Copyright 100-1886, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post omce, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899.
THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. No.31 Cleveland, Ohio Vol. III
WITJI tJmm ~. 'I'BEY DUO OUT A GRAVE. AND WRAPPING A HEAVY D LAXUT A!lOUND TIU COIU'Sll, LAID IT LOVINGLY IN ITS I.APT ll!::sTINO-PLAC;... )pyrlgbt 1800-1886, by Beadle It Ad,.mo. Enlered at Po•t Oi!lce, New York. N. Y., as second cla.•s m a.tter. Mnr 15. 189!1 THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. ·~ yq./J~f;' V l llT: No.31 · c 1cve1and, Ohio ! JJidexoo · 0 • ..I!
"ll'lTJl THEIR Jr.NIVES, THEY DUG OUT A GRAVE, AND WRAPPING A HEAVY BLANUT A.BOUNJl_TBE COB!'SK, LAJll F LOVINQLY RI :i:rs UST RE8Till'O-PL40K, Blonde BllL •...... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--· as the stage was kno~n . wel'e all men-1D0Stly rough, bearded, r~d-shi rted miners, with a Blonde Bill; sprinkling .of r uffians, speculators and gamblers. o;a, Upon the outside the passengers were of a more varying type. . Deadwood Dick's Home Base. Down through t he canyon tears the stage, close at the heels of the plungin&", snortlllg · ·.a. Roman ce o f tl1e " !Silent Ton gues." horses, who are answering to the rapid cmck of the fiery little French Kanuck's whip-wildtyon they go, the ponderous vehicle groaning and BYE. L. WHEELER1 &1JTHOR OF "DEADWOOD DICK,'' "ROSEBUD creaking under the ~train, as it lurohes spas 1 modically from one side to the other. The can ROB,' ETC., ETC. yon catches up i.nd echoes the sounds; the CHAPTER I. mountain pines look spectral and nod theil heads sagely in the dying sunlight as•if to say, .,VERLAND-THE SWOOP OF THE SILENT " Beware." TONGUES. And, let us grasp the flying moment for an FROM Del Norte to the southwestern mines of inventory of the personnel of those upon the roof Colorado, along-the raoid and impetuous waters of the Monitor. · of the Rio de los Animas, and through the rug La Carte, the Jehu, needs no portrayal. Ha ged, mountainous district of San Juan county, is kuown from DtJnver to Triuidad-from Lead runs the stage-trail, which is used in lieu of a ville to Conejos, and all through the mining dis. r ailroad, as a route of transportation both of tricts of the Colorados, as an expert linesman, a people and supplies, into the mines that abound dead-shot, and a fearnaugbt of the boldest road in the vicinity of Silverton and l\.nimas City. agent that ever robbed a stage. Through some of the wildest country upon the N'ext to him, upon the driver's seat, is a American continent penetrates this trail, in its portly, distinguisbed-tooking personage, with tortuous course through the mountain environs. bro'wn hair, mustache and sid&whiskers and All the- way from the Wa"onwheel Gap to eyes to match. He is attired in the very hlght Bullion City the route is wil;l ani tortuous in of elegance as to costume, and evideutly is a the ex.treme. . After leavin~ B.illion City, a man of some importance. -His name is Hon. mining town of considerable importance, the Ray Vernon, of Ohio. He sits at the right of tra velar soon strikes tile San J mm valley, and La Carte; next to him, upon the top of the stage the rushing Animas, and follows through its are two bordermen-one a little old man, with ru<:{ged line of nurcL toward the Gulf. wrinkled features and silvered locks; the ot'ier Tne valley in reality is but a de?p, gloomy a giant in stature, with a positively ugly C No second time did the blonde man have to " Yes I was the husky reply; " may Gods speak: for the weapons of ibe others poured a wrath be upon them-they have killed her." volley of death Into the 11anks of the outlaws, " All aboard !" shouted La Carte, who, along even as did his own. "with the minis1;er and the Ohioan, had taken Crack! crack! crack! rung the sharp report no part in the fight-" all aboard, who goes on of the pistols, accompanied by flash after flash, the Monitor/" and yell after yell of pain and rage. "Stop!" the Sport, of the waxed mustache, But the passengers were not. the only ones to cried, covering the driver with a revolver. fire, for the Silent Tongues-so called because "Don't ye see we've got a dead lady, here1 Just the;i: were never heard to. speak-returned the you hold up if you please." fustlade with interest. _ " Cau't help if ye've got a dozen of 'em," La The mine1:g within the coach also engaged in Carte replied, drawing up on the reins. "This the fight, by firing from the windows, and there 'ere stage hes got to go through on time!" within the gloomy depths of San Juan canyon "Ohl it haz, haz it!" roared a s1;entorian waged such a battle as had ne'er been fought voice and the next minute the little Canadian there, before. - founa1 himself held high above the head of " Troop et to 'em, ye durned galoots," roared Beautiful Bill, support,ed horizontally bJ a pair Beautiful Bill, handlin~ his great revolvers with of arms that never once quivered. 'Oh I ye deadly dexterity. " G1v' et to 'em right from wull, wull ye1" the giant repeated, with a mali yer muzzles, like as ef 1..e war kill1n' polecats or cious _grin. " Oho I ye'd forgot thet Beauttw-ful salivatin' suckers. Don t ye beer me, now? Beau Bill was on deck, hadn't ye-I, ther great varie tiful Bill am I, the great hair-trunked, ivory gat,ed, sweet-'cented Apoller o' ther West--ther tusked Pet Elerfant o' the Leadville Trail, ther old original Pet Elerfaut o' ther Leadville Trail half-partner o' the Transfigurative Death Com -ther left bower o' ther famuss Death Commit mittee an' Society fer ther Propogation of Prac- tee o' the Mines. Yas-ye'd forgot all about tercal Elevation!" . thet leetle fack, on course. Aire y& goin' t,er Crack! crack! crack! _ · start ther stage, ye ill-favored son o' a polecat, The canyon caught up and echoed thd ringing ef I set ye outer yer feet ag'in'I'' of the pistol-shots-the bullets beat a death's "Curse you, yes!" the Kanuck gritted Sav tattoo against the rugged walls. agely. "I'll tear yer heart out!" Madly-determinedly-desperately fought the "Bet yer pile ye lie!" the giant replied. "I'll, defenders, Blonde Bill in the front, and the oth fix you fer a coroner'§ inquest, an' drive ther ers close beside him. stage myself." " Great ham-bone, thet war ther bee-line fflr The next instant the giant bad hurled the old Joner! they've plugged it to yer leddy !" Canadian half-way aeross the canyon, from the the Annihilator cried, in the blonde man's ear poise above his head, and he struck the hard -then he turned to fire again int6 the swarming ground with a dull thud, the sound of which outlaw ranks. seemed pregnant with a deadly meaning. Suddenly there was a wild, shrill scream, as Blonde Bill turned to the Sport. of a mountain eagle. " What is your handle?" he asked, wiping tbe Blonde Bill was kneeling beside the vailed tears from his cheeks. woman. · " They generally call me Rosebud Rob," the But it was not his cry that echoed through other replied, bowing. the canyon. The blonde man then started a trifle. Another had uttered the cry-the r:lad-agents "I have heard of you," he said, extending his heard it-paused-hesitated-and then as if by hand. "Will you haud me her," with a glance unanimous consent, beat a precipitate retreat toward the dead lady, "when I get to the from the scene of the attack-! ground? I will bury her somewhere in this vi · cinity." · , CHAPTER II. "I will assist you, certainly," Rosebud Rob replied. A SAD RIDE- A QUEER STREET AUCTION. The next instant Blonde Bill had climQed STRA.NGE was the scene, in all its details. down from the stage-top to the ground, the pas First, the stage-coaah, stopped in the gloomy sengers regarding him curiously. canyon; next the defenders standing in bold re Rosebud Rob then raised tl;te inanimate form lief UPQn the top; and lastly, the rapid fleeing of the dead woman and handed it into the of the Silent Tongues, in every accessible direc blo11de man'~ extended arms, Bill receiving it tion. with a simple bow as acknowledgment of his It was a tableau worthy of representation thanks. upon any theater's boards, only here it was true "You may go ahead with the stage now," he to nature. said, addressing the giant, who stood erect in And, not least noticeable, was the blonde La Carte's seat, with whip and reins in hand. stranger, kneeling beside his wounded com Then Blonde Bill turned about and strode up panion, the vailed lady, tears trickling down the gulch, carrying the body of his dead com· over his cheeks, from beneath the green gog panion in his strong arms. gles. The next instant the crack of the long-lashed " Great ham-bone thet discomhobberated ther whip was heard, and the stagd rolled away terrestyal gravytation uv old Jonerl" the An down the canyon. nihilator cried springing forward, to.the blonde In an opposit.0 course, Blonde Bill made his m'!'n's side. ' 1Hev they hurt yer Jeddy, pil way for several moments; then paused and grim" looked around. Blonde Bill. A..s he did so, he found himself face to face you have no objec~ons," Rosebud Rob an with the Sport, Rosebud Rob. swered. " I ain't no modern Sampson, ner I "What! you here1" the blonde man exclaim don't pretend to be a prime factor o' this world's ed in surprise. arithmatick; but ef there's any fun on hand /,Yes-pardon the intrusion, but I bad a curi ye'll ginerally find me a mljll to suit all circum osity to know more of a pilgrim that can shoot stances." the way you can, and thought I mi~bt be of "Then you are the very man I want for a some ""'5istance to you," the Sport replied. "It pard," Blonde Bill answered, with decision. didn't }ook fair to leave you alone to take care of the dead, and so I dropped off." "I thank you, sincer ely," Blonde Bill replied, Silverton, Colorado. warmly. "I shall not forget your kindness." The lively little town of the Se.n Juan moun He laid the body upon a plot of fresh, green tain districts-the Pride of the Animas. 11:rass, and bowed down before her and wept. No city or pretensions thereto, this town of Not in a loud, obtrusive way-the falling of a Silverton, with its mountainous main street of tear now and then, and a convulsive shaking of business places, and shanties and cabins dotted the form bein~ all the symptoms perceptible of about without any attempt at regularity. hi~ terrible grief. Yet it had an enormous floating population, When be turned again to the Sport, all si~s and is considered one of tbe roughest places in ef bis grief had vanished, save, mayhap, a trifle Southwestern Colorado. Here, as in Leadville of naleness to bis cheek. or Deadwood, you find an indiscriminate mass •fsbe was my wife," he said huskily; "and as of people, literally the " culls " from every true and faithful as an angeL May God gather quarter of the globe. her to bis fold, and permit me to liva_tbat I may The fact of Colorado's being a r ecognized wreak vengeance upon her murderer! Come! State of the Uniou, a State and municipal gov let's bury her." ernment, does not in the least deter Silverton A little ravine branched off from the main from having its street fights and daily demand canyon, and up this t hey carried the body. to a for coroner's inquests, nor does it d1scoµntenance green, grassy slope, shaded by a green hemlock. tbe various phases of fast life peculiar to all Then, with their knives, they dug out a grave mining centers. of sufficient dimensions for the purpose in The st.r oots every day present a festive and tended, and wrapping a heavy blanket around gala appearance, and the boom of business is the corpse, laid it m its last r esting-place. r elieved by constantly occurring scenes and in Sticks and bouo-hs were then so arranged as cidents of a highly sensational nature. to protect the body, when the dirt was covered On the early evening of the day succeeding over: then the grave was filled by Rosebud Rob, the bold attempt of the Silent Tongues to rob while the blonde man knelt beside it, in silent the stage in San Juan valley, two persons rode prayer. down the busy main street of Silverton, mounted When the last of the dirt had been heaped upon a pair of burros of the ugliest possible ap over the r emains, be arose and grasped the pearance. Sport's band warmly. One of the persons was a young woman or "May God bless you for your kindness," be maiden of perhaps eighteen years of age-a said, in a choked voice, " and put it in my prettily proportioned girl, with an equally power to amply repay you. Come; let us follow pretty face of a decidedly independent type, the stage on to Silverton. I will yet I91lke this r elieved by a pair of saucy brown eyes, and a mining country too bot for these