinner gong.

in obedience to a sign from her mistress, she handed the for-
mer to Diamond Dick, who somehow found himself trembling —
unaccountably while taking it from her. The other she laid flat
upon the smooth turf, where its glistening upper surface reflect-
ed a patch of the dark- blue, star-studded sky above, with shreds _
of fleecy clouds passing over it like a little panorama. °

‘‘What says the mirror, Wahwahnee, as to this atranger?’’ ask-
“Tg he safe or unsafe for me?”

And as she spoke she gathered a handful of dew from a con-
venient shrub, and scattered a few spray-like drops upon the
disk’s surface.

Then, whether it was a cheat of the visitor’s fancy or not, he
could never tell, something very extraordinary, if nota positive |
piece of enchantment, occurred. ee

Instantly the mirror began to picture forth other things than —
the mere skyey reflection—smoke-wreaths, human faces, human
figures, turbulent movements, rushing to and fro as in stir-
ring border frays; waving prairies, mountain glens, and what
not; and then the witch-picture was gone, and all was clear and
peaceful as before.

Wahwahnee, who had studiously bent over the passing picture
with a rapt expression, straightened herself, with a flashing look
for the visitor.

|
4
i.
‘‘Why, the girl’s eyes are blue—melting Saxon blue!” thought ‘ial
Diamond Dick, more strangely stirred than he would have ap- —
pear. ‘‘And the angelic features, are they not also the oa 4
Caucasian in type, for all their transparent olive hue?” a
Wahwahnee, her eyes again submissively Lent, had said some-
thing to her mistress in the unknown tongue. 4
“She says you are safe, white chief,” the Swan-Witch briefly
interpreted. ‘‘Walwahnee, go! Now, | Diamond Dick,” turn-
ing to him, as the girl obediently disappeared, ‘‘to your mission.
You are here for information respecting the outlaw horde known
as the Hoof-Lifters?”’
‘‘Altannah, it is true.’

f

   

 

 

 

   
  
   
   
 
  
 

‘“‘How do you chance to apply to me, or even to know of me?” a <
‘‘A year or more ago my chief friend and my chief enemy |

mysteriously disappeared from an Oregon wilderness —the |

former, who is a woman, doubtless vengefully on the nie of 2s a

the other, who is a man.

““My purpose, apart from this mission of mine against the a2

Hoof-Lifters, as a criminal band, is to find them both, and I
have reason to believe that where one lurks, or hides himself,
the other cannot be far away.

“Before crossing the border, I heard of your strange horniviane
personality by chance. The woman I seek had once masquer-
aded under a strange hermitess-character, somewhat similar to
what I heard ascribed to yourself. I thought But never
mind. That is what brings me to your lonely retreat.”

“Ha!”. with a sort of a sneer; ‘you thonght—possibly that the .
Swan-Witch of the Saskatchewan and your lost Lady of Esmer-
alda might prove one and the same?” Z

He started. a 4

“You seem to know much, Altannah. No, not exactly what
you infer; for I understood you to have always lived. here in
this wild, remote solitude. Moreover-——” S

“Moreover,” ’ yet more sneeringly, “there is no possibility of :
my being she?” a

“Not the slightest—I think; though you're odd and contra-_ a
dictory enough to be almost anything or everything.” f

‘Nor can you imagine,” indifferently, ‘‘your wanderer, and |
my girl, Wahwahnee, being one and the same?”

“Still less, Altannah. “But,” eagerly, ‘‘that wonderfully |
beautiful young creature——” y

“Ts nothing, and shall be nothing to you!” with sudden
harshness. ‘‘What should she be but the one to continue the
Swan-Woman line when I shall disappear in the course of |
nature, as others have disappeared, or become incorporated in’
my witch-life, before me?”

 

   
   
  

 

a

 

“What! Such a desolate fate for one so pure, so ovely, 80
innocent?” { ade
‘‘Have done, or quit me whsatisfied angrily. ‘ q ae

‘‘Altannah, I'am at youx service.’

‘Direct the glass in yout hand-at a point midway between the | 4
twin mountains to the north, and on the lake level. The‘instru- |
ment is a better one thanit looks, as he cast a rather dubious
look over the battered t bbe before adjusting it. §

{

 
 

‘
i

 

fi

     
   
 
   
    

:
 

   

_ Then an exclamation burst from Diamond Dick, as he sighted
_ the glass, = -
A wonderful night field-glass!” he exclaimed.
- ‘What do you make out?” impatiently.
“The water reaching far back in between the two mountains,
to a sort of narrow opening in the dense intervening trees.” __
> “Rnough! It is a secret path leading direct to the Hoof-Lift-
_ er’s cave-rendezvous. Two men are always on guard. The
band meets there in a body two nights of each week—Tuesdays
and Fridays. To-day is Thursday. A concealment of some one
in the cave between now and to-morrow night—that brave,
bright lad of yours would make a good spy—would identify
many of the scoundrels, for they hold their conferences un-
~ masked.” ;

‘Tt shall be done.”

‘Begone, then; there is nothing more.”

“Tn what way shall I compensate you, ma’am ?”

“In no way. Yetstay! You suspect the arrogant rancher,
Shadwell,”

“Vos.

‘Doubtless with reason. And you intend visiting his ranch?”

‘In the morning. There isa certain scoundrel there who .

  
  
  
    
   
 
 
  
  
 
  
   
   
    
   
   
     
  
   
    
    
 
    
   
 
 
  
   
   
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
    
  
  
  
 
   
     

 

noon.” =
: “Yes; what don’t you know?
_ “Beware of that man—a human wild boar—a prodigy of fero-
cious power! But you will be on the alert. There is a mystery
said to be connected with the man Shadwell (a mystery himself)
. . Which baffles my art. Should you get an inkling of the
truth s ;

“It shall be at your service, ma’am. What is the mystery?”
“A young girl—perhaps yet a mere child—is alleged to be
jealously concealed and guarded somewhere on this man’s

~ estate.”

“All that I can possibly discover shall be at your disposal,
‘ma’am.”’

‘Now go.”

He obeyed, without another word, and, rejoining his friends
on the beach, the return trip down the lake was effected without
further incident. i

When Diamond Dick and his friends reached Shadwell’s pre-

tentious ranch-estate, not long after breakfast on the following
-morning, the proprietor, accompanied by the very man they were
_ in search of, came out of the house to meet them, even before
_ they had dismounted. : :
: “Gentlemen,” said Mr. Shadwell, ‘I guess the nature of your
_ errand from certain intelligence that was conveyed to me by the
store-keeper, Ensco, last night. Let me assure you beforehand
that the suspicions, which I have been given to understand you
entertain against this trastworthy man at my side are unfounded.
I would almost be willing to answer for his honesty and integrity
with my life.”

Diamond Dick, with his customary promptness in suiting the
action to the business in hand, at once jumped off his horse, pro-
duced the paper diagram of the tell-tale footprint, and, with a
few brusque words of explanation, sought to compare it with
_ one of the giant’s booted feet.

“Hoot, ye white-faced scoundrel!” roared Skillen, who was
also of Scoteh paternity, and he started back indignantly, while
_ laying his hand on the lumberman’s ax that was stuck in his
- mighty beit, with no more incongruity than would have ap-
- peared the regulation tomahawk in an ordinary hunter’s girdle.

_ “Wad ye insoolt me wi’ your dirty suspicions? Awa’ wi’ ye, or

TL foorgait mysel’ clean!

“It is too bad!” interposed Shadwell, with his most self-im-
ant air. ‘A queen's loyal subject to be subjected to such a
racding suspicion from a—a mere American!”
Hold your tongue!” reproved Diamond Dick, with the metal-
ic ring of warning in his voice. “A pretty queen’s subject, youl
Here!” and he turned roughly to Skillen, who for the moment
was absolutely bewildered by his temerity; ‘I want to compare
hat left hoof of yours with this diagram, my man. If they agree
sxactly, you are unquestionably the villain who attempted my
assination from ambush yesterday afternoon—and most likely
i that. sleek-faced seoundrel’s procurement or instigation!” with
a@ nod toward Shadwell. “If there is no agreement, then you are
innocent, and my apology shall be cheerfully accorded, as be-
veen man and man.”
: Thé colossus had by this time so far recovered his self-posses-
_ Sion that a species of hushed white wrath had replaced his more
~~ demonstrative fury and astonishment. ; a
=. ‘Vere a bowld laddie!” he managed to sneer out in a hoarse,
guttural kind of gasp, as if he were half choking. ‘Chair be the
foot o’\me—mak’ the comparison ef ye)dare!”’ :
With that, he thrust the huge foot in question slightly for-

eid

22

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

  
  

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
   

Do
oe

    
  
  
   

 

  

ie

  

- NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

‘‘Who, you think, attempted your assassination this after-

-more than echoed the sentiment.

  
     
  
 

 
     

a = *

liped it aloft with one hand like a willow wand.

ward, and, plucking the great ax from his belt, hurled “and ae
Diamond Dick dropped on one knee with the ‘rapidity oe

dragging both feet from under him, and then, while Skillen was

momentarily stunned and helpless, made the required compari-

son with all the coolness in the world.

‘It agrees!” he cried. ‘Look, all of you! The sole of his
left boot here fits the diagram to a hair.
mounted police, I accuse this man of attempting my assassina-
tion. Arrest him!” — 2 : F

 

CHAPTER IY.
THE HOOF-LIFTERS’ RETREAT.

But before a single constable could spring from the saddle to
execute this demand, it was too late to think of it, ee
Slab-foot had suddenly regained his feet and his ax with a
bound, while a shrill whistle, which Shadwell promptly sounded,
brought eighteen or twenty of his cowboys, all thoroughly armed, —
running to the spot from the adjacent out-buildings and corrals,
“Gentlemen,” observed Mr. Shadwell, turning dignifiedly to- ~

me as presuming to resist any legal process, No, sirs! asaloyal. —
Dominion man, I shall be the first to submit to any warrant that
may be duly served. None such is at present forthcoming.

Therefore, I stand between my employee and the injustice which =

this American border guide-detective would put upon him.
Gentlemen, as a loyal man, as her majesty’s faithful subject-—_””__

“‘Oh, give us something else,” interrupted Diamond Dick, re- _
mounting his horse with an air of unmitigated disgust. “You
a loyal queen’s subject? Ifyou are not proved to be an Ameri- —
can renegade, and perhaps something far worse, it will be no
fault of mine.” o

The rancher’s disfigured face had grown livid with wrath, but
he kept his temper within bounds. oe :

‘Be sure you live to prove what you say, young man,” he con-
tented himself with replying, with quiet significance.

‘Diamond Dick!” at this juncture thundered Slab-foot Skillen,
who had retired a few paces, after gathering himself together,
and was glaring at our hero with the face of ademon. ‘‘Ye ha’
made yoursel’ my mortal foe, and here is my challenge. That
when we meet again it s’al be to the death wi’ cold steel, an’ nae

quarter! Is it a bairgain?”’ ~~

 

“Done!” was the prompt reply. a

And then, as Diamond Dick started. to ride away, he was
looked upon as a doomed man by pretty much every one present,
save his immediate followers, such was the deadly reputation of
the giant half-breed in duels of this nature.

“Wait!” suggested Anthers, as the entire party were moving
off, and he gave Diamond Dick a significant look. ‘‘All this ac-
eusation business was rather ungeremonious, and it won’t do to ~

| leave a man of this Mr. Shadwell’s consequence under a wrong

impression.
matters out.”

And he rode back with that intent, much to Dick’s satisfaction,
for the latter had confided to Anthers what the Swan-Witch had
said concerning the mysterious young girl alleged to be hidden
away at the ranch, and doubted not his ability to make some
discovery thereon. :

Diamond Dick and his partners, with the mounted policemen,
then rode off for the constable’s camp, where our three friends
were booked for an invitation to dinner.

‘You are carrying it boldly, you men,” commented Marden,
with a smile. ‘I only hope that you'll carry it through as
well.”

‘They ean depend on us, though, come what may,” observed
Beeswax, cheerfully. :

“Of course.” : t

‘‘A bluff is often in order in every game,” said Mr. Dexter, —
with a shrug of his immense breadth of shoulders.

‘“‘My friends,” remarked Diamond Dick, seriously, ‘‘there is
really no bluff at all in the path that my pards and Ihave marked —_
out for ourselves, and are bent upon pursuing. You have one
way of managing an affair, we Americans have another. Let us
see which way will down the Hoof-Lifters first.” ce
‘‘Thatis fair!” cried Marden, heartily, and his fellow officials
‘Stand by us, and we'll stand

Pll tarry with him awhile, and try to smooth

4

DY Your a
7 Mhet’s the tork,” suddenly interposed Bertie, with his frank,

boyish laugh, as he carelessly brought down a passing swallow
with a shot from his revolver.
going to be treated so bang-up by you ‘uns when we fust

      

 

And

Jumped ther border-line, did we, dad?” aS
then, with a second playful shot, he knocked the head off

     

 

     
   

  
      

thought, threw the giant a burster on his back by seizing and

 

Officers of the Qneen’s' _~ 2

 

 

 

 

ward the officials and their companions, “pray don’t understand __

“But we hardly thought we were

 

   
 

Ne. 97.

NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. c

 

eS

 

a little water-snake that happened to pop up for: an instant out

ef an adjacent pool.

“Of course, it takes time for men to find out their friends ¥

said Diamond Dick, thoughtfully.

Here they came to the camp, which consisted of a number of
comfortable log huts in the thick woods bordering the Saskatche-
wan, where considerable bodies of the mounted police were wont
to abide or rendezvous at times, and where Lieutenant Marden’s
handsome wife, who kept house for her husband and his com-
panions, with an Indian servant’s assistance, smilingly weleomed
the guests. :

The dinner was an excellent one, and Mr. Anthers put in an
appearance from Shadwell’s just as it was being served.

“There is a mystery at the ranch, and no mistake,” he took
occasion to communicate to Diamond Dick later on. ‘I
managed to make friends with Shadwell in short order, for the
snob had got if into his head that Iam a real live lord in dis-
guise, which was quite enough for him. Then I was not long
in discovering an old Indian servant woman in his house; whom
I had had occasion to perform a good service for two or three
years ago. She was grateful, aftera fashion, and gave me a
small tip.”

‘About the secreted child, or young girl?’ asked Diamond
Dick, quickly.

“Yes; though the tip was a very slight one. The old woman
would merely acknowledge that tlrere was such a personage, and
that was all.”

- “What did you infer?”

“That Shadwell has in concealment, or semi-concealment,
either a young daughter, or perhaps a ward, whom he is in con-
stant and mortal fear of being deprived of.”

“That is something, anyway; and will enable me to show the
Swan- Witch, should I meet her again, that I have interested my-.
self in her affair.’

“Yes, and I haven’t a doubt but that more will be forthcoming
ere long. The old Indian woman at the ranch will retain her
good opinion of me. JI have seen to that already.» You intend
to look for that grotto-retreat of the Lifters at the head of the
lake this afternoon?”

“Yes; they will rendezvous there to-night, according to A\)-
tannah, and I may haveachance of secreting Bertie in the cave,
for the purpose of making discoveries.”

“Tf Marden has no objection—he i is my superior officer, you
know—I'll go along with you.

“Do so, by all means.’

Anthers accordingly accompanied the trio, as on the preced-
ing night, and they presently set out once more for Deepwater
Lake, ostensibly on a fishing excursion, after securing bait and
tackle of little Monsieur Burlot, of the Star Inn, to keep up ap-
pearances.

Their canoe was now provided with a sail, the wind being
favorable, and they were thus enabled to proceed more expedi-
tiously than on the previous excursion.

Diamond Dick and Anthers were ensconced at the stern, some-
what apart from the two others, as they were passing the Swan-
Woman’s island, though without obtaining any glimpse of
aught thereon or thereabouts, save the flock of birds; the master-
adventurer observed, after a thoughtful study of his companion,
who had long maintained an unwonted air of preoccupation and
reserve:

‘‘Anthers—since you ‘prefer to be called such—you are an odd
young fellow. In fact, I used to remark it when t was scouting
for your hunting party down there Montana-ways.’

“You mean that, perhaps, there is some mystery in me, tv0?”
with a questioning smile.

“Yes; or, least, that your wonted, devil-may-carish, happy-go-
lucky manner is only skin-deep, masking some deep-seated anx-
iety or trouble. That I am confident of.”

“To youl shall attempt no further concealment, Diamond

Dick,” replied the young Englishman, after a reflective pause.
‘In fact, you are right. I have -haunting, incesssant anxiety
anderneath my naturally smiling demeanor. I feel that I can
confide it to, and that it will relieve my mind to do so.”

“Pray do then, I beg of you.”

‘My story can be put in a nutshell. Fifteen years ago, when
I was on a hunting expedition with my father (the fifth Viscount
of Chabdis, whose title and estates I have since succeeded to), i
the North- west territory hereabouts, which was, of course, foe
wilder and more perilous then than now. My mother and
other ladies were of the party, and she had with her my littie
sister, the Lady Laura, the loveliest child of three years you
ever set eyes on. Our party was unexpectedly attacked by hos-
tile Indians, at Les Chien Loupe (the Foxes), ten miles to the
north of Les Casqueties, the very twin mountains toward which we
are now sailing.

‘‘We beat them off, with a loss of several of our number, but

 

2 : - * . .
when our savage epemies fled, it was with my little sister

 

| did. _

   
   
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
  
    
 
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
 
 
   
  
   
    
  
   
   
   

our
adored child, as their captive. A year of fruitless search, stim-
ulated by the offer of enormous rewards, followed. On our way
back to England, my mother died of a broken heart. Just as £
came of age, my father also died, and i succeeded to everything.
But a haunting impression that the lost one was. still alive Op- —

pressed me, and it has so impressed me ever since.

“‘T am a roving wanderer on the face of the earth, chiefly. in
this North-west wilderness, with one hope, one object in hfe—
to discover and rescue the lost one.

“Thus far I have not come upon the remotest shadow of a
clew. But I shall keep at it till my search 1s successful, or un-
til death overtakes me. Such is my story.”

It was no less simple than pathetic, and Diamond Dick’s sole —
comment was to extend his hand, and grasp that of his compan—
ion with a sympathetic pressure,

Suddenly the thought of Wahwahnee, the Swan-Woman’s
beautiful companion, occurred to him. Twelve years, added to ~
three, would make fifteen, about Wahwahnee’s apparent age, 7 —
But Diamond Dick, in briefly describing his interview with Al-©
tannah, had omitted to make any mention whatever of her »
mysterious lovely girl-companion. Somehow or another, he -
was equally reticent now, notwithstanding what Anther’s toueh=
ing little narrative might have suggested in the way of possi-
bilities.

‘‘Who knows?” he said to himself. ‘‘At all events, snppose
that that beautiful creature should turn out to be the long-miss-
ing luady Lanra, where would be the chance for a nobody, like
myself for instance, who might have suddenly and indubitably
fallen head over ears in love with her? However, we shall “ae
and see—wait and see.’

As the canoeists approached their destination, they were about.
to lower their sail and get out their fishing- -tackle for appear-
ances’ sake, when a small canoe, containing two men, with &
general look of genuine fishermen, darted out from under! ‘the :
nearest mountain, and paddied out to meet them.

“There are two men always on guard at the robbers’ cave, ac-—
cording to the Swan-Witch,”’ observed Diamond Dick, who was
having the management of the craft. ‘‘Anthers, you have the

telescope. fake a critical squint at those two chaps, and. give
an opinion.’

Anthers accordingly did so.

‘‘Ruffians, and doubtless Lifters, in disguise!’ was his prompt
report. “Indeed, I think I recognize one of them as a sometime —
loafer around Ensco’s store; and both are evidently armed to the
teeth underneath those loose fisherman’s blouses.”’ a

“All right!” coolly. ‘Look out for squalls, all hands, for 4°
something is going to happen.” oe

Dick accordingly brought the canoe lazily up into the wind,
as if with the unsuspicious intention of allowing the strange
craft to come alongside, and then, watching his opportunity,
suddenly bore down upon her with arrowy mercilessness, eut-
ting her completely in two.

The occupants had only time to roar out a few curses before
they were tumbled into the lake.

One apparently sunk almost instantly, to rise no moré; the
other, dripping and more or less terror-stricken, speedily found
himself his rescuers’ prisoner.

‘“‘Hallo, Pierre Chabotte!” cried Anthers, for the captive was.
really the fat Canuck ruffian whom Handsome Harry had
humorously experimented upon at the inn-dock the preceding —
evening. ‘‘Been on guard up here at the Lifters’ grottd for
change, eh?”

‘No, no!” protested the Canuck. ‘‘We know nuzzing of zo
Leeftair’s. Ze fish no bite zis morning, zat is all.”

‘Well, may be something else will bite, if the fish wont,
What!” pulling open the fellow’s drenched blouse, to the fovea
tion of the pistols and cartridge-belt beneath; ‘‘this is your accus=
tomed fish-bait, eh, Pierre Chabotte?”

The captive continued his protests, though somewhal more
feebly, while Handsome Harry and Bertie roared with laughter,

“Who was your comrade who sank out of sight?” demanded
Anthers, sternly. ‘Shandy Gaff, your betting pHseipel y et last
evening, or Gripson, the Grizzly?”

“Shandy Gaff,” was the sullen response.

“Leave the cuss to me now,” quietly suggested Didmond:
n| Dick, as he made a skillful landing in a convenient little cove.

Five minutes later, the party arrived at the path between the —
mountains which he ‘had sighted with the Swan-Woman’ 8 tele- —
scope on the previous night. —

“Lead the way!” commanded Diamond Dick, clappin re-

volver to the prisoner’s head, while striding forward in ad Bnee
with him. ‘‘And let it be direct to the Lifter’s grotto, or
can guess the rest.” i

‘J shall obey,” murmured the terrified Canuck; and ob
 
  

   
     
 
  
 
  
   
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
      
      
   
 
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
      
  

7 CHAPTER V.
TO THE DEATH.

Far back through the wood, the party-presently came to what
seemed a blank wall of rugged precipice, but where their guide
~ speedily caused a rugged cave-opening to appear, by jerking
vigorously at a flat, panel-like rock, which thereupon swung out-
ward upon a concealed pivot and swivel. :

The opening was even large enough to admit the passage of a
man on horseback, while the interior was something of a

4 marvel.
. There were three spacious continuous caves, The first or
* outer one was fitted up with numerous stalls and other accom-
* modations for horses, two animals, which Pierre Chabotte said
\ were laid up with bad sprains, being already there. The second
‘a magnificent natural banqueting hall, for which, indeed, it was

eo

for ornamentation. And the third or innermost chamber, the
most spacious of all, was packed with plunder, probably the
proceeds of many months, if not years, of successful and indis-
eriminate depredations over a wide extent of country.

All the caves were fairly lighted from natural apertures in
their roofs, which seemed to reach up through the very summit
ofthe mountain. _ .

Pierre Chabotte, their prisoner, who had been permitted to
loiter somewhat tothe rear while calling forth certain affable
explanations for those who were more curiously and eagerly
pushing on the advance, suddenly yelled out, ‘‘Ze ghost! ze
ghost!’ and, turning abruptly, took to his heels at seemingly
‘panic-stricken speed.

“After him!” yelled Diamond Dick, the first to penetrate the
ruse, and leading the pursuit, sending out a hasty bullet
ortwoas heran. ‘It’sa dodge, a trick, a plant!”

But the fugitive had developed most unexpected running
powers, considering his rotundity, and had, moreover gained a
considerable start.

The chagrined pursuers only reached the open air, after some
further detention at the opening, which the fugitive had suc-

ceeded in partly blocking, in time to see two figures riding
swiftly away through the woods, on horses which had doubtless
been secreted therein, against some sort of an emergency.

One was that of fat Mr. Pierre Chabotte, the other a man more
freshly drenched than he, and therefore quite evidently the sup-
posed-to-be drowned rascal, who had doubtless succeeded in
Swimming to the shore under the water’s surface.