so-called Silent mouth that could relax from gravity to a broad Tongues." smile, in a single instant. Her hair was of ex "Silvert-0n, then, is your destination?" the treme length, as it fell in an auburn wave over · Sport inquired. her shoulders, and wits crowned by a jaunty " Y I'S-thereabouts. Ab! I must find the straw bat. Her riding habit, although coarse driver, La Carte, and get the key to the trea was also neat and tasty. ~ure-box of the stage, in which I have some Her companion was a swarthy man of forty money." five, with jet-black hair and beard, and features They debouched frqm the ravine into the of a most repulsive cast. His dress was rough Juan gulch, and a short walk brought them to and greasy, and a small arsenal of weapons oc where the driver of the Monitor still lay upon cupied his belt. the ground. As this strang<>ly contrasted couple rode "The big chap handled him rather rough," through the street, general attention was turnrd Rosebud Rob said, " anrl I allow that he won't upon them by the crowds of men wbo peopled . drive any more stages, right away." the busy thoroughfare, and more than once the While Blonde Bill searched the Canadian's name of "Salamander Sam," was spoken by ~kets, Rosebud made an examination of bis r e! and Blonde Bill bad no difficulty in recognizing " That, sir, I do not know except that be is her as the young lady who bad accompanied the called Captain Terrible, which of course, is but • minister at the time of the stage robbery. a nom de plume tO screen anotner1 name." · "Ahl excuse me,'' he said, doffing his hat "Undoubtedly. J will bear your warning in with a gallant bow; " were you speaking to me, mind, and look out for the Silent Tongues. Al lady'I'' ready I owe them a debt of vengeance, which The minister's daughter nodded with a piquant shall be paid in blood." smil11. Then the blonde man arose to depart. "Yes,'' she said, pleasantly, "I was askinl?: "I should be pleased fo have you call again you if you knew the bold creature in male at sir, when i;apa is at b orne," Miss Van Syckei tire?" said, acc6mpanying him to the door. " I am . " If my memory does not belie me, I think I somewhat a stranger in these parts myself, hav have met her before," Blonde Bill replied. "Why ing r ecently returned from school in the East, do !,OU ask, pray?" and of course have made but few eligible ac ' Ohl merely because I saw you start at sight quaintances, having taken no particular· fancy of her, and partly, perhaps, for an excuse to in to the rougher clas.~ of citizens." troduce myself,'' was the frank, laughing reply. "PerhaP.s I shall find it convenient to do so," " I saw you standing here, and wanted to ask Blonde Bill r eplied. " If you learn anything you bow is the lady who was shot!" more concerning the Silent Tongues, that might " She is dead, miss-was dead, ere I left the concern me, I should be pleased to have you let stage." me know, as I generally like to rake in all the "Was she a friend of yours, then!" points on the board, when practicable." "As near as ever friend could be-my wife," Then, with a smile, Blonde Bill bowed himself the blonde man r eplied, a trifle buskil!,· "You gallantly out of the presence of the minister's are the minister's daughter, I take it!' daughter, and betook himself to the street. "Yes, sir; my name is Nora Van Syckel. Yours is-" Let us return "to the street scene. " Blonde Bill, at your service." The bid of the Ohioan elicited a murmur of . The young woman nodded, and glanced hur surprise from the crowd, and seemed to please riedly around her, as if fearful of being seen in Salamander Sam greatly. the blonde man's company. · "Thar now, ye durned galoots, here's one pil There chanced to be no one else upon the grim as ain't afeard ter bid on ther gall" he veranda, at the time, and she seemed relieved. r oared. " Keep tber ball in motion now-keep " Will (OU come with me into the hoteH" she 'er a-goin', I tell ye ! A hundred dollers I've got asked. ' I would speak with you, in private, if -a hundred I'm offered, fer ther gal an' burro! you have no objections to listening to me." Whar's ther pilgrim w'ot makes et two hundred "Certainly, lady. If I can be of any ~er -a hundred an' fifty-one an' a Qua1ter ? Going vice to you, you may command me of course." at a hundred- who makes et two ~" "Then, follow me,'' she said, re-entering the " I'll make it two hundred," exclaimed a voice, hotel from the veranda. and Rosebud Rob stepped forward. She then led the way up the broad staircase "Two hundred I'm offered-two hundred,'' to a private parlor upon the second floor, Blonde shouted the ruffian. "Who sees me three?" Bill following her and accepting the seat she "Here," r eplied the portly Ohioan, eying offered him · the h el ples.~ girl with a gaze that caused her to "It won't take me long to tell you what I shudder, so full of villainous significance was want of you," she said, as she swept to and fro, it. ov:er the carpet. "I have taken it upon my "Three hundred-three I've got-four IwantJ. self, as my duty to warn you that you are a Keep 'er b'ilin', gents!" cried the auC'tioneer. marked man in this town, and that the sooner "She's a gud'un, is ther gal, 'cept she's inclined you take your leave the safer it will be for ter be a little sassy, an' ar·n't afeard tercarve a you." feller when her dander's up. Three I'vA got- "What do you mean! Why am I marked who'll make it four!" and a total stranger in the town, at that!" the "I will," Rooobud Rob said, with as much blonde man cr\ed, in surprise. . coolness as thougll be were bidding off a gold " I cannot tell you that, sir-no more than mine instead of a lovely girl. that ther e exists throughout the mining districts "I'll make it five, then," the Ohioan said of San Juan county, a bold and lawless !'>ang promptly, with a scowl at bis oppon<'Dt. "l'il of ruffians, who style themselves the Silent have the girl, young man, at any price-so you Tongue5, and who rule these towns, literally, may as well stop bidding." for once they take a dislike to a man, he bas to " Maybe you'll get hi>r, and again, maybe ye leave-if not of his own free will, by theirs! won't,'' the Sport coolly replied. "It depends I overheard a bit of conversation awhile ago, somewhat on which of us bas the biggest pile." which led me to bdlieve that a plot was on A titter from the crowd at this juncture caus. foot to rid the town of your pre'lence, and I ed the Ohioan to mutter an execration. took the liberty to bring you here, and put you '!Who are yon?" he demanded, angrily. on !,our guard." . " You will please use more respect in addres,ing ' For which act of kindness on your part I your supe:nors, sir." a m deeply grateful," Blonde Bill said, warmly. "Oh I I will, will H Undoubtedly, sir, when " One question I would ask you, that you ma:r I find them I" Rosebud responrled with a mocking be able to answer-who is the commander of bow.-" As to who I am, I am generally called these Silent Tongues!" Rosebud Rob, from a habit I have of always 8 Blonde BllL wearing a rosebud in my buttonhole, when I " Six hundred and fifty dollars," cried Boee am aOie to get one. Auctioneer, I'll see you Ilud Rob, at this jucture. 1lftt, better o the last bid." " Seven hundred," added the Ohioan, fierce ' Five-fifty I have-five-fifty, gents; who will ly. make it six.1 Six! six! who'll make it six! Go "Eight hundred," sung out the Sport who ing at five hundred and fifty dollars; who'll was now backed, or rather urged on, by Blonde make it six'I" Bill, who stood at his side. "Hillo, heer-hillo, ye gol-durn mules! Git " Nine hundred!" from the Ohioan, followed out o' ther way, an' malte way for ther great by a vindictive curse. Dnbble-j'inted, Patent Adjustable Death Com "A square thousand I'll make itl" the Sport mittee o' the Mines-the reg'lar roarin' antedi cried, coolly, while the situation momentarily luvian disaster o' the Animas; the sky-scrapin' gre:w more and more exciting. Centeuyal Insurrective lnvestergation Board Such a street scene had nevP.r before been uv ther San Won! Heer we cum a-boomin', an' drawn upon fair Silverton's record-such an in· we do desire ter stick our paw in this yere pur cident was not to be found in this history of San tickler pie. Cum erloug, Avalanche, ye gol Juan county, averred these Animites; wherefore durned no-ear Annihilator, and let's take a peep their interest. ~t ther critter; cum erlong wi' yer uncle, Beau The most attention was bestowed upon the tiful Bill! ther w-0rld-renowned, sweet-'cented dandyish Sport, of the waxed mustache, forself saintly-tempered Apoller of the West-ther assurance excites admiration, in any crowd. ba'r-trunked, tvory-tusked Pet Elerfant o' ther And evidently tbe Spol't was as cool as heap Animas Trail, ther gi~antic statter o' the God peared, as also was the blonde man who stood by dess o' Liberty. Thats me, my ga..wpin' galoots his side. -me, cl'ar down ter ther eend o' my leetle toe! Honorable Ray Vernon claimed to be a Con We be ther original an' famuss Death Commit gressman, from Ohio, traveling in the West for tee o' tber Mines, jest like oyster-pie, an' if ye've bis bealth; but if this be true, the state of ex got any funeral ·aPOund beer, we want a front citement he gradually worked himself into could seat!" not particularly conduce to his recovery. And following the words came the bi~ man Angrier and angrier, if pos~ible, he grew, ai from Leadville, elbowin~ his way through the the opposition offered by the Sport for he was crowd, closely accompamed by the Annihilator. determined to possess the girl, Dashing Dolly, "Going-going-going !-who makes et six1 and every raise offered by the Sport meant so Where's the man as durst offer mo six hundred many more dollars out of his pockets. dollars fer tber burro, wi' ther gal throw'd in?" "Come, gents, keep 'er a-gom'," shouted Sala• cried Salamander Sam. mander Sam, with a grin of satisfaction. " E• "Harkee! Great ' ham-bone, ef they ain't does me proud to see ye place ther gal at sech a !lellin' a gal at auction," exclaimed Avalanche. high vallywation. fer she's cl'ar material.. an' "Bill, thet ain't a squar' deal!" wu'th her weight in pure a'riferous, ter say "No sir-eel bob-tail horse---thet ain't no fair nothin' about ther burro." kinder shake," the giant cried, indignantly. "Ten-fifty," bid the Ohioan. "When wimmen cum ter be sold like sheep, I "Eleven I make'r,''. from the Sport. I reckon et's high time fer ther Death Committee "Eleven-fifty I'll give." ter show a tooth er two, dog my mother-in-law's " Fifty better I'll see ye." old Thomas cat, ef I don't! . " Curse you, ou vagabond, do you mean to "Say, sw beer, ye durned hlack-ba'red, stoop run the girl up to a million'!" the Congressman sbouldered, lantern-jiiwed, slah-sideg, disgustin' cried, fiercely. · specimen o' humanity, d'ye see me1 I'm Beau "Perhaps, if I see fit," Rosebud returned. tiful Bill, I am, an' this yere snoozer be be Old "You'll generally find me a man to suit all cir Avalanche, an' we two constitute ·ther D ~ath cumstances, an' I propose to see you a better, Committee o' ther Mines. Jest gaze at us-jest bid what you may." luk atm3, will ye, the great Saraytoga-Trunked An oath from Vernon was indicative of his ivory-tusked Pet Elerfant o' ther Leadville Trail feelings. -ther gilt-edged Apoller o' ther W est-ther "There is no use of foolini;r," he said, sav father uv yer country, an' ther belJerin' statter ae:ely. "I'll have the girl in spite of you. I'll esque Masher o' old Montezuma. That's me, an' give five thousand doUars for the girl, cash tio,v, durn yer cats, we, ther aforesaid Death down!" Committee, waut ter know w'ot bizness you've " Well, then you put me under obligations to got makb' a' aucktion hyar, uv a gal!" see you better," the Sport said, with a smile. "Et's my gal, an' ef I wanter sell 'er, I'm "I'll bid fen thousand dolla1·s for he'I', and goin' to do et!" savagely replied Salamander give her her freedom!" Sam. "This ain't none o' yer funeral, old man, A murmur of astonisb'llent r an through the an' ef ye don't want me ter make a tunnel crowd, for thte was the grittiest bidding they had through you, jest ye close yer valve. D'ye evPr known. heer!" , "Tber feller wi' ther waxed mustache is a "Do we beer?'' the ~iant replied, with a leer; brick, durn my dd mule's left hinrl fut ef he "on course we do, an ef ye'll git down ofl"n ain't!" declared BP.autiful Bill. approvingly. thet kTroran' waltz over hyar ter my embrace, "Great h1tm-bone, yes." aRSented the Anni I'll htig ye ter death in less time 'n takes an In hilator. "I've heerd o' him. ftfore. But, 'tain't jun ter smell tarant'ler. Don't fret-right hyar his cash w'at's huvin' ther gal. Ther blon d4> wul1 ther Death Committee wait ontll ye git galoot's his backer." ~y ter purceed ter biz." This was evident to all the spectators, for tho Blonde ~llL blonde stran~er occasionally nudged the Sport "Here is the man," Rosebud Rob said, in t.o raise the but. dicating the blonde stranger who stood by his "!Well, my friend, are you through?" Rose side. bud Rob demanded, when the Ohioan did not " I was only the bidder-he was the backer, raise the bid. " Can't you see ten thousand and consequently own his purchase." in thegirH" " You mistake my motives, Sport," Blonde "No, curse you, but I'll make this job cost Bill said, stepping forward. " I tale pleasure in you dearly, before you're through with me." presenting the young lady with her liberty. It " CumJ young feller ,_Jet's hev yer swag, an' was for that purpose I backed your bids." ye can nev Dashing uolly,'l_~alamander Sam A murmur of applause escaped the lips of the cried. " I'm anxious ter slo.