_A very short time later, the canoe was on the homeward tack,
apparently with her original complement of three men and boy
on board; but with this distinction, that the latter was but an
improvised dummy, made up at Handsome Harry’s side in the
be y an arrangement of Bertie’s jacket and hat, while the real
_ Bertie, minus those discarded articles, had been left behind to
- ¢onceal himself as best he might in the robbers’ cave.
- On-reapproaching the Swan-Woman’s island from the north,
they perceived a large canoe, containing several men, and carry-
ing a much larger sail than theirs, putting off from its southern
~~ extremity: _
“Jt’s Shadwell himself, by Jove!’’ cried Anthers, after a brief
_ examination with the glass. -‘And he’s got several of his cow-
_ boys with him, though Slab-foot Skillen isn’t among ’em. What
_ @an he have been wanting with the Swan-Witeh?”
“Heaven grant that he may not have murdered the poor old
ereature already!’ exclaimed Diamond Dick. ‘‘This thing has
got to be investigated on thespot.” And he accordingly steered

  

In the meantime, the other canoe was fleeting rapidly away
toward the south-west. apparently without its inmates being
aware of the canoe-party approaching from the upper end of the
Jake. .,

A landing being effected, Diamond Dick proceeded alone to
the ¢abin on the mountain-crest, where he found Altannah
awaiting him at the door. ~ :

“You have taken my advice thus promptly, with regard to the
robbers’ cave?” she asked, quickly.

“Yes.” And he briefly told her what had occurred at the
grotto. « e

‘his is well,” continued the Swan-Witch, energetically. ‘You
must now proceed with the utmost caution for several days, and
at the same time keep the specious villain who has just visited
‘mre here under constant watch.”

What did Shadwell want?” ;
‘What he will never get!” shortly. “Away now! and rely
yon me to send or bring you information when needed.”

  

NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. _

|summary and unsatisfactory manner.

obviously put to use, with glorious stalagmites and stalactites |

direct for the nearest point on the island. “4

   

No,

But Diamond Dick had no liking for being dismissed

threatened you accordingly, I hope?” he demanded. = y

“No!” abruptly.
my maid Wahwalhnee, though I took care that he should not!
Now go!” ; ; oe

‘The rich rancher hasn’t discovered your kindness to me, and

set his thoughts upon that peerless creature ?’’ :

A ghastly smile seemed to flit across the Swan-Witch’s mummy-_
like face. eS

“Tt would be for no passion for her that he could wish to get
Wahwahnee in his power,” she replied, impatiently. «Why
don’t you begone when I command it?” :

Diamond Dick reflected a moment, and then moved off with
unexpected promptness. 2

‘All right, Altaunah,” he said. “I thought to give you
a piece of news, that you seemed keen enough to obtain last
night, but no matter. Good-day to you, my witch!”

But she was after him with a bound, her youthfully strong

contrast with her aged face—palpitating with emotion. ao

‘‘Ha! I had forgotten,” she hoarsely exclaimed, her eyes glit-
tering. ‘Thou wast to bring me word of the child which that
villain hath concealed somewhere upon his new estate?”

“Yes, yes; but no matter. I must be going now. You have
commanded it.”

“Speak, speak!’ wildly.
child?”

‘Secret for secret!” res

‘‘Ha! Well, then, it shall be so. Only tell me yours first.
I swear to satisfy you to the same extent that you do me!”

‘‘What have you learned of the

had he to impart on his side? However, he was too honorable
to attempt an exchange of secrets to the old woman’s disadvan-
tage, notwithstanding the devouring nature of his own curiosity.

‘He does keep such a child in confinement,” he replied. “I
have learned that much froma friend. I shall find out some-
thing more definite for youin a day or two.” © s

A look of bitter disappointment came into her face.

‘‘Your present information is truly excessive!” she said, coldly, -
“I knew or guessed that much before. Go, now!” e

“To your bargain, witch!” exclaimed Diamond Dick, menac-
ingly. ‘Don’t palter with me. What could Shadwell have —
wanted with Wahwalinee?” an

‘*Why should you, veteran adventurer that you are, be so par-
ticularly interested in my little Indian maid?”

‘‘Because—because I love her!” with almost an oath, so sud-
den was his passionate utterance. ‘‘Yes, by Heaven, it is true!—
true, to my own astonishment and bewilderment. Now, speak!”

“Tt was secret for secret. I will give you just as mueh as you
gave me—perhaps a little more. Shadwell has heard of a great
standing reward for the recovery of a white child, of high-born
English parents, stolen away by Indians years ago. He has got |
it into his head that Wahwahnee, may possibly be that child—a —
preposterous notion. Get you gone!” ae

She not only quitted his side, but ran into the cabin, closing—
the door behind her.

Diamond Dick returned to his partyin a decidedly disturbed
state of mind, but with his face as impassive as was his wont.

‘Shadwell don’t suspect*the old girl of treachery as yet,” was
all the report he vouchsafed his companions, as he stepped to his
place in the canoe. ‘‘She can be as dumb as a fish when she
chooses—a queer old critter. Push off.’’

They returned to the officers’ camp, with the intention of se-
cluding themselves pretty closely until Bertie should make his
way back with his report, in any event. S

But toward sunset of thissame afternoon, Diamond Dick, who
was oppressed by an unusual sense of-_restlessness, strolled
away from the camp, with the simple announcement that he
would go to the inn and take a look at his party’s horses, which
were stabled there, * oe

After satisfying himself on this point, he entered into Mon-
sieur Burlot’s cozy bar-room, and, seating himself by an open
window, called for a glass of wine. 5

This was furnished him, and he remained meditatively in his
seat, the warm, ruddy light from the declining sun flashing
over the waters of the neighboring river, and flooding him
through the window with its peaceful radianee.

Both el

the little French landlord and @elestine, his plump
Acadian wife, were busied behind the little counter, though
now and then pausing to throw theit si nest—the little
round tables and stiff-backed chairs se deserted— |
glances of respectful commiseration. :

   
  

   
    
     
 

 

|
1

 

     

va £ es
“So handsome, and still a young m ally pale

in this e

Diamond Dick hesitated, for how much, or rather how little, 2

‘He was intent upon seeing, not me, but = i

“What!” cried Dick, both his alarm and his curiosity now-at a.
|the highest pitch; ‘‘that-villain, that monster, to have dared to _
Se |

clutch upon his arm, her full bosom—in such extraordinary

 

  
 
 

ri = ~~ oe

 

 

: No. 97.

dark-mustached American, of the easily-graceful, superbly
athletic figure, so picturesquely clad, with the gleam of his
liamond btttons!” they thought to themselves. ‘And yet to
di6S0 soon, to be so surely doomed in the flower and vigor of
toble manhood! Ah, the pity, the sorrow, the hopelessness

  

  

already had the news of the giant half breed’s sinister
enge, ‘To the death when we meet again, with cold
[that our hero should ever come out of the peril alive was
r so much as remotely dreamed. ee
arelessly unconscious of the public interest that might be
ring upon him and his prospective fate, Diamond Dick was
ost in his thoughtful reverie when he was partly aroused by
of voices, seemingly approaching the entrance of the long,
eiled wine-room.
en both Handsome Harry and Anthers peeped hurriedly in
him, with a dozen or more pairs of startled eyes looking in
1eir shoulders or around their persons. . :
ab-foot Skillen, pard!’ cried Harry and Anthers, almost in a
ut ‘“‘He’s coming for you!”
Diamond Dick gravely waved them back, and then took in the
e of his surroundings with a single comprehensive glance;
from long precautionary custom, he had chosen his seat far
, so as to command tlie entire sweep of the apartment at a
ee, while having his rear and flank, as it were, perfectly
‘ded against a surprise.
m, remembering the nature of the challenge, he quietly
ed off his girdle-sash, with its clustering paraphernalia of
g irons, et al, and motioned to the Frenchman to come
e it.
ut—but,” stammered the appalled little man, while, never-
8, obeying tle command, ‘‘will monsieur wholly disarm
979

  

  

  

 
 

  

  
 
 
 
   
  
  
   
  

as Ibid you!” was the stern command, Diamond Dick,
g neglected no provision-for the emergency. ‘Retire to
at Sli
renchman tremblingly obeyed, and had no sooner done
n, with a sort of multitudinous attendant murmur from the
ing villagers and others without, Slab-foot Skillen strode
igh the door-way entrance.

ole weapon—a huge ax, much larger and more murder-
aspect than the one he usually carried in his belt—was
by both hands, and raised high over his head.

avage face was distorted with diabolical hatred, fury,
Itation, his eyes shone like burning coals.

‘Ugh!” he snorted, in a harsh guttural that was half-Scotch
and half-Indian in its devilish suggestiveness. ‘Here a’ be,
Maister Deeamond Deeck! an’ it’s naething but the ower cauld
steel to th’ deeth.”

‘buagad Dick had silently glided to his feet, in the ruddy
shaft of sunset that poured in through the open casement, in his
right hand a stout, long-bladed knife, which he had produced
| from the sleeve of his other arm.

Without a word he lifted the weapon aloft, and by several
dextrous twists of the wrist caused its-bright blade to flash the
strong sunshine, by reflection, along the entire length of the
room directly into his adversary’s eves.

Fascinated in spite of himself, the half-breed, still without
lowering his terrible ax, fixed his glance for an instant curiously
and blinkingly upon the uwéxpected flash-play.

A fatal instant!

In the next succeeding one, the American bravo was upon him,
with a series of instantaneous panther-like bounds, the ax falling
— and the knife descending in the ensuing shock seemingly at one
and the same breath, as both contestants went down together,
the giant half-breed undermost.

As the horrified crowd rushed to the entrance, Diamond Dick
| rose to his feet uninjured, but with the ax that had been intend-
__ d to cleave his skull, buried helve-deep in the stout oaken floor
- behind him.
Slab-foot Skillen did not rise, nor even move.

_ Hewas not only stone-dead, but pinned to the floor by the

strong-driven knife, which, after splitting his savage heart in
_ twain, had penetrated deep into the wood down underneath.

“Come, my friends,” coolly observed the survivor, recovering
his weapon with a wrenching, tugging jerk, and wiping it on
his dead enemy’s person, “there doesn’t seem to be any more
_ -business on hand here.”
+» But, ashe passed out with Harry and Anthers, he gave Shad-
~ well and Enseco, who had come crowding in with the rest, a look
that they were not likely to forget.