(Jt', afore ther gal spectators, and Dasbin~ Dolly gazed at the gits free." blonde man, 1fears springmg to her eyes: "Hold on! afore ye slope, I've got 'er leetle " I am sorry I have only the grateful thanks ackount ter settle wi' you!" Beautiful Bill re of a friendless waif to offer you,'' ~he said, minded, "an' we may as well settle right beer, modestly. "I-I-" . as ennywhar." __ " Do not consider yourself under the least ob ligation to me,'' Blonde Bill replied. "It was CHAPTER IV. simply to prevent your falling into villainous DEADWOOD DICK PUTS IN AN APPEARANCE. bands that I interfered, and it was no more 'i'HE giant meant business, evidently, for thltll any man would have done!" right there in the center of Silverton's main "Then, sir you mean to infer that I h11d vil street, he stripped off his jacket, and rolled up lainous motives1 in bidding on the girl!" the the sleeves upon a pair of monster arms in a Ohioan sharply demanded, striding up before way that was very suggestive, tq say the Yeast. the blonde man. A murmur of actµiiration escaped the specta "I do, sir,'' was the cool response. " The tors at the sight of ·the whip-like cords and way YOll gazed at her was sufficient guarantee heavy muscles upon the giant's limbs. Sala of your base designs, bad you got her in your mander Sam saw them, and scowled darkly, power." for, ruffian and bully though he was, he at once "You lie, sir-you lie like a Ute!" the Con felt that he had met a man for whom he was no gressman cried, furiously, nnd he raised his watch. clinched band threateningly. "Jest luk at me, wull ye," Beautiful Bill But if it was his intention to strike the blonde roared, prancing about in a very undignified man, bis plan was frustrated, for he suddenly 11eries of positions. "Jest feast yer optics onter found his wrist caught in a vise-like gripe, in 11e, wull ye-me, ther famuss statter uv ther the powerful band of the Leadville giant. · t'.toddess o' Liberty-ther father o' my kintry. "See hyar, no ye don't, my gay rooster!" the Thar was a time, ye durned galoots, when I an' Pet Elephant cried, with a chuckle. "Goin' old George Washington war half-brothers; so ter punch tber blonde pilgrim was. :ye? But got ye see my pedigree ar' 'way up fer high. D'ye fooled, didn't ye, jest like ther Cbmaman w'ot :;ee me, ye gol-durnoo slave-tr~er-d'ye see yer tried ·ter pick a sliver outer my old mule's fut! unkle gazin' at ye, wi' ther zest uv a hungry Ho I ho I D'ye s'pose I'm ~oin' ter stand idly elerfant1 Cum erlong ter my bug, ef ye durst by, an' let ye abuse ther w1dders. and orfants1 fight United' States fashun, an' k t me put a No sir-ee, bob-tail boss! Thet ain't accordin' postage-stamp over yer eye, so't'll let ye pass as ter ther constertoochin' an' by-laws uv ther third-class matter! Cum an' bug me, once, if Death Committee-is it Avalanche?" you da.re-if ye dare, ye black-whiskered son '' Great ham-bone, no," the veteran Annihila· uv a buffier." tor replied, with a shake of his grizzly head. "It is useless to waste your breath on him" " On course et ain't,'' the giant declaredi em· Dashing Dolly cried, addressing the giant. " He phatically, "an' gol-durn my mother-in· aw's is a big~er coward at heart than a coyote, and pet Thomas cat ef ye hin't got ter git down on 11here's no fight in him." yer knees an' apolergize ter my cinnamon "You liei..cuss ye!" Salamander Sam cried, ba'red n8.mesake, or I'll make a cadaver outer fiercely. " Thar's no man as walks w'ot I am you quicker'n a lightnin'-bug ever got skeart at afeard of." thunder!" · " Theri, fer tber luv of He.aving, jest cum an' "Don't bother the man, on my account, see yer unkle!" implored the giant. "Cum an' pard," Blonde Bill said, turning away. "He'll harpoon tber great ivory-tusked pet elerfant, or never harm anybody." offer me a stale chaw uv terbaccer1 Whoop-eel Beautiful. Bill reluctantly let go bis bold on sail in, ef ye wanter l'arn bow ter skin a cata the Ohioan's arm, seeming ·to regard the blonde mount in two single seconts." man's will as his law. "Ye may thank yer But Salamander Sam made no move to re boots ye git off so cheap," be muttered. ·•Next spond; and seizing the package·of.billshanded time tber Death Committee will tend ter yer him by Blonde Bill, he Jabbed the spurs into bis case." animal's side, and shot away down the street The crowd now began to disperse. like the wind. Blonde Bill had gone, and taken away the "Gol-durn my old mule's left hind fut!" blus chances of a street fight, and so there was tered the giant. "Ef I was a good-fer-shucks nothing more for these Silvertonianstowaitfor. on hossback, l'd foller tbet ~aloot, an' dust his The Ohioan also took bis departure, as soon as jacket, I would. But et ain t no use o' cbasin' released by the giant, being glad to escape pun chain ligbtnin' on fut. Wbar's ther feller w'ot ishment at the Pet Elephant's hands. 1 owns ther gal!" As Dashing Dolly still remained botmd to her 10 Blonde Bill. burro, Roo;ebud Rob now stepped forward and hour , when a man entered, and approached the cut her bonds, and then assisted her to dis vacant seat opposite the Congressman. mount. He was a bw·!y individual, cla!i in mnd "Have you any . friends or acquaintances splashed garments of coarse material, and his here to whom I could conduct you1" he asked. face, what was not hidden beneath an immense " None," was the reply. "I have not a friend bushy red beard, was shaded by the broad rim in the world " of a slouch hat. The butts of a pair of heavy " Say not ko, young lady. Two at least will cavalry pistols peeped out of the tops of his act as your friends, with your permis5lon Jrnee-l:ioots, and another pair of Colt's truso/ Blonde Bill and myself." revolvers, were thrust into the belt about hIS " I thank you, sir but I could not think of ac ·waist. cepting the hospitality of two utter strangers. Without invitation he took the vacant chair, If you will show me a good hotel, I will see if I and gazed at the Ohioan for several minutes in cannot get employment. there, as help. I think a rude stare. by trying I might be able." . "You are Ray Vernon, ain't ye?" he finally Accordingly, Rosebud Rob accompanied her demanded. to the Leviathan, and found and introduced her "That is my •ame," the Congressman replied, to the proprietor. He then stepped aside and coldly. waited until he got an opportunity to speak "Tho't so," was the r eply. "You're tber fel with the gentleman himself, whose name was ler w'ot claims ter hev bought out ther mines, Colonel Arthur. below beer, I reckon?" " Did you hire the young lady1" he asked, in •·I am supposed to l:>e the owner of the Dead tercepting the colonel. wood Dick's Discovery rrunes," the other assent "Well, no-not exactly," was tbe surprised ed. "Why do you ask1" reply. "I sent her to the parlor to await my "Because,yf yu're ther chap, ye've undertook answer." . a bad job. lJeadwood Dick didn't sell you the '' You take her-give her some light and de mines." sirable employment. I'll settle the bill," the "He didn't!" Sport said. "No sir-eel You met him up in Leadville, " .You I"' the colonel demanded. didn't ye!" "Exactly. I've plenty of cash, and it won't "I did." hurt me to look 'after the friendless. If you "Ye offered ter buy him out, didn't ye?" want a recommend, go ask Blonde Bill if Rose "I did." bud Rob is not all right." "But ye. didn't make the purchase, in a fair "Ohl yes, I see. You're the blonde man's way1" friend, eh1 Well, th'lt's all the r ecommend I The Ohioan scowled. need. The young lady shall be properly cared "Why did I not1" he demanded, with some for." fierceness. " Thanks. If a man who calls himself Hon " I'll tell ye," the red-whiskered party said, low orable Ray Vernon offers to molest her, fire him ering his tone. "Ye made Deadwood Dick au out, at my expense." . offer, which he declined. Then you asked to see "I'll see to it, sir," the colonel replied, turn ther deed to ther claim. He show'd thet to ye, ing away. "The self-styled Congressman is no an' ye examined it. While purtendin' ter reflect par ticular favorite of mine." you asked him ter drink, an' ordered a bottle of wine and glasses. When ther wine came Dead wood Dick refused ter drink wine, and you About the same hour that evening, when asked him ef he wouldn't exchange ther wine Blonde Bill was closeted with Nora Van S.yckel, fer sars'p'rilla. This he consented to do, an' the Honorable Ray Vernon, of Ohio, entered a while he was gone you dropped a sleeping po notorious gambling palace, not far from the tion inter his glass. When the drink came you Leviathan. hastily filled his gla.0 st an' he didn't notice the It was a large shanty of more careful archi powder when he dranll: it. In five minuits he tecture and finish than its il;p.mediate neighbors war asleep, an' you made off wi' ther deed o' and the interior was plastered and frescoed, and ther Discovery claim." there were carpets upon the floor. The furni The Dhioan uttered an impatient oath, as he ture, too, was - of the rich01;t wood, heavily listened. carved, and great lamp chandeliers pended from "How do you know this?" he dem1u1ded.. the ceiling. "I know it," the stranger r eplied "becauss The interior was one vast apartment, with a because I am Dw,dwood Dick, anJ have come bar at the further end, the rest of the space for that deed!" bei11J1; chiefly occupied by chairs and tables. And as he spoke, he made a quick motion to The saloon, which was known as the ''Mona ward his feeti and the next instant held a pair co," was filled with miners, citizens, and gam of cocked revolvers in hand. blers, when the Ohhan entered, but he crowded Gold-mounted tools they wer e, of great beau his way along until he chanced to find a vacant ty, and thei:;- deadly muZ?les stared the Ohioan chair and table. in the face. He at once ordered a bottle of wine, and pro "Curse you!" he gasped, growing whitt" in an ceeded to clo justice to it, while he smoked a ins,ant. " Put aside your weapons. What do cigar, and gazed upon the strangely exciting you mean!" · scene a round him. "I mean business," the ex-outlaw said, with He had not been seat,ecl lllOre than half an fierce r esolve. " I don't generally mean any. Blonde Bill. H tRing e1se, when I irlP such tools as these. You den dive tbl·ongb a side door, as they entereJ. can give me back the deed to Deadwood Dick's tile broad hallway, and raising his voice, shout Discovery, or I shall be forced to shet up yer ed: shop at once." "Help! help! Stop the red-whiskered devil, •• 1. haven't got the deed-I didn't take it," for he is the accursed outlaw, D~dwood Dick!" was the parleying reply. "Youlie!" Dick repliedJ. coolly; "you stole it, CHAPTER V. and I demand it, or your tife !" "Put up your weapons first, then." CALAMITY .A.ND .A. V .A.LA.NOHE. THE cry of the Ohioan rung loudly through "Ob1 no. You can't come that. The'boys' won't narm you, if you dish over the deed, in the ball and bar-room of the hotel, and be rush riff ht good grace." ed through the latter, and ensconced himself in ' What if I refuse to do it!'' a closet, used for storing liquors. " Then I shall make it necessary for crape to He was fearful that Deadwood Dick would be hung on your d• >0r." follow him, and thought only of his personal "Bahl you dare not kill me here. You'd safety. be strung up before the smoke had cleared Those who bad occupied the bar-room, at the away." moment of his entrance, drew their revolvers, The Buckeye Congr~man was beginning to apprehensively, for enough of the name and mani.fest a little more assurance. notoriety of Deadwood Dick had they heard, to "Humph! lt is plain you do not know