    

   
  
  
   

t
f

____NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. _

and no quarter!’’ and its acceptance gone far and wide, |

the time I stated. A few hours will bear me out in what I BS-

 

  
  

 
       
     
    
 

CHAPTER VIL

i
A SURPRISING PIECE OF NEWS — BERTIN’S LUCK — WAITING — |
WAHWAHNEE’S MYSTERY, ;

     
  

y

9
i

  
  

On their way back to the camp—and the reader may be sure
that no one dreamed of disputing their way thither—Diamond |
Dick and his group of friends—for the three other constables,
besides Anthers, had witnessed his triumph in the duel—were
surprised to hear steps hastening after them along the wooded,
river-bordering path.
They were still further surprised to perceive that they be-
longed to ‘‘Shandy Gaff,” who had made the ridiculous wager
with Handsome Harry on the previous evening.
He came up to them with a look of. mingled respect, awe, and
propitiation in his coarse, but not wholly brutal face, that
was something of a study.
“T’d like to be on good terms with you law-chaps,” he said,
in a hesitating, half-abashed way, and in his harsh Canadian |
patois, that was neither poor French nor bad English, but a
strange jumble of the two. ‘You may not believe me, but, by ]
St. Denis, I mean it!”
The others stood curiously to one side, while Marden, the chief
official, confronted the man with a certain severe and suspicious ~
air. *

 
   
    

 

   
   
   
    
 
    
    
     
 

 

}

 

 
 
  

 

   
      
 

i
|
{
“Gaff,” said Marden, ‘‘you’ve been marked as a ‘bad one’ fore
along time hereabouts.”’ : i |
“I know it,” was the earnest reply, in the jargon which we |
make no attempt to reproduce. ‘But is that any reason why i 1
shouldn’t wish to turn over a new leaf?’’ oe £4
‘‘Humph! We have even long suspected you of affiliating, “
either secretly or openly, with the Hoof-Lifters.”’ Ae
“I won’t attempt to answer that suspicion now, sir. But ¥ ©
hope I may be torn apart by wild horses if you receive any =
cause for strengthening that suspicion in the future—if you only —
trust me now. As an earnest of my good faith, I bring you |

this instant a piece of news worth having, too; and more shall
be forthcoming, if I can secure it for you.” “—
The fellow’s rough earnestness was not without its impression a
upon his hearers. a
Marden received a sign from Diamond Dick, and then, after & .
:

a

  
   
     
 

  
   
   
   
  
  
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
    
     
   
 
 

few whispered words from Anthers, he continued: es ea
‘What prompts you to this sudden desire for reformation,
Gaff?” Te
“More things than one,” was the reply. ‘In the first place; ;
I can’t afford to buck against an authority having that man on ©
its side,”’ with a profoundly respectful motion toward Diamond aN
Dick. ‘Then, again, on general principles; I have, as you may.
know, an Indian wife and three cLildren, whom I really love, at
my little place at Les Chienloups,” (the Foxes or Wolf-Dogs.) ‘.
‘“‘Ruffianism never has paid me. I want to be on the safe side.” “|
“All right. What’piece of news do you bring us now?” ea
‘‘Shad well”—Gaff threw several apprehensive glances around.
him—‘‘the secret leader-in-chief of the Lifters since he has been
in these parts, will cut and run for it within three days.”
“What!” incredulously; ‘“‘why, his large ranch and stock -
which he has scarcely been in possession of for. a twelve. ©
month S : ¥
“Is already closed out to the syndicate of Montreal capitalists
who have been operating here in Assiniboia for some time past,
and who will take possession of Shadwell’s concerns inside of

 

 
 

 

 

sert.”’ 3
“This is well worth knowing, if substantiated,” said Marden
“Gaff, you can come with usto our cabin.”
Then, as the march was resumed, Diamond Dick and At
thers, by a preconcert, fell back alongside of the news-bringer. —
‘You can, perhaps, assist us to certain private information,”
said the young Englishman, ‘‘for which we shall be gladly will-
ing to help you in return.” : =
“Tl do anything to oblige you two-—that gentleman espe~
cially,” replied Gaff, indicating the American. <
“Good!” put in Diamond Dick, with his customary decisive-
ness. ‘Shadwell has a child, a young girl, concealed some=
where on his place. . Do you know anything about her?” 4
“A good deal, and I can learn yet more. The child is his
daughter, or he pretends she is, and somehow loves him as
daughter might, too.” 2:
‘What! in spite of his keeping her thus a prisoner?” ns
‘‘Well, perhaps he persuades the young one that it is -all for 4
her good. Anyhow, she is restricted, under constant watch and
guard, to a pretty cabin and grounds far back in the deep canon

a

    
NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. —

 

 

at the rear of his ranch buildings, and doesn’t seem to pine
much. But then she has several young Indian playmates, and

- they've pretty much everything that money can buy to amuse
themselves with.”

“You know all this of your own knowledge?”

“<I do.”

‘How did you learn it?”

-*T’m not at liberty to tell that—not now, at least.”

“Could you lead us thither in force inside of the three days;
before Shadwell gets ready to light out, you know?”

“Yes; only I shall haveto take time to spy and nose around
somewhat first.”

“All right; the time shall be given you.

**Yes.”

_ Gaff remained at the cabin with the rest until after supper,
and then took himself off, with the promise to report again dur-
ing the next day.

“You have no doubt, I suppose, then,’ said Anthers to
iamond Dick, later on, ‘‘that this concealed child is the little
eiress-niece of Miss Fanshaw’s, who was originally carried off
rom Esmeralda Ranch, two years ago, and who subsequently
gured in your campaign against the White Wolves of Uma-
lla?”

“No more doubt,” was the reply, ‘sth I have that Shadwell
imself is the whilom desperado, Mountain Lion Mike, whom

have told you of. Oh, if we can only bring it home to him at
e same time!”

*‘But why should the Swan- Witch of the Saskatchewan be so
nterested in the child’s recovery.’

“I don’t know, save that she may be in Miss Fanshaw’s secret
ay to thatend. So much the better, should it prove so; for

hat would also put me once more in communication with Cap-

~ tain Fanny herself, whose mysterious masquerading as the Wild
Woman of Buzzard Butte I have already told you something

bout.”
-* The night passed without incident, but by daybreak of the
following day, Bertie unexpectedly appeared at the camp, and

: dJooking not a little the worse for wear and tear.

= He was mounted, bare-back, on a horse that was completely

: Anocked up, and also half- covered with flecks of blood and foam,
the former from numerous fore-and-aft bullet-scratches, while
Bertie himself his face begrimed with sweat and powder-smoke,

as carrying his left arm in an improvised sling, from a rather

_ Severe flesh-wound, whose consequent bleeding had left him
searcely able to sit on the animal’s back.

_ His story, however, which was forthcoming after he had been
properly nourished and cared for, was of a character no less sat-
isfactory than exciting. -
+ He had concealed himself so skillfully in the banqueting, or
middle chamber of the Lifters’s cave-retreat, that the entire
oe band, thirty or forty in number, and including Shadwell and
= -Ensco, the former as the presiding leader-in-chief, had assem-
* bled to feast and talk over their nefarious business, without so
3 much as suspecting his spying presence.
_.. He was even enabled to furnish the mounted police with such
* individual descriptions, that there would be no trouble in arrest-
-_ ing a large number of them at their homes forthwith, on his tes-
j timony alone.

Then the sudden entrance of a terrier dog into the hall at the
~ heels of a late-coming Lifter had, unfortunately betrayed the lurk-
ser s presence, and Bertie had to cut and run for his life, whack-
sing out right and left with his revolver as he fled.

3. Reaching the open air with the entire band hot in his pur-
suit, he had leaped on the back of the first horse that was at

and, which ¢hanced to be provided with a bridle, but no sad-

e “Then he dashed off through the woods at hap-hazard,

d had finally succeeded in distancing his pursuers, though

without receiving more than one fusillade from behind,

Is it an agreement?”

r which, day beginning to break, he had at last been en-’

yled to reach the camp in the sorry condition described.
e entire remainder of the day was passed in a watching-and-
ting game, whose monotony was somewhat relieved, how-
r, by another visit from the reformed ruffian, Shandy Gaff,
ha fresh and equally gratifying report as to Shadwell’s in-
tions and movements.
his was to the effect that the rancher intended to up-stakes
nd clear out for the nearest railroad point, with all his per-
sonal belongings, before the following day, by which time
his sale to the syndicate was expected to be consummated,
: with the transfer of the cash agreed on, doubtless amounting to
» alarge sum.
And Gaff was now in readiness to pilot an expedition up into
‘the canon containing the girl-captive, whenever it should be
projeeted i sufficient force to sweep away all opposition before
a8 S

Nearly at the same time,

4

3g

 

Marden received a message to the

effect that the expected reinforcements from the headquarter:
the Dominion mounted police would surely reach the onmy
the ensuing midnight. a
It was therefore generally agreed that the erand robber- crush-
ing expedition should start by daybreak the next morning, tak-_
ing in the disposition of Shadweil’s individual case, and the —
accompanying rescue business on the way to the Lifters’ cave-
retreat, where it was hoped that at least a majority of the band
would be killed, or captured in a body. aS
But Diamond Dick, who for the first time in many years, was. cS
experiencing the tender passion in its fullest intensity, had been
secretly ill at ease throughout the entire day.
Accordingly, unable to endure the feeling that was oppressing
more and more—a persistent foreboding that some immediate
evil was menacing or preparing for Wahwahnee—he stole away
from the cabin at a late hour of the evening, without aay tne 2 Be
word as to his resolved intention.

Half an hour.later, he was paddling swiftly and silewily aa ay af as

in the lightest canoe he could slip away with, headed for Deep- {
water Lake. See

Reaching the lake at last, he headed away direct for the Swan-
Woman’s Island by a species of instinct, even before he could
plainly sight its rocky head over the broad watery expanse, or
as if led thither by a powerful ene over which he had no ]
control. =

It was, indeed, a magnetism, the age-old, all-powerful magnet- <
ism of love, now at last possessing his intense inner nature with
its invisible spell.

He seemed to be absolutely alone upon the waters—a soli {
amid the solitude of the great, shining lake. ~

He finally approached the island, with its cates flocks of
swans, idling, sleeping, or disporting peacefully here and there,
and as he did soit seemed that a solitary feminine figure was
standing upon the rock-crest, delicately outlined against the
starry sky beyond, and perhaps wistfully observing his P
proach.

Altannah, the Swan-Witch, herself, most likely.

Still, he rested from his labor for an instant to level his pocket
field-glass at the distant figure.

He caught his breath.

-It was Wahwahnee—the beautiful young Todiag or alien girl,
Bie innocent and chaste Miranda of this Western solitude, who
had so swiftly become the idol of that battle-tried, long-mateless,
oft-desolated heart.

Might she be recognizing him in turn—perhaps even guessing —
at the passionate ardor that was bearing him over the waste of
waters to her beauteous side, the little crucifix, which he had~
marked that she wore, meantime

“Rising and falling in. benign unrest,
To the soft music of her heathen breast?”

Absurd! Insane hope! And yet, with that wonderful nigh ne
glass in the Swan-Woman’s possession, she might have recog-
nized him, and if his coming were then alarming or distasteful,
would she not have retired?

= once more bert to his work, and the light canoe shot on.

CHAPTER VII.
ISLAND AND MAINLAND.

“ See

As Diamond Dick made his landing on the pebbly island
beach, the nearness of the adjoining trees momentarily shut out
the lovely vision on the rock-crest from his enraptured gaze.

Then, while dragging his canoe up on the beach, he gave o
start of mingled suspicion and alarn). 5

Another canoe—a larger one, with seats or standing-places,
for three paddle-wielders—was nestled aways only Pay con-

cealed, in a narrow cove near at hand.

What could it mean?

Was the villain, Shadwell, already beforehand with him, and
perhaps with the intention of ‘kidnapping the girl this very
night? :

He stepped back on a point of rock, to reassure himself with
yet another view of the solitary, undisturbed figure on the height
before threading the steep wooded path to her side. =<

As he did so her shriek of alarm broke upon the stillness, and
he caught a simultaneous glimpse of her in the ruffianly grasp
of two men, one of them of seemingly gigantic proportions.

- Diamond Dick dashed away up the path like a madman, and —
as if winged with fire.

But midway up, he came in violent collision with a burly
armed ruffian, whose sinewy, hairy arms were of prodigious
length and bared to the shoulder, and who had bounded sud-
denly into his path. :

“Ugh! ee ugh!” grantingly laughed the illtavored ste

 
_rupter, whose harsh voice was wonderfully suggestive of a
_ grizzly’s enraged growl and roar combined. ‘What! the Ameri-
- ean bully, eh, that done fer Slab-foot? Hah, hah, hah!’ and he
forthwith rushed upon the still reeling borderman, twirling his
_ only weapon, a short handled war-club of seemingly immense
- weight, over his head with consummate lightness and ease.
- “But it’s Gripson, the Grizzly, thet you’re facin’ now, me little

cock-o’-the-walk!’’ :
Diamond Dick was just in time to evade the villain’s boar-like

_ tush, and at the same time to draw the long, stout knife that
had already stood him in such sterling stead in the duel of a few
hours before.

In another instant he has glided around the murderous
- Caliban’s form, given him a death-thrustin the neck, sent the

__- gasping carcass sprawling down the slope, and was once more

up and away, like a startled stag, with yet another scream from

the height to hurry him on.