me," know that revolvers were necessary when he the ex-road prince said, dryly. "If you have came. any doubts as to my bein~ able to back my But, though they stood with bated breath, the word, I'll give yon a little illustration, free of famous ex-outlaw did not ai;ipear as expected. charge." Instead of boldly bravmg their wrath, he "Nol no!" Vernon said, quickly. "You evidently had ta.ken the opportunity to escape. needn't mind. I'll give you up the deed; but, A hasty search was made of the lower part of understand you, it is merely because I choose, as the hotel, and upon the street, but no person I have no fear of you. Did I deem it best, with red whiskers could be found. the simple announcement from my lips that you Learning this, Ohio's Congressman, the Hon· were the famous outlaw, Deadwood Dick, would orable Ray Vernon, emerged from bis tempo bring the crowd down upon you, fvr I under rary place of refuge, and proceeded first of all stand these Silvertonians have no love for you." to gargle his throat with hot scotch, at the bar, " Perhaps not," was the indifferent reply, to steady his nerves. "and it is like![ their Jove will be Jess, ere they He had been thoroughly frightened at his own hear the last o me. As ;Y"OU say, it might be temerity in breaking away from the ex-road somewhat to my indisposition, were my presence agent, and was yet pale and agitated to such an here generally known. Therefore, unless you extent that he trembled perceptibly. crave a coffin, you'd better keep mum. Come! "Kinder skeart, weren't ye1" a miner asked, I am ready for the deed, so be lively, as our when he found himself able once more to walk striking appearance of friendliness toward one about, bravely. "Hain't much used ter bavin' another is beginning to attract attention." road-agents a-taggin' at yer heels I reckon 1" "The deed is at my hotel. You will have to "No, curse the fellow. He had me covered'. come there for it," the Ohioan said. by a pair of six-shooters, and I had to dodge " Very well. Rise and move toward the door, lively to get out of his reach," the Ohioan re and I will follow you. Make one treacherous plied, with a scowl. "Which way did he go- move, and I'll put an air-bole throul}"h you on how did be escap(\1" time. Remember who is behind you!' "Thet 'pears t.er be sometbin' nobody don't Vernon arose with a scowl, and pushed bis know bow ter ans'er.," the miner replied. way toward the door through the crowd. Here's CaJamity Jane! she's one o' Deadwood Close at his heels followed Deadwood Dick, in Dick's old fiames-mebbe she could tell ye." bis clever disguise, and the formidable pair of The Congres..'OD!an turned bis gaze sharply revolvers he held in his bands were an incentive upon the famous girl dare-devil of the mines, that caused the crowd involuntarily to make who had just saunt.ered into the bar-room-the way for him. same nobbily attired party whom Blonde Bill, Out into the crowded main street of the little not a great while before, had seen going down mountain town they went, the ex-outlaw now the street. She was the same imperturbable shoving his weapons into his jacket pockets out character, whom it has been our privilege to of sight, but in such a way that he could fire at introduce her etofore, only if anything growing the Ohioan as well as before. handsomer in feature and form, consequent Down the street they went, roward the Levi upon her ever·moving life and excitement in a athan hotel, without any one knowing their pe wild country. culiar relations to each other. "You say that person is a woman1'' Vernon The Ohioan was in a rage at bimself for thus demanded of the miner. being forced to obey the will of the outlaw, but "On course she is," was the reply. "That's he had ·heard so many stories of the dare-devil Calamity Jane, thfil" gal w'ot ain't afeard o' no Deadwood Dick, that he was fearful of the con man that evyer rooe a mule-no sir·ee, not sbet sequences of disobeying. Knowed her up in Deadwood~ Leadville." Finally they reached the Leviathan, and as "And you say she is a friend of Deadwood cended the steps to the veranda. Dick the outlaw!'' Watching bIS chance, the Ohioan made a sud- "Waal, I reckon; leastways, she used to be. 11 Blonde BilL l'hey do tell ma tl:et she'd hev 'im in a minnit, Calami-,;y Jane to strike a true a nc:\ tried friend t" ef he'd hev her." the girl replied, scornfully. "You mistake me, " H umph!" the Ohioan said, eying the girl Sir Villain. I am no tool or hireling to be tempt dare-devil with a sharp scrutiny. ·'I'd like to ed by a paltry offer of gold. Go, sir, befor e I know her-introduce me." make a bullet bole in yer bead. I'm famous at "No, sir-ee!" the miner declared, promptly. it, once I am r'iled." " Ter interdooce a strangel"ter a gal, out in this The Honorable Ray Vernon slunk away, with land means ter vouch for his bein' all squar', a vindictive curse. He bad calculated that he an' l ain't on tber vouch ter-night, especially could make the girl dare-devil a valuable ac w'en Calamity Jane is around! an' her pistol cessory to his schemes. But how signally be arm 'pears ter be in good workiu order. Thar's had failed! Blonde Bill, stranger, mebbe c'u'd tell ye w'ich After he had taken bis leave, Calamity J ane way Deadwood Dick went, ef yo're so anxious left the bar-room, and ascended the stairs to the ter foller him." first floor of the hotel, wher~ ~er room was lo " I do not care to receive information from cated. that man," the Ohioan gritted, flashing a glance at the handsome, airy blonde man, who had Entering it, she locked \;he door behind her, and seated herself a~ a winavw overlooking the just sauntered into the great bar-room. "Ha is busy main street of th,, town. a liar, a rascal, an\l a meddlesome villain." " Bet a cookie ye dursn't tell 'im thet ter bis "Deadwood Dick is down in thi~ district " {aoo," the miner muttered, as Vernon turned she murmured, watching the man!. movidg .away. figures in the moonlit street below, ' and he is He followed the girl sport, Calamity Jan~ again in danger. He was here in this very until he found an opportunity to excuse himseif hotel to-night, and yet I did not know it, in her presence, for his temerity in addressing till be bad come and · gone. I wonder if be her, with the gallantry of a thoroughly polished knows of the danger that threatens him! Prob man of the world. ably. He ~-ever on the outlook-ever success " You will please excuse me," he said· " but ful in gettin out of the many scrapes he gets CHAPTER VI. a curiosity, in the same directionh" he said. "If you were t;o ask me who were t e inhabitants A STQET FIGHT AND AN ACCUSATION. ol the moon, I could tell you just as easily." A MURMUR of surprise ran through the " Ye don't know then 1'' crowd, as the blonde man stepped forward into " I do not, mor~ than that he calls himself the ring. Blonde Bill, has a plenty of ready cash, and ia Somehow, in the short time he had been in the a second cousin to an iceberg, so far as coolness little mining town, the r eport had got abroad goes." that he was a sort of financial king, and that he, They now ceased to cor..verse, for the time be with all his prepossessing elegance of manner ing, in order to .... atch the approaching combat and dress, should desire to participate in the between the blonde man and the ruffian. street fight, '"''-'3 past the understanding of the Salnmander Sam had thrown oif his coat, average Silvertonian. vest and shirt, and stood stripped to the waist. Especially waf Calamity Jane surprised, as His form as thus revealed was sinewy and mus she stood with Old Avalanche upon the veran cular. da of the Leviathan. Blonde Bill stood with arms folded across his "The blonde pilgrim is on his muscle, ain't breast, watching the unstrippiag of his adver he1" sh~ said, enthusiastically. " I thought he sary, with a strangely peculiar smile lurking wasn't no slouch the minute I set my eyes outer beneath his blonde mu~tache. As yet he had him, a!l1 I kinder warmed terward him. .Bet a made no preparations at all for the fight. cayuse he'll scoop et to ther rnif, fine." "Cum, ye cinna.mon cuss," Beautiful Bill " Dunno orbout thet,'' A valam;he replied. cried, as be noted his man standing so calm and " Et depends how they fight. I've seen sum o' unconcerned. "Ye wantei· be pullin' off yer them da.ndy chaps w'ot couldn't lick a de'd buz togs, ef ye expect ter lick ther black-haired ga zard, an' then ag'in, sum on 'em a.ire mighty loot. Beautiful Bill, am I-ther great Saryto pea.rt. Thet ar' Salamander Sam is a tough ga-trunked, ivory-tusked P et Elerfant o' ther nugget ter handle, they say, an' I'll bet a Animas Trail-the sweet-cented Appoller o' ~ half-eagle wi' any pilgrim that he licks the ther Nor'west, and I do asseverate an' declare blonde man." thet ther Salamander hez muscles like er buffa "Well, uncle, I bate to take a mean advan ler bull." tage of an old snoozer, but ef ye wanter bet "I have no preparations to make," Blonde that way, I caia accommodate you," and Rose -!3ill r eplied, in~ifferently. "When the ruffian bud Rob steppecfup to where Calamity and the is ready, I am. . Annihilator were standing. "D'ye mean ter call me a ruffian?" Salaman "Great ham-bone thet agitated ther larynx der Sam demanded, savagely. "I'll pound ther of old Jonerl Et's you, is et!" Avalanche ex daylights clean outen ye fer thct." claimed, surveying the Sport keenl'J. "You "It is your privelege t;o do so, ef ye git ther be ther chap they call Rosebud RoM" chance, Blonde Bill r eplied, again, apparently "The same, old boy, and you, I believe, are not the least troubled by his opponent's threat. the famous Indiau-flghter, Old Avalanche?" "When you are ready, sing out. How do you '",Kerect-ther great double-distilletl dyna want it-by rule, or 'do as you please?'" mite disaster o' ther plains-ther famous terrific "Do as ye durn please, on course," Salaman extirpatin' zephyr o' ther north, by ther great der ,.am replied, an evil glare in his eyes, for ham-bone! I've heerd o' ye, too, an' et gives right glad was he to have the chance of a me pleasure ter grip yer paw. This hyar party choice. "Do as you please," or rough-and is Calamity Jane, ter whom et does me proud tumble fighting, as sometimes practiced in the t.er make ye acquaint." mines gives a person a chance to bite, kick, R osebud Rob raise'l his hat gallantly in ac scratch, knock or gouge, without any confor knowledgment to Calamity's bow, and then mity to the genera.1 rules of pugilism, and i"J turned to the Annihilator. · certainly the most effective and brutal man!.. "So ye think tbe ruffian will get away with of u ing a man up, without mercy, Blonde Bili, eh!" he asked, a faint smile playing A growl of dissent ran through the crowd as about his handsome mouth. the ruffian eagerly accept«! the beastly mode "Dunno," the old man replied, watching the of fighting, for he had a wide reputation of sea of people below. " Mebbe ther ciunamon being the champion of that particular field, and baired galoot is good for his oats, but I'd orfully very few were there among the assembled spec like ter see them ar' green goggles knocked tators, who woulrl have liked to see the blonde away from his eyes." stranger clawed to death by the wolfish ruflia.n. Calamity Jane started, and gazed at him But, Blonde Bill did not appear to be particu sharply. larly concerned, as he stood calmly awaiting his " What do you mean!" she demanded, in a adversary's onslaught. Faster came the people, lowered tone. " Can it be that{ou have been and denser grew the crowd in Silverton's little tackled with ther same desire have, ter see main street, but Baautiful Bill patrolled the out ther eyes uv thet pilgrim down there?" skirts of tbe ring with frowning mien, and kept "I shed opine thet same. I say, Rosebud, back the spectators by having a huge pair of wbo is Blonde Bill!" four-shooters in his grasp. The old man bent forward, and gazed as "Git back I git back I" he yelled, "ef ye doan't sharplr int" the Sport's face as Calamity had want t\J' git snagged inter purgatory on er into his own. streak o' greased lightnin'. Ther sarcus is Rosebud gave vent to a surprised little laugh. about ter begin-ther performers aire now on "I see that all three of us have something of ther sawdust, and ther old Pet Elerfant aire a.- Blonde BW. 11 waltzin' around tber trail. Keep back, ef ye was not the case, for, although be tried the 1 doe.sn't want ter explode I" squeezing hug upon the blonde man1 with the Involuntarily the crowd sID"ged back to a re hope of crushing him he soon found tnat his ad spectful distance, for they were rather chary of versary knew a trick or two about the little this big overgrown individual from Leadville, game himself. · whose aspect was anything but saintly, to say Like ihe powerful jaws of a vise did the arms the least. of Blonde Bill wind around the Coloradoan, and The Coloradoan, Salamander Sam, now was tighter and stronger became bis hug, until the ready, and moved stealthily toward the center eye$ of the black-haired pilgrim began to of the ring, !us eyes expressive of a venomous bulge from their sockets, and be grew purple in prapose. . the face. Blonde Bill also moved forward to meet him, "Rocky Mountain pr'1ecat, an' perary coy. with his arms still folded upon his breast, and otes!" ejaculated the gill'.nt, as be waltzed about a faint smile !raking about his lips. the ring, nearly beside himself with enthusiasm. When within a couple of yards of each other, " Tork about bein' hugged ter de'th by yer both men paused-paused and gazed at each mother-in-law, pards-et ain't no sarcumstance other. The one evilly, fiercely, malignantly; ter ther present case, no, sir-ee, bob-tail hossl the other steadily-deadly. Jest luk at thet aire blonde cuss, will ye~ain't 'fhe next instant the Coloradoan launched be whoopin' ber up ter ther black b'ar, famnss1 himself forward, directly at his antagonist, Bet my boots he's half-brother to a reg'lar high with doubled fists, and mouth open, as if he pressure engine, wi' forty-hoss power. See bow were bent upon the instant annihilation of his he makes the Salamander blush around ther victim. Not an inch stirred the blonde man from gills, will ye-ob! Lordy, et's better nor a circus. bis tracks, but suddenly stretching out his arm, Beautiful Bill, am I-an' I do hereby sw'ar an' he knocked the attacker back to the ground, asseverate thet Blonde Bill ar' king o' these hyar without any apparent effort. mines, in tber arts o' huggin' an' knockin'." Down went Salamander Sam, like a. Io11;, and Around and around' staggered the locked ene lay quivering where he had fallen, whila a cheer mies, both powerless to escape each other's hug, of applause rose from the crowa, and the Pet and each using his 1naster efforts to crush the Elephant of the Leadville Trail danced about in life out of the other. the hugest kind of delight. It might seem a strange and horrible way of "Kerw hoop I" he roared, springing high in the fighting, out in the far East, where such scenes air. " Thet's ther way ter skin ther Devil, an' are unknown; but in the wild life of the wildea ther blonde galoot he did ther beautiful, by gum, mines of the far West, it is esteemed the acme an' I'll bet ary galoot six ter six thet ther Sala of sport, and eagerly witnessed by even the mander see'd more stars, then, than er superan " toned " citizens. nerated cherubim." • The blonde man was the coolest, and appar "The bloode man's a clipper!" Cala"'lity Jane ently least affected. If the savage bug of the said, enthusiastically, as with Rosebud Rob and Coloradoan hurt him, the fact was not percepti A valauche, she watched from the veranda. " I'll ble upon his smiling face; while on the contrary bet high on him, after seein' him P.lant tnat one Salamander Sam's face was pitrple, his eyes blow. Ah! Salamander Sam is crawling to his bulged nearly out, and bis tongue was hanging feet, after another dose." from his month. lt was even so. The ruffian had regained bis "When you get enough, let me know, and I'll feet, and stood a few feet from Blonde Bill, bis lmloosen," Blonde Bill said, as he noticed his ad eyes glaring more like those o!' a wild beast, versary's condition. than those of a human being. "Never, curse ye!" was the gasping reply. "Crase ye!" he hissed, fiercely, "what did ye "I'll die first!" hit me with!" At this instant a change came. A pistol-shot - " Wi' bis patent, cast-iron post-malls, on was heard, and Blonde Bill suddenly dropped course!" Beautiful Bill replied, .with a grin. one arm to his side, with an exclamation, while ''Ob! he's a hoss, is that blonde cuss, an' I ken't Salamander also released his hold, and fell to plant a better crop o' knuckles, myself." the ground. "Come, you overgrown booby, get to busi '' l 've ·been shot," Blonde Bill said, ' and so ness, if yon want another installment," Blonde bas my opponeo.t. Wbg committed this act? Bill commanded peremptorily. "I am anxious Show ine the man, and with my uninjraed right to get through with you, and go about my busi arm I will fight him I" ness." In an instant all was confusion, and hasty This caused a titter among the spectators, and searah and inquiries followed, but without satis more enraged the ruffian. factory result. "I'll finish ye, this time," be g1itted, fiercely, No one seemed to know or have the least idea and the next instant he took a flying leap for who had fired the shot which bad barked the ward, that bro11ght him directly in front of the blonde man's wrist, and entered his opponent's blonde man. In a moment more the two bad back. clinched, tightly. It was now to be a contest of strength, rather Whoever bad fired the shot bad been at some than scienc~. and the attention of the spectators distance from the crowd, probably, as the re- became greater. · port bad not been heard. _ The Coloradoan was a man o! great muscular The man, Salamander, bled like a stuck bog strength, and it would seem that he bad a de and an examination proved that he could not cided advantage over his opponent, but such be other than mortally wounded, for the bullet 18 Hlonde BilL had entered his back and penetrated the left late-the shot was fired, and with the dropping lung.. of the blonde man's arm to his side, ~e weapon "Who wants ter take charge o' this-chap?" disappeared." Beautiful Bill demanded. "His fiddle is bu'sted, The looks of surprise and doubt began to dis an' we sha'n't heer much more music from him. appear from the faces of the crowd to be fol Who wants 'im, I say1" lowed by expressions of interest and belief. "I'll take charge of him," a brawny, brown " This is a strange story you are telling, whiskered Miner replied, "and see that he has pard," a miner said, who chanced to be Silver proper care." ton's deputy-sheriff, by name George Garwood. And with the assistance of a couple of com "We've ail, as a people, tuk quite a notion· to panions, he bore the wounded ruffian out of the the blonde pilgrim, an' et's hard ter believe he's ring and away. up to sech sly gum ~ames as thet." The crowd now began to disperse, but were " On course et is!' decided the Leadville giant, to some extent prevented from lea~]}_?• as Hon in disgust. "Et's ther disgustin'est kind o' a orable Ray Vernon, of Ohio, steppeu forward polecat lie, and durn my moth ~ r-in-law's little and said: yaller dorg, ef I k en't lick ther onery cross "Excusing me, gents, for detaining you, it eyed, ring-nosed galoot w'ot preferred ther will be to your advantage to give me a mo charge-" ment's attention. I have discovered who it was " I do not know that you will take my testi that shot the blonde man and the ruffian." mony alone, gentleman," the Ohioan continued, "Ohl ye have, eh? Then y'u're ther percise "and perhaps, again, 1t isn't ally of my business chap we want ter see," Beautiful Bill declared. to take up sides against the blonde, but I like to " Tell us who promulgated ther deadly pill, an' see things half-way fair. Perhaps there is some durn my mother-in-law's little yaller dorg ef I one in the crowd who saw the same as I, quick won't impannel ther great Death Committee, as was the action." an' set it ter work. Beautiful Bill am I, and I "Yes, there is unotber, who witnessed the kin lick ther teetotal spots off'n ther cuss who foul deed," a voice r eplied, and out from the salivated ther blonde an' pasted ther stripes o' crowd stepped Silverton's ministerial man, the glory to ther Salamander." Reverend Lester Van Syckel. "Though it 1s my " The man who fl.rod the cowardlv shot is creed to be m01•ciful, I will at no time screen present," the Congressman went on. "As I un crime, and I frankly acknowledge that Isaw the derstand your laws of honor, here in the mines, blonde stranger's murderous act I" , gentlemen, the man who does a mean act in a "Then, by heaven! it must be so, and the as. sly or treacherous wanner is considered dishon sassin shall not escape," Deputy Garwood cried. orable, and deserving of being lynched. Is this " It was a mean and unfair act, and if there are not correct?" - any here who want invitations to a lynch picuic " Keerectl" cried the giant, with a flourish let 'em speak up brisk!" and his sentiment was echoed by nods from the "Here! here I" came the answer, by a hundred others. • voices. " We're with 'ye l" " Then I propose you string up the man, "Contrary, no!" roared the giant. "Beauti Blonde.Bill," the Ohioan decided; "for he is the ful Bill am I; but may I be etarnally kicked ter guilty man who fired the shot!" death wi' cross-eyed mules, or buzzed ter death wi' anti-dyspeptic was.sups, ef I'll evyer take sides ag'in' ther innercent chap wi' ther yaller CHAPTER VII. must ••Well, sir, I am the deputy-sheriff of this 'ere tiful Bill, as he crowded forward. " Et's con town o' Silverton, an' I ,hev orders frum ther clusive proof that he's innercent." IJ0<.>ple ter arrest ye fer killin' ther Coloradoan, "On course he is!" exclaimed Calamity Jane, ::Salamander Sam!" joined by similar exclamations from Avalanche "What's this?-arrest me for killing the manY and Rosebud Rob. " The blonde cuss didn't Why, my dear sir, you must be out of your shoot ther rough no more'n I did." bead! We were fired at by some unknown party "'Well, I ken't tell about thet,'' Garwood re while strugglmg with each other, and I came pliecl. " Things seem ter be a leetle mixed, an' near getting the same dose the ruffian got. I et will be necessary to have a trial." have a. bark here on my left wrist as a memento - " See here!" Calamity cried1 confronting the of the close ca.II!" deputy; " jest you hold on a tnfle. If I mistake "Yas, that's all well enough for you to say, not, ther fight was a. ' do as ye please ' afl'air but et dou't pass muster, ye see, wi' this wasn't it'?" byar court," Garwood announced, determinedly. " On course it was. To that fact I do solemn "We've got two men who tell a different sort o' ly sw'ar an' asseverate-I, Beautiful Bill,'' roar a. story from yourn. They s~y a. revolver drop ed the giant, with a flourish.._ "On course them ped out of your sleeve, into your hand, went off war ther constitoochin an' by-laws o' tner horse an' then disappeared from sight again the re der-combat, an' I kin lick tber ornery burro mtlt being the wound in the Coloradoanls back, who sez ther blonde man shot ther Salamander! nn' a kiss o' ycr wrist, purposely intended, no er sez he didn't hev er right to, ef he pleased doubt. Now, mebbe this ain't so, but luks like All in favor o' freein' tber yaller-hirsuted galoot ly, an' so I arrest ye fer trial, wi' ther prospect will make manifest by saying I, with capital ,,, a lynch picruc l" emphatl" "This is lln infamous plot against me-a " I!" cri'lld Calamity Jane. scurvy lie. 1 did n.<:>t kill the ruffian, nor did I " I!" cried Old Avalanche. have any band in itl" the Blonde replied, with " I I" cried Rosebud Rob. ~:udden lierceness. " Who are my accusers!" "An' I-I-1-yi-yi-I!" roared the big "I am, for one," the Buckeye Congressman Leadvillite. "Blonde Bill forever!" 11aid, step;:iing forward with a maligna.nt smile But they four were the only ones -to affirm. of triumµh upon his face. "l saw you do pre Tbe remaim.. er of the excited crowd were grim- _ cisely as tb6 deputy, her e has rlescribed." ly silent. ".And, I toot" addea1 the Reverend Van "The majority rules, gentlemen, and it is my 13yckel, with a sorrowful look. " Although I duty to make the arrest," the deputy-sheriff per •would be a shepherd to the Lord, and gather sisted. "Will you come with me, prisoner, or llambs unto my fold, I cannot allow myself to shall I have to use force!" screen crime, and permit the wicked to go un " I will not resist the law, sir I" Blonde Bill re punished." plied, as he put on his coat. "Lead ahead, and :::nonde Bill was staggered when he saw the you have my word that I will follow." evidence offered, but he remained as calm as "Your word is sufficient," the deputy replied, was his usual wont. · "Come along." "Gentlemen you are both infernal liars," he He turned, descended from the veranda, and answered. " Your testimony is falsehood and up the street they went, tqe crowd parting on slander-some scheme worthy of Satan's imps either side to give them passage. Close behind to harm me. Again I protest that I had noth- followed the Sport, RoSebud Rob, and also Beautiful Bill, Calamity, Avalanche, with the infc ~~~wj!