Then a pistol-shot, and as he bounded over the crest, a terrible
spectacle was before him. _
Wahwahnee, still struggling in the grasp of the more colossal

of the two ruffians, who proved to be Ensco, the trader himself—

the other scoundrel, 4 full-blooded Indian—in the act of hurling
a huge stone upon the skull of the prostrate Swan-Witch, at the
door of her cabin, a smoking horse-pistol still in her hand, with
which she had just sent a bullet into his naked leg, which was
bleeding profusely. —

To bring down the Indian, dead, with a single snap-shot with
a revolver hurriedly snatched from his belt. with his left hand,
and then, with a low, half-articulate cry, such as the wolf-
-hound emits in its master-spring, to precipitate himself like a
thunderbolt upon the half-breed, was but the work of an instant
with the infuriated Diamond Dick.

Instantly, as Wahwahnee fied to one side, there was a terrible
grapple, too close for blow to be struck or weapon to be drawn.

-'The Swan-Woman, who had fallen by accident where she lay,

and was not injured, had quickly regained her feet, and now
she and Wahwahnee, clasped in each other’s arms, could for the
moment only gaze terrifiedly at what appeared to be the unequal
struggle on the brink of the crest, expecting every instant tc see
the lither of the contestants either crushed, bear-like, in his
giant adversary’s tremendous embrace, or incontinently hurled
down the cliff.

But Diamond Dick, if less brutally muscular than his oppo-
nent, was also less unwieldy, while his perfect symmetry of pro-
portion gave him a power and address which had never yet en-

~ countered their over-match in human or brute creation.

Diamond Dick had lost both revolver and knife in the first
shock, but, suddenly tearing himself free, he darted back, re-
coiling a yard or more.

~ The half-breed bounded upon him afresh, like a cyclone incar-
nate, but it was only to encounter a dextrous trip that sent him
to one side, grasping at nothingness.

At the same instant Diamond Dick threw himself upon him,

- hurling him far out over the cliff, and only saving himself from
following, with his own impetus, by falling flat on his face, and
grasping at the adjacent bushes. :

The precipice was not perpendicular, but very
overgrown with bushes, shrubs, and clinging vines.

Down headlong plunged the overthrown, straight through the
trees below, and along the very line of the foot-path leading up
the crest.

Diamond Dick was on his feet, and after him down the path,
like a bolt, after recovering only his knife.

f geed, and

Strange to relate, Ensco had not been killed, or even wholly

disabled, by his tremendous tumble.

Little delay as Dick had made in following down and around,
his first glimpse of the beach showed him the half-breed, run-
ning across itin the direction of his canoe, while bearing the
slain Gripson over his shoulder, apparently with no more trou-
ble than with a quarter-hundred-weight bag of meal.

_ He had sprung into his canoe with his burden before Dick

‘could reach the water’s edge, *

_ Dick launched ont, with the knife as his missile, and it found

us unerring mark, quivering to the hilt in the fugitive’s shoul-
er.

With a roar of rage, the half-breed plucked out the weapon
and hurled it back with scarcely less dexterity, though of no
avail. Fortunately he had lost his belt of weapons during the
hand-to-hand struggle. .

Dick regained his knife with no little satisfaction, and, run-

- ning back up the path, was so lucky as to find his lost revolver

oe _ at the foot of the precipice.

But by this time the half-breed was far out upon the lake, and

= z when Diamond Dick again mounted oyer the crest, the Swan-
_ Witch and her charge were waiting to receive him, though his!

Se

NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. ~

Sie

right to ex

reception from the former was not what he had a
pect. — : : =

‘‘Why are you here to-night?” she demanded, harshly. «I
did not send for you.” ae

‘But. what would you have done without me?” was his
counter-query. 2

‘“‘No matter; you had no business to come.” 5

“No business, eh?’ Dick promptly took Wahwahnee by the |
hand, and drew her into his arms, she blushingly, even trem- |
blingly, hanging her head, but not resisting. ‘‘I’m never any- _|
where, save on business, Altannah.
business, no less than fighting.
to accompany this lovely being and me from this accursed |
island at once.” °

‘‘Whither would you take her, Diamond Dick?” continued
Altannah.

‘In the first place,” was the reply, ‘‘to her brother’s arms.
For I am satisfied that Wahwahnee is the lost English sister
whom Lord Chabdis has been fruitlessly seeking these many

ears.”’
: A struggle seemed to be going on in the weird creature’s mind,
which she ended by leading Wahwahnee forward, kissing her,
and then placing the girl’s hand in the adventurer’s.

“She is yours!”’ she said, abruptly.

“No, not mine, save with her brother’s consent,’’ exclaimed
Diamond Dick, half-mournfully. ‘But that is for him to say.”
And then he drew the beautiful girl to his side with only a pro-
tecting air. ‘‘Still, if she loves me, it will be well.” :

They were quickly embarked in one of Altannah’s own canoes,
a more commodious one than that in which Diamond Dick had
arrived, and, a favoring light wind by this time prevailing,
were soon moving gently to the southward under sail.

CHAPTER VIII.
-“OQVER THE WATERS, AWAY, LOVE, AWAY!’

And now, for our border hero at least, it was, ‘‘Over the water, t
away, love, away!” while a sense of satisfaction and content, with | _
which his stermy life had been little enough familiar, was steal-—
ing over his spirit. Ae
‘‘Altannah,” he said, abruptly, ‘‘you are then being employed —
by an American lady to recover the,girl-captive?”’ "4
**Yes,” she replied, without, looking up. :
“T am glad of that.”
‘‘Why should the white chief care?”
“Tt is a Miss Fanshaw, is it not.?”
“Well, then?” :
“The recovery of the child will, then, doubtless, bring me
face to face with that woman.”
‘“‘Ah, perhaps so.” eo:
“And she is also a woman with a mystery, which it is only
my due that it should be explained to me.” re =
‘Ah, there are so many mysteries!” And then, shifting the
sail with the requirement of the wind, the Swan-Witch bent her
head yet lower, as if determined to say no more. oe
The day was just hinting of dawn when the canoe, slipping
still swiftly up the opposing current of the rapid river, under
the influence of the yet freshening wind, approached the cam
on its wooded margin. : : z
All was busy in preparation there; horses snorting, lights and
forms moving to and fro among the trees, the windows of more
than one of the cabins agleam—showing that the promised re-
inforcement was at hand, and the expedition on foot.
Anthers, Bertie, and Handsome Harry came running down,
with torches waving, to greet Diamond Dick’s return. : 4
‘‘Hallo!” cried the young nobleman. ‘‘Back again, Dick? We }
couldn’t imagine what had becomeof you. But what is all this?” 7
with a hurried and curious glance at the two women, and at 7
Wahwahnee in particular. ‘Good Lord! what is the matter |
with me?” — : oe a
He stepped back, passing his hand over his face, while Dick
silently assisted his charges ashore. ee a
“Come with me and these two, Mr. Anthers,” said Dick, a |
little huskily. <‘‘The start isn’t to be at once, I trust?”
‘Not for half an hour yet, dad,” volunteered Bertie. 4
“Come, then,” continued Diamond Dick, taking Anther’s arm, |
and signing his charges to follow. ‘Let us be with Mrs. |
Marden. ‘There is much to be told.” — ¥
In a moment or two they had the desired privacy in the cabin}
with Lieutenant Marden’s sympathetic wife. ae
‘“‘Anthers—Lord Chabdis,” Dick blurted out abruptly, ‘‘for~
give me if the hope that I give you should prove baseless. But

 

 

 

I have every reason to believe that this beautiful young creature
is your lost sister.” : :

 

I can make even love my |.
Come!” abruptly, “get ready | -
’ NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

 

thee who had half anticipated some such declaration, had
stood as one dazed.
He now darted forward, cet the wondering girl, and,
trembling baring her lovely right arm, examined it eagerly.
Unlike the clear, tawny olive of her face and hand, the arm
was ivory-white, shapely as a princess’, and at the elbow there
were two tiny moles.
«Have done!” cried Altannah, impatiently. ‘The. girl is cer-
tainly the stolen English child of twelve years ago. A Swan-
Witch of my island, my predecessor there, bought her of a rov-
ing Blackfeet band the year following her capture.” And she
hurriedly related other facts which completed the ig us con-
viction of Anthers, who had already identified the h-marks

~ on the arm.

“My sister! my little Laura! my lost one found!’ was all he
could say as he enfolded the still somewhat wondering Wah-
wahnee in his embrace.

But even when the situation was made plainer to her, through
the good offices of Altannah and smiling Mrs. Marden, she but
timidly responded to the brotherly caresses.

At last she even withdrew from them, and timidly, yet still
resolutely, crossing the floor in the leaping light of the great log
fire piled up in the vast kitchen chimney-space, she ranged her-
self quietly at Diamond Dick’s side, with downcast ae and
folded hands.

For what was all this surprising revelation. to that siatononed
maiden-heart to the grander, the supewative revelation of but a
few hours before, at the wand-touch of love, the world-enchanter
for all time, past, present, and to-be?

Diamond Dick's eyes sparkled exultantly, and then darkened
aS: he marked the mingled dismay and trouble in the young Eng-
lishman’s face.

‘‘What is all this?” demanded the latter.

Before Dick could answer otherwise than by taking one of
Wahwahnee’s hands gently in his own, the Swan- Woman inter-
posed with a brief account of the tragic adventure of the night

“upon the island.

“Ah!” exclaimed Anthers; ‘‘yet another account for that vil-
lain, Shadwell, to settle! He would doubtless have stolen my
sister, in order to bleed me at his leisure. And, of course, Dia-
mond Dick, here, could alone have blocked such a desperate
game. But,’ still wonderingly regarding the picturesque pair,
“T—T don’t ‘exactly understand everything, you know.’

“What, not yet?” cried Mrs. Marden, with good-natured in-
dignation at his masculine obtuseness. ‘‘Well,” and she smil-
ingly touk Wahwahnee’s other hand, ‘‘look at these blushes, and
see if they make you none the w iser, Jack Anthers.”

“Yes, yes; she blushes, I see ’em,’’ he continued to falter,
stupidly. ‘But then the complexion? How happens it, when
my sister’s arm is so white——”’

‘‘Her face will match her arm in due time,” cried Altannah,
likewise a little provoked. ‘‘It’s the sun’s and wind’s work and
the walnut juice, that’ll wear off in time. Cannot you see those
two love each other to distraction?”

Yes, he did see it now, if he hadn’ t before. And it scarcely
needed that Diamond Dick should confirm the words by softly
gathering his youthful compan:on closer to his side with his in-
vincible arm, while eagerly, anxiously studying the expression
of the young nobleman’s face.

And that face was a study in its fleeting changes of expression.

i ‘What Englishman is there, especially of the aristocratic and |

titled class, howsoever cosmopolitan and democratic in the ab-
stract, without. his jealous inborn pride of family and birth.
However, from a momentary hardening of its lines, Anthers’
frank face gradually cleared and softened. Then it lighted up
as his eyes rested upon the noble pair, and, running across the
room, he first embraced his new-found sister anew, and then
grasped the princely borderman’s hand.

“She is young, Dick—think of it, not more than fifteen!” he
cried. ‘‘But let her remain in her present mind fora full year
longer, and Iam content—nay, more than content. How say
you, Diamond Dick?”

- Agreed!’ was the hearty and relieved response, while Mrs.
Marden clapped her plump hands approvingly. *

“Saddle up!” was at this. juncture hoarsely shouted from
without, accompanied by a sudden inerease of the bustling
movements throughout the surrounding camp. ‘Saddle up!”

And then Old Beeswax came peering in at the door to say that
the start was. about to be made.

“A guard must be left behind here!’’ exclaiméd Anthers, kiss-
ing his sister yet again, and then hurrying away.

Diamond Dick was following, also with a parting embrace,
when Altannah detained him with a gesture.

‘You will bring the child, Kitty, right here to me, if you
succeed in getting her?” she inquired, eagerly.

__ ‘Yes, of course, or send her to you,” was the pee and

 

then he hesitated of his own accord.
principal in this search?’ he suddenly demanded.
meet her at an early day, think you?”

“Tet the white chief rest content. The lady herself will be
here when he brings back the child.” —

“What, Captain Fan herself? You mean it?” —

“Yes, Away!”

The sunrise-light was rapidly broadening and brightening
when the expedition, twenty-four strong, all told, three men
being left as camp guard—started northwesterly at a smart
trot, headed directly for the Shadwell Ranch, four miles away.

Gaff had gone in advance as an avant courier, after giving the _
most minute directions with regard to reaching the desired —
canon by a route that would enable them to avoid giving the
alarm at the ranch buildings.

Entering this canon, twenty minutes later on, the expedition a z

proceeded more cautiously, listening in vain for the continued
hoof-beats of their guide, ‘which had suddenly ceased.

A little further up Marden and Diamond Dick, who were in
the advance, suddenly stopped, and signed a temporary halt,
and then the raystery was explained.

Shandy Gaff, the reformed Lifter, lay in the path, quite dead,
his throat cut from ear to ear; his hamstrung steed in the ago-
nies of death not far away.

‘Poor devil!” was the general verdict; ‘his turning of that
new leaf has cost him dear.’

“Charge!’”’ was then the shouted order, and the squad ~
up the narrowing canon like an avenging wind.

Some ineffectual shots were fired by a small band of cow-
boys stationed at a point half a mile above.

Their opposition was summarily swept away. — A: little far-
ther on was the secluded cabin and garden-grounds—poor
Shandy Gaff had omitted nothing in his representations—where
Miss Kitty, our old little heiress-friend, was forthwith ‘‘res-
cued,” as you might say, though somewhat equivocally, since
she made the most decided objections to being taken away from

her Mexican and female companions, who, on their part, were —

left undisturbed.

The. expedition next headed, with the shortest possible delay, =

direct for the ranch headquarters.

A dozen cowboys were drawn up, well mounted and armed,
across the road between two large corrals, apparently for the
purpose of giving battle, but Shadwell himself was not in view,
and the residence building seemed.to be abandoned.

‘Marden at once rode forward in advance of his men, and de- .~

manded that the place should be quietly given up to a search for
certain suspected persons.

“This ranch is sold out!” called out, in response, a spirited
and handsome young horseman, who seemed to be the leader of
the opposing band. ‘‘You can’t and sha’ n’t search nothin’. ‘
We’re in charge for the new proprietors.”

shouted Diamond Dick, recognizing the young fellow

“Well, Mr. Antelope Andy, I’m going to take

wticular, on account of old scores, in mighty

rit was really he, hastily backed his horse
comrades, drawing his revolver as he did

y !? he yelled, with an oath.
3 hing, well be hanged on sight, if captured.

But before the commanded volley could belch out, one of Ber- - a

tie’s off-hand shots dashed the revolver out of Antelope Andy’s
hand, and then, with Diamond Dick eagerly in their lead, the
squad dashed forward in a thundering charge that carried every-
thing before it. :
‘‘Look here, my little dandy man,” observed Diamond Dick,
a few minutes later, when he had Antelope Andy, not a little
crestfallen, as his bound prisoner, ‘‘you know there’s a hang-

man’s neck-tie waiting for you over the boundary line, in both —

Kootenai and Umatilla.”’

“This ain’t over ther boundary line, though, by a durned
sight!” growled the young fellow, | in dogged response. — pe ma
loyal Dominion man now-er-days,”’ with a half-laugh.~

“Oho! just as Shadwell, otherwise Mountain Lion Mike,
and perhaps a fair sprinkling of his Hoof-Lifting crew are,

eh ?”’
‘“*You know it all, it seems, Dick,’ with a sneer.

“The iar: who is your
‘Shall you

‘'There’s more that Tintend to know, and from you, too, in !

short order, if you’re not such a fool as to miss the chance of
giving it to me for the benefit of this orpeteos . a
‘‘Ha! What d’ye want ter know?”
‘‘Where’s Shadwell and the best part of his ranch gang?”
“Lit out fer D——” naming the nearest railway station, ee
ae away to the south. -west, ‘“‘with all

is traps, im. soe

qe

|

|
|
|

ste Dismana os

tae

 
  

  
 
       
  
  
   
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
    
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
    
  
   
    
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
 
 
         
      
     
      
      
     
      
      
       
      
        

No. 97.

[aeRO Os

ni ht.” g é
exh! and will you swear to all this, my little man?”

“On a stack o’ hymn-books bigger ’en a house a-fire!” en-
thusiastically. ‘Stack em up!”’

«Shadwell gone these two hours, eh?”
i: ~ All of Andy’s companions had been killed or put to flight, so
| that there was little risk of his being embarrassed by conflict-

| ing testimony.

f ; i)

¢*“Dead sartin!’’ he promptly replied. ‘‘’R it might be

on’y an’ hour an’ fifty-seven minutes. My time-table is tored

99
‘Then how happens it,” and Diamond Dick pointed sternly to
Miss Kitty, who was under old Dwarf Dexter’s paternal wing, a
few steps away, ‘‘that she, who is generally known to have
been the apple of.the scoundrel’s eye, was not taken along with
him?”
‘Antelope Andy’s eye widened at the sight of the
surprise that seemed to be wholly genuine. —
“Pll swan ter jingo thet I don’t know!’ he replied, with an
_ attempt to scratch his head, that was more or less a failure, by
reason of his arms being pinioned behind him. _
_ “Papa Shadwell was going to send for me later. on,” inter-
_ posed Kitty, very gravely. ‘‘He told me so last night.”
- This was said with such an air of off-hand truth, that every-
ie body, with perhaps the single exception of that deep card, An-
i _ telope Andy himself, was deceived by if.
\ a _ Do you know anything about the Hoof-Lifters?” was the next

girl with a

 

a -query, in a rather ironical tone.
{ ‘“A leetle, sorter from hearsay, you know,” was the modest re-
% joinder.~
r _ ‘Where are the majority of them now?”
| *‘In the cave at Les Casquettes, prepared to hold ther fort till
a, ‘Gabe hisself toots his last trump.”
i i : ‘Will you guide us thither by the nearest direct route? I'll
i promise to let bygones be bygones in your case, if you keep
=. good faith.”
sz ‘Yes,’ after a hesitating pause.
(Re “Forward!” rang out the command a moment later, and the
- - squad galloped away, with Antelope Andy in the lead, under
is a watchful guard. ee
a ;
CHAPTER IX.
_| oa A RUSE OF THE ENEMY.

Bertie, who rode at one side of Antelope Andy, had also some
indistinet recollection of the road to be pursued.

Every now and then in the course of the march, he would nod
to Diamond Dick, on the other side of the prisoner, or to An-
thers and Handsome Harry, who were following immediately
. behind, as an indication that to the best of his recollection, no
| treachery was being displayed.

At last, however, when a certain fork in the road was reached,

i at a singularly wild, desolate place, Andy was urging his
ee horse off to the right, when the boy laid his hand on his bridle-
i rein. =

‘Hold, thar!” cried Bertie, in the general halt that ensued.

“T remember this hyar fork very well. It was thet branch,”

pointing to the left-hand road, ‘thet I kim out of yesterday

mornin’, when makin’ my escape from the grotto. I recognize
it distinct, even ’f it was but starlight when I seed it afore.

Consekently, thet’s ther branch it seems to me we orter take

now.” :

Diamond Dick sternly turned to the prisoner.

‘‘What have you to say to this?” he demanded.

**Wall, now, durn my skin ter a tan-yard!’’ Andy exclaimed;
‘‘comin’ ter think real deep on ther matter, I rayther think thet

_ thet road,” pointing to the left-hand branch-off-this time—*‘is
the karect avynoo ter ther=Lifter’s cave.”

And so it proved. oo

__ A brisk ride of several miles further along brought the caval-

eade directly among the back gulches and canons and wooded

steeps of the Twin Mountains where the route dwindled into a

mere rocky, up-and-down trail of a most villainous character.

Then they came to where a huge tree had been recently felled
directly across the trail, and the next instant. received a volley
from an ambuscade, which slightly wounded several men, and
caused some momentary confusion.

As the column fell back temporarily, Antelope Andy with diffi-
culty disguised a very pleased look of satisfaction, had any one
thought to remark it. .

‘‘Steady all!’ commanded Ned Marden, in his clear voice.
‘‘Prepare to dismount.”

_ This was for the delusion of such of the ambuscaders as might
: overhear, however, as only half of the command were dis-

err

        

x

NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

“ago. “The syndercate cashed in fer this. hyar ranch late last

    

13
mounted behind a fortunate turn in the road to which thesquad-
ron had fallen back. er ee =

These dismounted men were now sent around through the
trees, under the leadership of Old Beeswax, for the purpose of
attacking the ambuscaders on their flank; after which, at the.
first shots of such an attack having begun, the remaining —
mounted men were to charge upon the fallen tree at the word.

It was a moment of eritical suspense, that one of waiting there |
in the middle of the trail, listening anxiously for that signal to
charge forward. a

And just then, with a great clatter of hoofs, a uniformed horse-
man came whirling up from far behind, haggard with suffering,
his steed covered with sweat and foam. 5

It was one of the guard that had been left at the camp.

‘‘Heavens, Jackson!” exclaimed Marden and several others;
“what brings you here?” 3

‘The camp—Shadwell!” gasped the new-comer, reeling in the |
saddle. ‘‘He attacked us with a dozen men—half an hour after:
you fellows left—my comrades killed—cabins burnt—young In-'
dian girl carried off!’ And then he fainted.

Diamond Dick and Anther exchanged tremendous glances, —
as one might say, so terrible were. their sensations at this start-
ling news. : PY

The young Indian girl carried off ! whtch meant Wahwahnee, ©
the lost-one-found, as a matter of course. Pook

Such, then, had been Shad well’s villainous and successful ruse, —
in abandoning his ranch betimes. = ee a

And still not a shot from Beeswax and his flanking party!
Heavens! must they still tarry before sweeping on, and must |
even the robber cave be carried and sacked, ere a return to the |
camp. could be permitted or even thought of.

Furious glances were turned upon the lying prisoner, Antelope
Andy, from every quarter. : eee
‘Snake! traitor!’ hissed ont Diamond Dick, grasping his re-
volver; ‘‘you swore that Shadwell had been gone two hours
You purposely deceived us>—” eee
A mocking laugh and then Antelope Andy had suddenly —
lashed his horse out from their ranks, and around the turn,
straight toward the ambuscade. ne
~ Shot after shot was sent after him, but hardly before he was.
well around the bend, and therefore out of range. . S

Then there came the longed-for crack of rifles from beyond
the wood, showing that Old Beeswax and his deploying squad
were at last making their flank attack.

“Forward! gallop!” eee

The charge was successful on the spot, the barricade being —
carried as if by a whirlwind, and the dozen or moreambuscaders, |
thus taken between the charging squad and the flanking fire, |
killed, tuthlessly shot down, off-hand. a

But not another sign of Antelope Andy, who had doubtless
taken the fallen tree at a flying leap, and galloped on to warn |
the Lifters at the cave-retreat.

However, who could say that they would be found attempting |
to hold the fort there at all, since there was only the escaped —

i

 

Rise.

 
   
 

rascal’s word for it that such was their intention? ‘

But the entire expedition was once more speedily together,
and galloping on, beyond the obstruction that had temporarily |
detained them. . e

Arriving at last at the rock-wall between the mountains, it be
came necessary to leave the horses in the wood, and advance on
foot, since a handful of men could successfully defend the nar
row cave-entrance, if less cautiously approached.

This was done, the entire party creeping up over the rocks and |
among the bushes, often on all fours, much as if stalking deer |
or Indians. :

Several men had been left behind to look after the horses, and |
Kitty had also been left in their charge. 4

As the approach on the cave was thus being made, there was_
at last.a single shot from behind the swivel-rock at its entrance, |
‘and Dexter, the dwarfish Hercules, who was in the first, line of
the advance, fell back, dropping his rifle, without a word. a

The order was now given for a general rush upon the cave en- |
trance, regardless of the consequences. -

The result was something more than a surprise. 4

Not only was not another shot received in opposition—and
even that fatal one might have come from Antelope Andy, from
somewhere far up among the higher rocks—but the grotto was
found te be completely abandoned. j

The shell of the enemy—stuffed with his accumulated plun-
der, as a matter of course—had been captured, but the enemy)
himself, as an entirety, was gone. :

However, half_an hour later, when Anthers had received per-
mission to accompany Diamond Dick and his pards -directly
‘back to camp, Kitty being taken along, while the rest of the ex-

    
     
   
     
 

 

       
   
    
       
     
         
       

 

‘four horsemen, with the little girl among them, were suddenly

pedition was making a more round about return thither, these

 
[NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

raade aware of another ambuscade at: narrow and difficult part
ef the road, known as Frenchman’s Pass, within but three miles
_ ef their destination. i :
In fact, they had just time to fall back under cover, when the
entire rocky pass below their position seemed to literally swarm
‘with desperadoes, who seemed determined to crush at least
this much of their relentless'enemy’s force on the spot.