~ ~1:, s~~~.nl{;:t yer word won't surging crowd bringing- u~ the rear. the Buck carry weight, I'm afeard," the deputy replied. eye Congressman and the Reverend Van Syckle "Two aces is allus better'n a lone jack, an' ye among them. see bow 'tis yerself." At the upper end of Silverton's long main • "Thar's anuther way o' gettin' at the mat street stood 11. large barn, which was used partly ter," a miner suggested. "Ef he did the sboot for stabling horses during the winter season, in', as stated, no doubt he still carries the wea but was now empty. It also served as co~ pon concealed in his coat-sleeve." house and jail for the little town, when th(li-e " Good idea I" the deputy accepted. "Pull off was need for such a place, which was seldom. yer coat, prisoner!" To this castle of legal jurisdiction the deputy "Very well, I will do so," Blonde Bill !jaid, sberifl' led the way. .1beying the order. "and you will find a small Every available space was soon occupied in revolver !'USpendecl in the sleeve by u rubber this impromptu court-room, and Blonde Bill elastic. It is loaded in every chamber, and yon stood in the prisoner's box-an empty feed-box, can easily see that it has not been fired, as I while Garwdod towered upon an imaginary have had no occasion to use it." judge's stand. A short sear ch found the weapon, just as its " Feller-pilgrims," he said, after glancing owner had prophesied. It was a bran'-new four over the crowd, "we are here for the purpose shooter, of small or vest-pocket pattern, and of trying a man for murder in the furst degree. being brif!"ht and polished in every part, and Mebbe sum o' ye ain't heerd ther testimony, so fully loaded. bad evidently never been used. A the first party of the prosecution will please be further search of the blonde man's person re heard.," vealed no other weapons except those he carried Ohio's representative accordiugly arose, and exposed to view in bis belt. stated what he knew, precisely as he had flrsi "Thar! now ye see, don't ye. thet tber Ohio done, when making the accusation. IOlecat v;as a-lyi».'f" trinmphantly cried Beau- He was then followed by the ministerial man. 18 Blonde Bill. wllo confirmed his statement, with a few con there," - with a nod toward Silverton "-end ft cisely chosen words. must not be. What is to be done? " " You se3, feller-citizens,"Garwoodsaid "the "Rescue him, if you say so." proof is conclusive. The blonde chap undoubt "~ut the crowd's against him-and us. edly did the shooting, and he therefore is pro There's a full band of 'em." - nounced guilty. There is no use of impaneling "I care not. Count tho cabins up the gufoh a jury-the case can be decided without. All ihere's twelve of 'ernhand every cabin contains ther 1s ter do is ter vota on et. All in favor o' three or four boys w o know rue as a leader. seein' Blonde Bill hoisted, will confer a favor Once they knew Deadwood Dick in the same by saying ay 1" shape!" " Ay ! ay I ay !" came a hoarse, tumultuous " Can it be true? Tb.en, if they'll volm..teer, sbout of many voices. we're flush yet. Get them together at once, "Contrary, no!" and I'll lead you and them down throu~h Sil· "No!" came the reply-but only a rew voices verton, in the way Dick used to do up m the heralded the cry. hills." "Et's decided, then," Garwood announced, The miner, Raphael, nodded, and drawing a "an' I , ther deputy-sheriff an' jedge o' this hyur silver whistle from his pocket, he blew a shrill town o' S1lvert;on, do sentence Blonde Bill to be blast that echoed and re -ecl10ed in wild, pierc hanged ter th~r first convenient limb o' a tree, ing, detonating quavers through the valley one hour hence. Cle:ir ther court-room, an' gulch. allow ther prisoner a quiet chance ter cogitate over his pro3p2cts." And s0, out once more into the moonlight CHAPTER VIII. emerged those citiz9ns of Silverton, and waited in groups in the immediate neighborhood, for JUDGE LYNCH DETHRONE•. no thought of sleep was there, with the prospect IN the mean time the -crowd waited in the of the soul-iuspiriug spectacle of seeing a man moonlit gulch, for the moment to arrive when !aunched into et~rnity . Blonde Bill was to be a chief participant in a In the hurry of th3 exit from the building, tight-rope performance. E ager were these Sil Calamity Jane h'Ld so nebow got separated from vertonians to watch the lynching process, so that Old Avalanche a11i.l Rosebu1 Rob but evident they could get the "hang" of it, as some face ly purposely, for nn sooner had she gotten out tiously Tuclined miner remarked. of the thickest of th~ crowd, than she sped off Various were the speqy.lations as to how the up the mountain-gulch t ·ail with rapid steps. str11-nger would meet his death, and as to where Ooca she wa,s out of sight of human eyes, he would go after the stern hand of justice bad shA iucreas2d her pace to a trot, finally to done with him. a r un. "Et's er dirty, mean shame!" Beautiful Bill Throu"h th~ gubh, with it; grim borderin~ declared, as with Rosebud Rob be stood apart of t'Lll sp3ctral pi:ns, she flew like a startlea from the main body of watchers. "Thet aire fa wo, tlle occa:iiou'l.l bars of mellow moonshine Blondy didn't do ther shootin' no more than I darting a thw.:irt her face, and revealing a wild, did, an' I say we're a dratted pair o' polecats ter r·3solute expression. let him pony up wi'out interferin'." Rude shanties an::! cabins were strewn along "Interferent'e would avail us nothing, Bill," through the gulch, but she seemAd scarcely to the Sport r eplied. " I fear thet Blonde Bill's notice them, until she reached one, about a half jig is up, for the crowd's ag'in' him, an' there a mile from Silverton, with a m'l.n sitting upon ain't no use o' our cbippin' iu, wi' two lone the threshold of tha doorway, and evidently en hands. I wonder what's IJecome o' Avalanche joying the bsautiful moonlight, as he smoked a and Calamity?'' grimy clay pipe . . " Dunno. They missed us when we left ther A rad-shirted , r oughly dressed fellow, with barn yonder." busby bewhiskerej face, and shrewd little eyes, Vividly the moonlight streamed down into and a form betokening muscle and sinew. the gulch, playing with spectral effect upon th& Before him th1 gfrl,dare-devil came to a halt, groups of miners, citizens and adventurers, her boso'Il heaving deeply, from her swift run. dotted here ·and there, awaiting the crowning " Raphael!" sh2 S'l.id, questioningly. scene of the evening. · "Bv heaven! is it you, Calamity?" Nor had they long to wait, for the minutes And the m'l.n sprung to bis feet, glad surprise slioped quickly by, and the hour grew narrower beaming from his li ttle eyes. and narrower. "Yes. it's ma," wa~ the hasty reply. " I am At last the door of the barn swung open, and glad you know me. You promised me, Raphael, a wild yell arose, for it was known by that that when you serve1 un'.ier Deadwood Dick's flag, the allotted time had expired. that, did I ever uee1 assistance, I might com The next instant the deputy-sheriff stepped mand yoL1." out into the gulch, followed by four other men, "In truth I did, C'l.lamity. You were a faith between whom Blonde Bill marched as a pris ful friend to our Captain, Deadwood Dick, in oner. those bygone days, up in the Black Hills, and As calm and composed as a 8tatue was the that fact m ;rudge Lynch was one hundred yards up the "Yes. Go, now, and let 1he law take the ven t,,'Ulcb, and toward this tb_e pri~ner was led, fol geance she has so Jong been deprived of." lowed by the crowd. With tears dimming his eyes, Rosebud Rob A stout lnsso was made ready, as soon as turned away, and retraced his steps to the placa a position was reached beneath a strong, out where be had left the giant. reaching branch, and while the noosed end was Even as he did so, the voice of the deputy secured about Blonde Bill's neck, the other was sberiff was heard: tossed over the limbJ and taken in charge by a " Time's up. He' oh I he' I" half~oren ready vomnteers. "Come!" .Rosebud said, to the giant, "let's "Now then, pardner, ye'r' all bunk!" the get out of this. I don't care to witness the spec- deputy-sheriff said, surveying the prisoner with tacle." · a patronizing air. " All's required is a leetle Nor did Beautiful Bill, for, with a yell, he muscle, to h'ist ye. So, before the ceremonies turned and dashed down the street after the begin, w'ich'll be in five minutes, ef ye bev any Sport. Ruffian though be was, by nature bom, confessions to make, or eny prayers ter offer, and rude and uncouth as the wild mountainous ye'd better git down to bizness, lively." country of which he was a denizen, it was possi " I would like to speak ~ moment with Rose ble that be still bad a heart more capable of bud Rob, if you haven't any objections," Blonde tender emotions than his every-day exterior Bill replied. would seem to betrav. "Not in the least," Silverton's worthy deputy A wild, reverberating yell, as they rushed replied, accommodatingly. "Rosebud Rob, if down toward the Leviathan, warned them that he is present, will please come forward." Deadwood Dick's feet had cleared the ground The handsome Sport obeyed, as soon as he that he w11s bein~ launched into eternity. heard bis name spoken. A moisture came into But bark! his eyes, as he beheld the blonde man, ready for Not only do the yells of the crowd swell upon a launch into eternity. the night, but ether yells rise far above tbem "By heaven, BiIJ, I would that it were in my fierce yells they are, accompanied by the sounds power t:o helP. you!" he said, huskily, "but the of rapid pistol-shots, and the thunder of horses' four of us ain t enough." feet! " Of course not, and there's no other way out Then follow startled cries, and a perceptible of the difficulty than by banging, though the breaking of the crowd; a mass of humanity J_,ord knows I didn't shoot the ruffian. Rosebud, comes rushing headlong down Silverton's main. have you any idea who I am!" street, with howls and curses, as if the Old Nick "No!" the Sport replied-" except you are in person were after them. Blonde Bill." "What in the blazes is the matter?" Rosebud " That is only a nmn de plume," the other r& Rob g~ped, as be and Beautiful Bill reaohed plied. " I've got t:o stretch hemp, and r ma:y as the veranda of the Leviathan, a few moments '!Veil do it under my real as under a fictitious ahead of the crowd. name. I am Richard Edward Harris-better "Holy polecats! can't ye see!" the big man · known as Deadwood Dick!" from Leadville cried, pointing up the street. Rosebud Roq gave vent to a sudden exclama " Road-agents I road-agents, sure's I'm tber ~onbwhich was in turn echoed by the crowd. Apoller o' tber West. Road-agents, by ther " eadwood Dick-you ?" breath uv old Zachariaher Zebulom, an' they've " Yes, I I As Blonde Bill I was enabled to re reskied ther blonde cuss, tool Hip I yip I hur turn here, whence these accw·sed Silvertonians raber !" And loudly the giant's triumphant buz drove m~ therefor~ the disguise," was t:Se re za rung out upon the night. pl:y,. " where are valamity and Avalanche!" But, the rushing crowd paused not to learn ' I do not know. I have not seen them since from whence it came. Madly they sped on, we left the court-room. frantic with desire to escape the band of masked " Well, it matters not. They would grieve to horsemen that had driven tbeni away from see me shuffle off, and it iS better they should be Judge Lynch's tree. spe.red the pain. You will do as wei.J. I want But, they need not have fled in such confusion you to promise me something. • for the outlaws halted at the tree, and proceeded "Anything, friend," the Sport said, gravely. to take the rope from the neck of Blonde Bill, " Good. I know you're true as steel. You who bad been dropped to the ground at the flee have heard of the mines, Deadwood Dick's Dis- ing of his executioners, unharmed. covery. Henceforth and forever hereafter they But, bis bonds were not cut, except those are yours, 9-nd Calamity's jointly. .But, in or around his feet, and they were renewed, when der to get them, you must get tJ:re deed of them he was lifted into the saddle. from that Ohio scoundrel, and plant your ffo.g on· Seeing this act, one of the party uttered an the claim. You are no outlaw; they will not exclamation of surprise, but a revolver pressed dare to drive you off. Another thing: I want against his temple bv an outlaw by his side, you to break up the outlaw gang that caused the bad the effect to produce silence. death of my wife, Edith. You will not have a Blonde Bill was securely fastened int:o the hard job. The leaders of that gang are, I saddle o~ an extra horse that bad been brought truly believe, the .same pair wbo caused mi!: along; then tQe lead-line was taken in charge sentence to-nigbt, and it was the ministers by one pf the rescuers. daughter who fired the shot that killed Sala Then, the dismounted ones again leaped into mander Sam." their saddles, and the cavalcade dashed away "I'll carry out your wishes to the Jetter," the over the back trail, with yells of victory. Snort replied. " !s that all I" On they went up the gulch, into the interior 80 Blonde BilL of t he mountainOllS district-now branching off Fumbling around, he soon found a lamp which int.o cross ravines, gulches and canyon.~- the risk, he was not particularly noticed, and ther reason I teched ye so li§:htly " the e ant re thus escaped detection. plied, effusively. "But we re gfad ye ve cum, What he heard, is already known to the read a!l ther same, fer we hev need o' ye, ye pur- er. After the session closed, he left as soon as seeve." · possible, and returned to where he had left the " Yes, we have that," Rosebud Rob coincided. deeuty-sheriff. " We want ye to hnnt up the trail of the Silent 'Well, what are you going to do with me?" Tongues, and find where their head-quarters that guilty individual demanded, with an ea~er are." ness born, apparently, of greatest fear. ' Ye " Reckon thet wouldn't be no slouch of a job,'' ain'ta-goin' ter give me away, I hope." the veteran Annihilator replied. " They hang "That depends, somewhat," the Sport r eplied. out somewhere's about Clumsi mountain, over "If ye tell me where the· head-quarters of the yonder ,to'rd ther Animas, 'case I've seen sum Silent Tongue outlaws is, I shall probably be o' their anymlles grazin' in t he neighborhood." more merciful, than if you r efuse to grant the "You know that Blonde Bill-alias Dead• information." wood Dick- and Calamity Jane arein the power " Then ye needn't be merciful," Garwood said, of these Silent Tongues?" with a scowl, "fer I can't tell ye that. Ye kin " Great antiquated ham-bone, no!" string me up, but I cannot-will not tell ye "Well, they are, we have learned and if we that." don't get 'em out, it looks purty llkely thet " Then, I'll liberate you,'' Rosebud said, cut- they'll be made the principal cadavers of a cou 1;ing the bonds about his feet, and relieving him ple of funerals." of the handcuffs. " You dare not do me harm, And then the Sport narrated to the old. An· if you value your public office, and if I conclude nihilator what he had pre'l'.iously toid Beautiful to use you, I'll hunt you up, some other time. Bill. Go!" When be had finished, a new fire of life and " I will go," Garwood replied "and I am no spirit came into the eye of the scout. dog not to remember you. When I have had " Great bam-bone thet gargled the throat of my revenge, we'll cry quits, if you're willing. old Jonerl" he ejaculated. ":Et is as you say: H a l ha!" ther b'yee an' tber gal must be got out o' ther And the deputy took advantage of his liberty deefikilty, somehow. .When d'ye want ter to stride away into the darlmess. move?" " I'm 'most sorry I let the devil go," the Sport " Not just yet, I've got a little other bull• muttered, as he turned awiiy toward the main dozing to do before I go. If you see anything street of the town. "He has not a spark of of Van Syckel, the preacher, or the Ohioan, honor about him and will probably lay for me. look out for 'em, for I half expect they're at the But I am not afraid of him, if he don't take me head of the band of outlaws." .at a big disadvantage, where I can't get a chance " You bet your last dollar on my old mother "to use my arms." in-law's leetle yaller dorg, we will!" the ~1ant He went back to the hotel and r etired for the assured, tossing his bat through in under his leg night.-- into the air, and skillfully catching it on his Early in the morning he was abroad, and met head, a la clown. " On course we will, old last Beautiful Bill upon the veranda. rosebud o' summer, ef we hev ter destroy the1• "Waal, w'at's ther tap?" the giant demanded. blamed constertushing uv ther United States! " H eerd auything frnm Deadwood Dick and Beautiful Bill am I, an' hyar's Old Avltlanche Calamity?" Hogg-ther lop-eared Poker o' tber North, an' lit " Yes," and the Sport related his adventures we two planets do constertoot ther famous of the previous night. Death-Committee o' the Mines!" , The big Leadvillite whistled, as be heard. Taking leave of them, Rosebud Rob re-enter "Beats a r ed-hot novel all holler, by gum," ed the hotel, and positioned himself in a place he said. "So they're in the power o'ther Silent where he could see everybody that entered or Tongues, arter all?" left the place by the front entrance. "Yes, and it must be our business to get them Lighting a cigar, he took up a paper, and ap out," Rosebud Rob said. "But lww, is the ques peared to be absorbed in its perusal, while in re tion. I do not know where the outlaws' rendez ality he was conscious of everything that was vous is located." going on around him, and saw every person "Ner I, by ther holy polecats. But yonder that passed him in or out. During the forenoon cums ther other branch o' ther great Continen he noticed the man fro~ Ohio leave the hotel, tal De'th Committee, an' mebbe he kin dig up and shortly afterward ·the renegade preacher t her trail. I do sw'ar an' asseverate thet Old followed suit. Avalanche, ther Annihilator, kin root up ary This was exactly what he was waiting for, trail thet ever mortal made." and leaving his watching-place, he ascended to And, as the giant ceased speaking he slapped the second floor of the building. Having pre his band heavily down upon the shoulder of the viously obtained the numbers of Van Syckel's great scout, wco had just come up. apartments, he had no difficulty in finding "Take keer, Billee; not too heavy," the old them now, and he tried the first door of the veteran grunted. "My old j'ints won't stand suit, which opened, a nd admitted him into a. as much jarrin' as they uster did, in ther days plainly furnished sitting-room, lighted by two when ther Annihilation established ets great windows. fame-great e.nti-carniverous ham-bone, no!" Nora Van Syckel, the bogus clergyman's "Oq ~'lit\ they won't., Alva, ye old sunran- daughter, was seated by one of these windows, iiua:te .. ,1r-on course they won't; an thet's sigaged in sewing, at the moment of the Sport's Blonde Bill. abrupt entrance, but sprung to her feet with a "Because I had taken a fancy to the blondt. little cry of alarm, as she saw him. gentleman, and tho•11ht the ruffian was going t.i. '' Sir I" she said, coldly. "To what am I in be too much for 'h'un. • debted for this visit1" " You needn't have feared that," Rosebud " Excuse me miss but you are not indebted, commented, with a low laugh. " I opine it at all," Rosebud replled. "'I never charge for· takes a man to hug Deadwood Dick to death." professional visits especially to ladies. r came "What! was Blonde Bill the famous Dead- to have a few words with yon, and I trusttii,king wood Dickr' the welfare of the Reverend Lester Van Syckel "He was." into consideratton, you will have due 'Patience " Well, that is news to me." and becoming fortitude, upon this occas10n." " Perhaps. But if you admired Blonde Bill, 'fhere was sarcasm in the Sport's tones that l\S you claim, why did you allow him to be ar caused Miss Van Syckel to crimson, and then rested for your crimeP' grow pale. "I will tell you," the girl answered, frankly. "l don't understand what you mean," she "My father saw me do the shooting, and came said, with an effort to conceal, somewhat, the up here and locked me up in my room; then agitation she felt," but I will listen to what went back and plotted with Vernon for Blonde you have to say. Be seated, please." Bill's death. I was 'powerless to be of any a& · "On the contrary, I think you do quite un sistance." derstand the import of my words," Rosebud Rob rejoined, accepting a chair, and becoming CHAPTER X. seated. " In the vE'rnacular of the mines, I've IN THE SILENT TONGUES' 'POCKE'l. dOSEBUD come for the express purpose of 'talkin~ turkey' ROB TAKES A JOB. to you. In the first place, I'd like to g1ve1ou a LET us return to Deadwood Dkk, otherwise question to answer. Whom did you inten that Blonde Bill, whom we left in the pcwer of the bullet for?~tbe ruffianJ or Blonde Bill?" strange masked rescuers, who we:re, of course, The minister's daugnter grew deadly pale at the.gang of cut-throats, that for several months the question, but by a strenuous effort managed bad spread a reign of terror throughout the to keep her composure. Animas, by their bold deeds. " 1-1 don't understand you yet," she faltered. After entering the fissure with which the "What bullet do you mean?" mountain seemed rent, they proceeded along " The one that shut off the wind of Salaman through a passage of utter darkness that was so der Sam, in the street fight, night before last," narrow and low as to scarcely admit of their was the reply. "You needn't deny that you progress. For several minutes they continued fired it, for such a denial would not avail you. through this, finally emerging into wi.Jat proved You were seen to stand upon the baJcony1 or to be a second plateau or spot of level land, roof over the veranda, and do the •hootmg, which was totally lock€d in by perpendicnlsr and no'Y the question is, which did you shoot mountains that rose on every side to a hight _of at?" a hundred and fifty feet, or more. This appa.t " That is none of your business," was the re ently was the Silent 'l'oni;ues' retreat, for evi ply. " If you think you can make me commit dences of a permanent camp were plentifully myself, sir, you are mistaken." strewn about. About every dozen yards around "No, I am not mistaken!" Rosebud persisted. the edges of the " pocket," stakes and poles were "You can either an~wer my questions, or I'll erected for holding kettles over a fire, and close put you where Blonde Bill left off." to these larger niches or cavrs bad been blasted "Bab I you wouldn't dare I" out of the mountain rock, which provided suffi " Why not prayr• cient shelter and living room for a couple of men !'Ohl for differen~ reasons!" and horses. In all, thne were some thirty of The young lady was beg1m1ing to manifest these fire-places, and caves. more assurance. As soon as.the band debouched into the valley "Because your reverend sire chances to be the they separated, and made for their respective Captain Terrible of the band of the Silent quarters, with the exception of the lrnder and Tongues, eh?" was the retort. "I assure you two others, one of each of whom kept guard over that would not hinder my purpose." Blonde Bill, and the mask who bad demurred at Miss Van Syckel paled again. the arrest of the blonde man. "Who are you," she gasped, " that you know As the reader bas probably surmised, this was so much?" Calamity Jane in disguise. " Rosebud Rob, at your service, miss-a man At a motion of Raphael, the lieutenant under to suit all circumstances," was the answer. Captain Terrible's command directed the pris Then there was a silence of several minutes, oners to be removed to one of the caves, and which was finally broken by the young w"Jman. closely guarded, until he g i ve further orders. "You seem to be positive that I fired the The mask was accordingly removed from Cal shot," she said, "and I do not know as there is amity's face, and her arms were bound behind any use of beating around the bush; nor am I her. afraid to name who the bullet was intended for. Then she and Blonde Bill were both conducted It hit the party at whom it was aimed in the to an untenanted cave. and left to make the best back." of their situation, a guard being stationed at the " Ah! then it was not for Blonde Bill?" entrance to prevent them from escaping. "It was not." _ When they were alone in ea!'b other's presence "Well 1 that's one point in your fa.vor. Why, Blonde Bill turned to the girl dare-devil, in sur- may I IW!:, did you shoot the roughP' prise. • Blonde BUL "Calamity," he said, "I am somewhat puz "You are right," Deadwood Dick replied. zled. Can you solve what is bothering me1 "But we'll keep a watch, and take advantage Here I am snatched from the gallows, as I first of any favorable circumstances that may offer. snpposPd by friends, but later I find out ene You say the man who ordered us sent to. this mies. And yet, I find you also among them-a cave is Raphael, of my old Black. Hills gang?" prisoner!" "The same. He is now, I take it, the lieu "Ha! ha! Yes. I am among them, a pris tenant in active command of these Silent oner,'' Calamity replied. " I got fooled, ye see, Tongues." an' that 'counts fer it. D'ye know who that The day passed away slowly• • gang o' fellers is?" · At noon the guard before the entrance of the "The Silent Tongues, I have surmised, since cave was r elieved by another masked outlaw l!eeino- you a prisoner." but try though they would, the prisoners cotiid " Cfood guess. You hit it correct. D'ye want not get a word out of either of them. Their me to tell you how I came to be a prisoned" title of Silent Tongues was well bestowed. " Yes. Tell me, if you like·." Shortly after noontide, another outlaw enter Accordingly the girl narrated how she had ed the cave, and to the surprise of both Dick on learning of the disposition to be made or1 and Calamity, cut their bonds from their hands Blonde Bill, fled to seek aid from Raphael, one and feet. of Dead wood Dick's old men; how Raphael bad Then he left the cave, and speaking a few consented to render assistance, and how, when words to the guard, both went off together. the rescue had been effected, Raphael had pro "There nowt will you tell me what that nounced her his prisoner, and threatened her means1" Calamity demanded, when they had with instant death if she offered resistance. gone. " It looks as if somebody had changed "So, you see how it comes, I'm here," she his mind mighty sudden." _ said, in conclusion. "I got fooled in my man, "It means that we are to hr.