‘Good Heavens!’ exclaimed Anthers, ‘‘we are thoroughly en-
trapped. And meantime, the women at the camp—my sister’ —
-he could say no more. :

Let’s charge on down straight through ‘em, dad!” cried
tie. ‘It’s ther only way out of it thet I kin see.”

And the only way inéo it, too,” replied Diamond Dick,
nly. ‘All charging together, there wouldn’t be a man of us
to tell the tale. Let me think.” :

“One of us might clar ther track for the rest,” suggested

andsome Harry. - ‘I reckon I'll try it on.”

‘No;” and Diamond Dick motioned him back. ‘You forget
t such a venture is mine by rights. Besides, I think my horse
reshest.”

CHAPTER X.

3

\
*.
x

ad she motioned all his companions back into the thicket,
Diamond Dick alone rode forth out upon the open rocky trail.

Diamond Dick just halted long enough to utter a few parting
instructions, in a low voice, to those in the thicket.

Then he suddenly charged singly down the steep, like a whirl-
wind, at the same time letting go with his magazine gun in such
& swift succession of deadly shots as had never been equaled.

THE DEATH-DASH.

It was likea gatling-gun working its destruction from the
‘bosom of a tornado. :

_ The desperadoes were too thoroughly surprised to think of re-
sponding with a single shot until he was fairly in the midst of

_them;'and then, as he whirled here and there, now letting go
upon them with a revolver in each hand as the magazine of his
Winchester was pumped dry, they gave way on either side, dash-

iug off among the adjacent rocks and trees, as demoralized for
the time being by the prodigies of his single arm as a flock of
panic-stricken sheep.

oe !’ yelled Diamond Dick, still keeping up his deadly

work. z

Then down the steep, and through the corpse-strewn pass, came
his three friends, with Kitty among them, ata similarly thun-
dering pace, firing right and left, wherever a human target pre-
sented itself, as they came. : eee : =

It was all over, and the safer trail beyond the canon gained,
before the scattered criminals could think of reforming the rem-
nant of their scattered band, and no pursuit was attempted.

The little party resumed their course without further interrup-
tion; and from that day the chief feature associated with French-
man’s Pass is the story that is told by wondering Canucks of
Diamond Dick’s Death-Dash.

Reaching the camp at last, Mrs. Marden came out of her

sacked and half-dismantled cabin to meet them.

Ah thank Heaven, you are~ come!” she exclaimed. ‘‘See!”
_ She pointed sadly to the recently desolated camp. ‘Did Mr.
-- Jackson succeeded in bringing the news of this to you?”

“Yes, yes!” replied Anthers and Diamond Dick almost in the |

same breath.
Gio 4 2 Poy
. “Yes; Shadwell must be well on the railway with her by this
ime.’ 5 z = :
4 ‘Where is Altannah, the Swan-Witch?” demanded Diamond
ick. = :
Before Mrs. Marden could answer the question a fair and
lovely woman stepped out of the cabin, whose appearance caused
‘po little astonishment. S :

It was Miss Fanshaw, and she held out her hands eagerly to
Kitty, who, equally to the astonishment and gratification of all,
promptly sprang from her horse, and ran into the outstretched
arms with a cry. .

“Oh, auntie, dear auntie!” sobbed the strange girl. ‘‘What
is the matter with me? I had come to think you must be very
heartless, from all that Papa Shadwell has said to me against

you. But now, no sooner do I see you again than it all seems
adream tome! Oh, Aunt Fanny, Aunt Fanny, I think I-must
have been bewitched in some way!”

Miss Fanshaw caressed and soothed her to the best of her
ability. ~ :
_ *But-what does it all mean?” cried Diamond® Dick. ‘Have
you really been in communication with the old Swan- Woman all
this time?” -

:

‘“Wahwahnee! Is it true that she was carried

 

i peo je OP ee , staring at her, for Captain Fanny
alf-gipsy, half-Indian costume was amazingly similar to wh
Altannah had worn. eaag tts ; a pe os whe

“By jingo, dad!” exclaimed Bertie; ‘don’t yer see tha 3
Captain Fan is ther Swan-Woman—’r ther Seen Women ie a
tain Fan—an’ no mistake.” bn oe eee

Tt is the truth,” said Mrs. Marden, with asmile, “TI was as
ues astonished at my guest’s manifestation as any of you can

e. 5 oe
“But how kin it be?” roared Handsome Harry, scratching his
head. ‘Why, Captain Fan, you’re ez handsome an’ young ez
ever, while the mug of that old Swan-Gal——_” :

“Was my chief triumph as a make-up,” interposed the Mis-
tress of Esmeralda, drawing Kitty yet closer into her embrace, —
and then moving back toward the cabin. ‘Diamond Dick, lest :
you might think I have forgotten you, look at this.” Be

She pointed to her bosom, where there now blazed the dia-
mond aigrette which he had torn from his sombrero to place |
there, weary months before, as his parting keepsake to the Wild [
Woman of Buzzard Butte. : a peg a

Dick approached her nearer, and pointed to her arm, with a |
serious look, exclaiming, in a low voice: : SS = Lc

“The clover birth-mark there, Captain Fan! Itis more du- _
rable than the jewels, for it is a part of your very life,as my —
companion mark is a part of mine. You remember your promise —
in the Kootenai?” ste 2

“I forget nothing,” she replied, in the same tone. ‘‘Patience, |
Diamond Dick; the mystery of our companion birth-mark will —
yet be explained, and I hope in good season.”

Here a groan drew all eyes to Anthers, where he had sunk to
a sitting attitude on a log, the picture of grief and despair, on
hearing verified the story of his new-found sister’s abduction, =>

Diamond Dick strode up to him, and touched his shoulder
gently. SS ean

‘Don’t give way to it, my lord!” he said, in his deep voice.
‘‘Am I not hit as hard as you? Besides, are we not to recover
Wahwahnee?” z Se eens ~

Anthers sprang to his feet.

‘How and when?” he cried, desperately. ‘‘On these crazy
horses, already exhausted? Besides, before this that hound,
Shadwell, has most likely reached the station, with our angel in
his clutch, and doubtless with no end of money to carry him and
her far, far out of our reach!”

“Courage, old fellow! There’s still the chance of our overtak-
ing him if only—but, hello! here’s our whole squad, or nearly
all of ’em, back already.” ;

This was true; and the returning band had numerous captive

Hoof-Lifters, too, among others, Ensco, the trader.

‘‘Cheer up, Anthers!” cried Marden. ‘‘I’ve already sent off
squad of a dozen men in pursuit of Shadwell and his crew; an
if there’s any virtue in superior horseflesh, there is a fair chance
of overtaking the rascals yet. You see, we got 2 supply of fresh
animals up at one of these Lifters’ secret corrals.” :

“Tet me have one of them now!” exclaimed the young noble-
man, springing to his feet. ‘Dick, are you with me stillin this
chase?” .

“All the time!’ was the ringing response;-and in a few
minutes the party of four were again on the road, with fresh
horses under them. . :

But it was in vain.

The railroad station, thirty miles distant, was only reached in
time to make the disheartening discovery that the fugitive, Shad-
well, and his party, including Wahwahnee, had taken a fast
train for the West an hour previous.
“Good-by, Dick!” said Anthers, pressing the borderman’s }
hand. -‘‘We part here, at least, for the present.” a

“What!” exclaimed Dick. ‘You will follow on by the next
train?” ae

“Yes; while you owe it to your duty to.return with the others
to camp.” tee . : a

‘<Anthers, it will do no good, this pursuit by rail.” me

“But I shall meantime set the entire telegraph system of the
Dominion to work in my aid. However, if—if the scoundrel
escapes me, I shall come straight back to you.”

“Good! and then the recovery of that dear girl shall be the
united purpose of our lives, if need be, You henceforth have 4 —
sister, and I a heart’s idol, to win back out of the unknown!” _

Thus they separated, Diamond Dick and his pards taking the ©
back trail somewhat apart from the other body of disappointed ~_
pursuers. ee

Night began to settle down long before they were anywhere
near the camp. =

Then a lnrid gleam brightened against the sky in the direction
they were pursuing, and they hurried curiously on. Si

“Thet must be Ensco’s tradin’ store a-fire,”” observed
some Harry at last. ‘’F ’tis, ther blasted half-breed'll k

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

graces up avout it, like ernough, than fer the hangin’ that’s in
_atore fer him.”
‘This conjecture proved to be both ee: and wrong. s
It was Ensco’s store that was on fire—in fact, the building was
; es in flames, and the villagers from Crown Point and
country people were hurrying upon the scene from every direc-
_ tion by the time that the three horsemen put in a near appear-
“ance. But Ensco, having in seme way effected his escape from
custody, was the incendiary of his own property, and was even
now in the midst of the burning building, rushing hither and
thither through the flames of the upper story, waving a torch,
cand yelling like a madman.

«That's just what isthe villain’s complaint—mad,” observed
Old Beeswax, who was umong the spectators. ‘It was doubt-
Jess a madman’s cunning that enabled him to slip away from the

uard we had placed over him a few hours ago. Delirium

_ tremens, I suppose; at all events, he has been drinking furiously
_for along time past. And he must have made his way hither in

a suicidal mood, under the impression that he was otherwise

- doomed to the rope.’

- *Not far out of the way in that impression, I reckon,” said
Diamond Dick.
Well, that is hard to say,”’ was the veteran constable’s reflec-
tive reply. ‘Actual murder would have had to be proved
~ against him, you know; and besides that, his money might have
~ geen him through. A dangerous man. However, I am glad
_ that he has no family.”
~ The burning puildiue speedily collapsed, and that was the
last of Ensco, the half-breed trader of Assiniboia. :
Our friends then made their way back to camp with their dis-
‘heartening news as to the escape of Shadwell with his beautiful
captive.

CHAPTER XI.
CONCLUSION.

The main object of the expedition had been triumphantly
secured in the complete demolition of the notorious Hoof-Lifters
as an organization, and the- capture of eighteen or twentv
~ prisoners, about whose ultimate conviction there could be no

/ reasonable doubt.

Old Beeswax came, as a messenger from Miss Fanshaw, to say
to Diamond Dick that the lady was waiting to say good-by to
him before setting off with her niece for the American border
and her Esmeralda Ranch in the Kootenai district of Idaho.

Diamond Dick’s face grew somewhat stern and troubled as he
obeyed the summons.

Kitty, who was away with her aunt in the great room in the
¢eabin when he entered, came up to him and took his hand, and
then skipped out of sight with something likea shame- faced look
in her pretty face.

' ‘How do you account for he changes in the girl?” he asked.

‘‘Had Bradshaw, or Shadwell, or whatever the king-pin scoun-

drel may call himself, really hypnotizefl the child’s affections,

do. you fancy, or is she a natural-born little weather-cock?”’

-*¥ cannot quite make it all ont myself as yet, Diamond Dick,”
replied Cuptain Fan, smiling. There was no longer the faintest

~~ suggestion of her own latest masquerading in her costume or air,
a splendidly fitting riding-habit showing off her superb
figure and blonde beauty to charming advantage. ‘But I am
content that she is come back to my heart again. But you
seem to be still troubled and anxious, my friend?” concernedly.

‘With reason, Captain Fan,” he replied, moodily taking the

ace she offered him. ‘“There is a telegram pene over from

from Lord Chabdis.”  ~

se and a discouraging one?”

“T should say so. Not a trace of that master villain and
Wahwahnee! Disappeared among the mountain as utterly as if
the earth had swallowed them!”

-**Weshall recover her yet. I will help you to that end. Who
knows but that I may have to assume yet another strange char-

acter in the future?”

Diamoud Dick made a despondent motion, as if to dismiss the
painful subject from their conversation. And then, as he looked
ather, his face lighted up with his old, so long baffled curiosity.

“You are going back to Esmeralda direct, Captain Fan?’

“Vos »

“You think you can keep
— time?”

- **F hope to.”

_ * Will you not miss your swa
- J will, indeed,” she replied,
irds. will miss me sadly, too.

be a Swan Witch of the

vith you there this

“And the
ubtless, neyer
| Deepwater for

 

‘them; though I doubt not I shall be impelled | to Foye the ae

from time to time.”

‘‘How did you manage all at Meg Merriliess business, Cap-
tain Fan?”

“It is a longer story, in detail, than you might now have
patience to listen to, my friend. The last real witch I befriended,
and then, whén she died, the thought occurred to me to con-
tinue the witch-line in my own person, in the hope of ultimately
outwitting Shadwell and getting back my little Kitty. But he
had made his advent here with great eclat, and was rich, power-
ful, and watchful. It was only when you appeared upon the
scene that I began to see my way clearly to my end. Ah,” with
emotion, ‘‘has it not ever been so-whenever you have come within. |
my range, dear, good, noble Diamond Dick? And now our com- |
mon arch-enemy has again escaped us, with yet another of our
dear ones in his mercenary clutch, and to make new work for
us in the future! For you can only love Wahwahnee as a man
loves. Neither you nor even her new-found brother can love |
her as I came to love her. My predecessor in the island witeh |
business had adopted her as a mere child, you know, and in
that way she had come under my care and protection. A perfect
maiden, one of God’s own wild flowers! and I have trained and |
educated her to the best of my lights. But enough of all this. |
She will yet be brought back to our hearts—to mine, ie are

my friend, my prince of border- -men, ni

She dashed a suspicious moisture out

her hand. ‘
“But wait, Captain Fan;” he would

as yet. “That weird mummification f

bleaching of your beautiful hair which so:

How in'the world did you effect it?”

‘‘What actress will explain the mystery of her make- apes
laughing. ‘‘Not I, for one,”
‘‘But the copper disk—the magic mirror?” he exclaimed. a a
Miss Fanshaw grew serious, —
‘That is something beyond my own powers of explanation,” |
she said. ‘I received the disk as a legacy from my ace

predecessor on the island, and it really does seem to possess.
certain magic properties. But I have brought itaway with m
and you and I may someday study the strange picture- shower i
together. Good-by again. What, and still not yet?” as he once,
more refused to see the tendered band. ‘You donot think I am
going to forget you. JI hope! See; I wear it yet,” pointing
to the diamond aigrette upon her bosom. }
‘It isn’t that!” he cried, suddenly seizing, not her extended
right, but her left hand. ‘‘You know what I mean, Captain:
Fan. The violet clover-mark on this fair shoulder—the counter-;
part of my own birth-mark? Do you forget how long I have’
waited for its history—for a history that links your past life, as.
it may probably link your future fate indelibly with mine?” |
‘Not yet,” she replied, withdrawing her hand. ‘The time is)
not yet.”
“Not yet?” he repeated. é
‘No. Do you forget the condition? Mountain Lion Mike!
is still beyond the reach of justice and our vengeance, is he
not?’’
True—true!”’
““Good-by yet again, and God bless you.’
She even embraced him lightly, as a sister may have done, her
fleeting caress passing like a genial breath, her lips just touch-
ing his forehead; and then, with a wave of the gantleted han
a last smile of the brave, fair face, she was gone,

i
{

{THE END. |

“DIAMOND Dick’s DROP-SHOT; or, THE BANDITS OF
CascapEs,” by W. B. Eawson, will be published in

 
a”

NEW ORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

No. $

 

 

 

PNEW YOR

K FIVE CENT LIBRARY.

_ The extraordinarily large circulation of the NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY proves conclusively that
it has caught the popular fancy. Ranking first and foremost as the best five cent Library covering stories

of general adventure, the NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY is always in demand. © Each new issue main-

tains the standard set by its predecessors.

. 48.—WAYLAID AND DROWNED; or, The Harlem
Mill Gang. By Tom Ward.

. 44.—DENNIS MULCAHEY’S MISFORTUNES. By
Peter Pad. :

. 45.—DEAD SHOT DAVE IN DENVER; or, Foiling
the Gamblers. By Jim Bowie.

. 446.—GENTLEMAN JACK’S MIX-UP; or, Settled
Outside of the Prize Ring. By Jim Daly.

. 47.—JOHN L., JR., IN BOSTON; or, Fighting for
$100,000. By Billy Madden,

. 48.—PROFESSOR MULCAHEY OF THE McKEELEY
oe FOR BUMMERS AND TANKS. By Peter
Pad.

. 49.—TELEGRAPH TOM’S CHINESE PUZZLE; or,
Low Life in the Metropolis. By Wm. Murray.

. 5|0O®@—ELECTRIC BOB AND HIS WHITE ALLIGA-

TOR. or, Hunting for Confederate Treasure in
the Mississippi River. By aCelebrated Author.

.51.—A DANGEROUS CASE FOR NAT WOODS: or,
Yellow Dick’s Last Treachery. By the Author
of “Nat Woods.”

. 52.--JACK AND JERRY, THE BICYCLE WONDERS;
or, Lively Times on the Wheel. By ‘‘Zimmy.”

. 58.—DEAD SHOT DAVE IN CHICAGO. By Jim
Bowie. :

. 54.—NAT WOODS’ CAPTURE OF KENO CLARK,
KING OF THE DIAMOND LIFTERS. By the
Author of “Nat Woods.”

. 55.—ELECTRIC BOB’S BIG BLACK OSTRICH; or,
ae the Desert. By the Author of “Electric
Bob.”

. 56—JACK AND JERRY’S SPURT; or, The Bicycle
Wonders’ Ride for Life. By “Zimmy.”

. 57—DEAD SHOT DAVE IN OMAHA; or, The Limit
on the Red and Black. By Jim Bowie.

. 58.—NAT WOOD®S’ QUEER FIND; or, R. X. T., The
Mysterious Emblem. By the author of-“ Nat
Woods.”

. 59.—ELECTRIC BOB’S REVENUE HAWK;; or, The
Young Inventor Among the Moonshiners. By
the author of ‘‘Electric Bob.”

=60.—JACK AND JERRY’S SCRATCH RACE; or,
The Bicycle Wonders’ Strange Discovery. By
“Zimmy.”

. 61.—GENTLEMAN  JACK’S SOFT MARK; _ or,
Knocked Out in Three Rounds. By Jim Daly.

. 62.—DEAD SHOT DAVE IN KENTUCKY ; or, The
Blue Grass Region Horse-Thieves. By Jim
Bowie.

. 63.—ELECTRIC BOB’S BIG BICYCLE; or, The
Nerviest Boy inthe World. By the author of
“Hlectric Bob.”

. 644.—JACK AND JERRY’S TIGHT SQUEEZE; or,
The Bicycle Wonders’ Remarkable Pluck. By
“Zimmy.”

. 65—GENTLEMAN JACK’S BIG HIT; or, Downing
the Prize Ring Fakirs. By Jim Daly.

. 66.—GILLOOLEY’S TRIP TO WASHINGTON. By
rank.

.67.—BILLY PLIMMER IN AND OUT OF THE
RING: or, The Adventures of the Bantam
Weight Champion of the World. By Billy
Boxer, the Referee.

. 68.—BILLY PLIMMER ON THE ROAD; or, A Bantam
Pugilist’s Rise to Wealth. By Billy Boxer,
the Referee.

. 69—NAT WOODSON THE MIDWAY PLAISANCE;
or, The Strangest Case on Record. By the
author of “Nat Woods.” ~

. 70.—JOHNNIE VAN HEEST’S BATTLES ; or, A Ban-
tam Weght Fighter’s Adventures and Exploits.
By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

74 JACK McAULIFUR’S RISE. or; “Brom. the
Cooper’s Bench to Light Weight Champion
Pugilist. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

2

No. 72—JACK McAULIFFE AT HOME AND ABROABP;
or, The Light Weight Champion on Two Con-
tinents. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

73—JACK McAULIFFE IN NEW ORLEANS; or, The
Light Weight Champion Again’a Winner. By
Billy Boxer, the Referee.

74— JACK McAULIFFE ACROSS THE CONTINENT ;
or, The Light Weight Champion’s Fights and
Frolics. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

75—AL SCHOCK, THE CHAMPION BICYCLIST;
or, The Adventures of the Greatest Long Dis-
tance Wheelman of the World. By Will
Wheelright.

.76—JACK DEMPSEY’S BATTLES; or, A Famous
Wrestler and Pugilist’s Fights to Win. By
Billy Boxer, the Referee.

.77—JACK DEMPSEY, THE NONPAREIL; or, The
Victorious Career of the Great Middle-Weight.
By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

.78—JACK DEMPSEY, THE WORLD-BEATER;; or,
Tbe Great Middle-Weight’s Many Battles. By
Billy Boxer, the Referee.

.79—JACK DEMPSEY AT JACKSONVILLE; or, The
Nonpareil as Principal and Second. By Billy
Boxer, the Referee.

. 80—BILLY MADDEN, THE FAMOUS SPORT; or,

The Life and Adventures of the Great Pugilistic

Manager. By Billy Boxer, the Referee,

. 81I—MIKE LEONARD, THE GAME FIGHTER;; or, A
Messenger Boy’s Climb Up the Ladder of Pu-
gilism. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

. 82—DANNY McBRIDE, THE CLEVER BANTAM ; or
From Messenger Sergeant to Professional Pu-
gilist. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

88—JACK SKELLY, THE YOUNG COOPER; or, A
Boy’s Progress Up the Ladder of. Fame. By
Billy Boxer, the Referee.

. 84— JACK . SKELLY, THE GREAT FEATHER:
WEIGHT; or, The Famous Young Boxer’s
Fights and Adventures. By Billy Boxer, the
Referee.

, 82KING KELLY, THE FAMOUS CATCHER; or,
The Life and Adventures of the $10,000 Ball-
Player. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

. 86—CAPTAIN BILLY NASH, OF THE BOSTON
TEAM; or, The Doings of the Famous Third
Baseman. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

. 87.—YALE MURPHY, THE GREAT SHORT-STOP ;
or, The Little Midget of the Giant New York
Team. By Billy Boxer, the Referee.

_ 88-—-DASHING DIAMOND DICK; or, The Tigers of
Tombstone. By W. B. Lawson.

. 89—DIAMOND DICK’S DEATH TRAIL; or, Cyclone
Sam of “Shi-an.” By W. B. Lawson.

_90—DIAMOND DICK’S* CLAIM; or, The Gold-Bug
of Frisco. By W. B. Lawson.

_91—THE SHADE OF DIAMOND DICK; or, The
Ghosts of the Mine. By W.B. Lawson. .

_92—DIAMOND DICK’S DOUBLE; or, The Crystal-
Chip of Gunnison. By W. B. Lawson.
-93—-DIAMOND DICK’S DEAL; or, The Man-Bear of
the Hornitas.. By W. B. Lawson.
_94—DIAMOND DICK’S DICKER; or, The Horse
Wiend of Uintah. By W. B. Lawson.
_95—DIAMOND DICK’S DRAG-NET;; or, The Killers
of Kootenai. By W. B. Lawson. :
- 96-—-DIAMOND DICK’S DOOM LIST; or, The White
Wolves of Umatilla. By W. B. Lawson.
_97—DIAMOND DICK’S DEATH-DASH; or, The
Swan-Witch of the Saskatchewan. By W. B.
Lawson.

_98—DIAMOND DICK’S DROP-SHOT:; cr, The Ban-
dits of the Cascades. By W. B. Lawson.

No.

No.

No.