•e the freedom of .and now all I ask is to get just one pop at him the valley, I presume. At least, we'll take it, with my pistol." until otherwise warned," Dick replied. " I am under most lasting obligations to you," He tore away the green goggles from his eyes Blonde Bill said, gratefully, "for had it not and also removed the blonde wig and mustache, been for me, you would not be here in this un and stood there before her, handsome and fear- enviable position. But have you any idea less-Deadw00d Dick. I whom you have been oorving?" "You see it's H" he said, smiling. " A suspicion that you were-were Dead wood "Yes, it is you, minus your raven curls and Dick has flashed over me, but I have not gave it mustache-the same Dick whom I knew up in a second thought." the hills." "Yet I am that very party," he said, with a They shook hands warmly and then took a strange smile. " Had I the use of my hands, I peep out into the mountain locked valley. could soon convince you." The light and sunshine of day shonedown..into " Can it be true? I am so glad,'' Calamity it pleasantly fr: m overhead, and made it seem said, her color quickening-her voice softening. more like the outer world. "It seems almost too good to be true. We havt1 Standing near the mouth of their cave, the been old acquaintances so long, you know." two captives .surveyed the scene with a sharp "Of course we have, Calamity, and I am per gaze. Few of the outlaws were abroad-a. half haps as glad to see you as you are to see me." dozen, all told, being engaged in sifting sand, "But, Dick, Rosebud Rob said that Blonde which formed the bottom of the pocket at the Bill lost a wife by the road-agent attack, in San further side. Juan canyon. Can it be possible that it was These fellows and their occupation attracted your wife1" the attention of Deadwood Dick, and he watched "Yes, it was Edith," the ex-outlaw said, hus them narrowly. kily. " She was shot, and kHled instantly, " I believe they're mining gold over there, leaving me again a widower. Poor Edith! she Calamity," he said; "and if such is the case, was a dear, faithful little woman, Calamity-as this is a good find( - Tb.a outlaws have no right pure as the snow upon the crest of the Sierras." to it, an1 it is mine and yours. Do you hear1 "I sympathize with you, Dick,'' the strange We must possess this cosey retreat ourselves." girl said, earnestly. Then she tuned away, lest the yearning, We will go back to Rosebud Rob, and the hungry look in her wildly beautiful eyes should minister's daughter. pain him. The Sport was silent for some time following Later, he broke the silence: Miss Van Syckel's last words, as if weighing "We're in a fix, Calamity, andl'We must get them in bis mind. out of it. I've dodged death so many times, " Then you are not in league with your father that I don't intend to give up the ghost yet." in his villainy?" he asked. · The guard stood in the entrance, in an atti "I am not," she replied. "In fact I have not tude of listening; so they, retired to a further bad the least suspicion but that he was doing corner of the cave, and sat down beside each right, until the attack of the Silent Tongues other. upon the stage in San Juan canyon. Then I "Yes, we must get out,'' the girl declared; heard him give vent to the wbistlA that was in "but I'm afrald we won't be successful in doing strumental in causing the retreat of the outlaws, it. This remarkable retreat is well guarded, no and knew for the first that he was in some way doubt, and it would take some figgerin' ter dodge connected witn them. T questioned him, on 'em." . r~ching our home, here, but he professed to be Blonde BUL IS' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.,-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~__,...__ ! , awfully religious, and horror-struck at the sus ope, which the Sport received with a smile of picions I ent.ertained of him. Later, however, I thanks. played eavesdropper, when he was holding a "An answer is wanted, I pr esume," he said, privat.e confab with the man from Ohio, who is as he tore it open. m reality my father's own brother, and learned "A verbal one is all is necessary, I guess, that Vernon is the Grand Chief and my father sir," was the r eply. the Captain of the Silent Tongues." The challenge was written upon a single sheet " Ah! I thank loti1 ·miss, for your frankness, of paper, and ran as follows: in telling me all o this, as it puts me in ~ con " Ma. Ros1t110D RA>n, Sm:- dition to fight these outlaw devils, and rescue " A s you have on several occasions Insulted me Deadwood Dick, and Calamity Jane. The party publicly, and as I am a man of hiizt> rank ai.d socia1 of masked men who r escued Blonde Bill from standing, it becomes me to challenge you to meet being lynched, turned out to have been some of me, in mortal combat, at any time or place which these self-same Silent Tongues, under one Ra may best suit you, the weapons to be revolvers at thirty paces each way from the center. I would re phael," spectfully suggest that you would name an early "lndeedl I am sorry for them, as they will moment for our meeting. probably be shown no mercy at the hands of the "HON. RAY VERNON." outlaws." Rosebud Rob read -the challenge, a smile " But, I intend to go to their rescue. While breaking over his countenance. Rosebud Rob luxuriates around these parts, the "I think I see into this matter already," he l!!ilent Tongues will find that they have one said, tnming to Garwood. "You have inform hard nut to crack. But, I want you to furnish ed the Silent Tongues how I took the liberty to me the information how to reach the head-quar invade their privacy, and they of course are in ters of the band." !>pired with a desire to send me to heaven in a. "I am sorry, but I cannot do that." Pullman car. So the right honorabll' Ray Ver "Whynot'I" - non, member of the Devil's Congress, takes this " Because, it would not only betray my father method of giving me a chance tor a through to death, but bring down the vengeance of the ticket ? W ell! well! I don't know that I have other outlaws upon me." any objections to givin~ him a. whirl, and so " Fear not. No harm shall come to you. If you II'..ay tell him that 1 will meet him in the you wish to uphold your father to a life of Red Wine Saloon, just above here, one bow· crime, keep your secret, and I will see what hence, and we'll plug a way at each other. But, &n be done for you, in the way of a c ollar. mind you, see to it yourself that no gum games Guide me a nd my party to th e den of these are tried on me, or Silverton will need a new outlaws and I 'll guarantee that no harm shall der.uty-shAriff." come to you." 'Do you s'pose I'd )lave anything to do with Miss Van Syckel arose from h er chair, and an unfarr settlement?" Garwood demanded, with paced a cross the room and back, her face the an air of injured innocence. scene of many struggling emotions. "I couldn't say. My motto is-watch your "I'll tell you what l'll do," she said, finally. neighbors as you would yourself I" the Sport re "I'll dress up in men's clothes, a nd guide you to joined, while Garwood turned away with a the eutrance to the Silent T ongues' r etreat, for grow}. one hundred dollars, and t he promise that I Rosebud R ob then ·hunted up Beautiful Bill shall have my liberty to go where I please, and Old A velanche, and found them in a saloon, when I have done as I have agreed. The cash enga~ed in a quiet game of old sledge, which you must pay now, for, as soon a s I have done the giant won. with you, I shall immediately fly to another When the Sport made known to them the part of thA country, in order to escape being challenge be had received and accepted, Beauti killed." ful Bill gave a snort of deli ght. "It's a bargain,'' Rosobud accepted, quickly. "Holy polecat!" he ejaculated. " Y e kedn't 'a' " Here are a hundred dollars. Mind you, now bit a more tender spot in my old constitushing..t you're in my service exC'lusively, and not in the t hen b y acceptin' tbet invitation-ye couldn't, 1 employ of Captain Terrible." sw'arl Beautiful Bill a m I, an' I do sw'ar , an' ' I'll not forget it. When will you want affirm , an' assever ate tbet notbin' in ther bull me'I" continent o' Ameriky or Australm _ked please " To-night, just at dusk. That will be the me better than ter see thet galt•ot JlS)rforated best time to make a start." wi' le'd pills. Lordy I ef ye don't salivate him "Very well; I will be r eady,'' the minister's in style, Spor t, gol-durn my old niotbPr-in-Jaw's daughter said, after which R osebud arose, and leetlE> yaller d org ef I doan't pelt ye a sockdola· took his departure. ger right in t be n o~e myself." As be descended the stairs to the veranda, he "Ye needn't f ear b ut what h e'll raise a thun· mPt t he deputy-sheriff, Garwood. der-starm o' derr>olishun an' spread a r €g. 'l"r He flushed a little, a s he caught the Sport's harrykane o' disastrous deefi kilty iuter ther stern gaze, but raised his hand and m otioned cussed Ohioan's sy8tem." Old AvaJancl.J e re for him to stop, which R osehnd l\ccordingly marked. " Rosebud Rob knows how t er pull did. teeth wi' his r Pvolver-great alluvial ham-bone, "Beg your pardon, sir," the deputy said, yes !" I "but l was directed to hand you a little paper "I certainly intend to teach the dog I\ lesson, -a challenge, by the way, from the Honorable anyhow,'' Rosebud r eplied; "and I want you Ray Vernon." two tu be present, and see ttiat there is no unfaiJ And as he concluded, he extended an envel- deal.',. 28 Blonde BilL " On course we will-great ham-bone, yes I cbailenged me to come here and meet him In a An' mebbe ther Death Committee will get er duel. As I never refuse a soft snap like that, I chance ter work a consarned old disease o' anni came, when the party of the first part attempted hilation," the Annihilator suggested. to slap me in the countenance, but got fooled as Accorciin~ly they all left the saloon and start to the natur' o' the beast I'm not to blame for ed for the .tted Wine, which resort was famous that am H" in the history of Sillllrton as the scene of many "Great auriferous ham-bone1 no!" cried Old a bold duel aud free fight. Avalanche, and the crowd umversally echoed As they entered the great apartment of the his sentiment. building, which was used for bar-room, gam "On course ye ain't to blame!" declared Beau bling and fighting, they saw that Vernon was tiful Bill, striding forward, "Ther Ohio polt'> not there. cat wanted t er slap yer across ther vocabulary But he entered shortly afterward, accompa trap, but ye give tber Buckeye galoot ther purti nied by the dei;>uty-sheritf and a couple of rough est slap that evyer emanated from ther fist o' looking, bewhiskered miners. mortal man. All in favor o' the carryin' o' this resolution will make manifesto by sayin' II" CHAPTER XI. " II" " I!" " I!" was the hearty res.Jl.Onse. ROSEBUD ROB MAKES ms MARK. "Carried by a big majority, an' lrud on ther THE condition of his eyes was plain evidence table o' tber house, instid o' on ther floor, as that he had b%u drinking deeply, as was the ther Con~ressman war!" the giant cried, with a unsteadiness of bis gait; but he had apparently broad gnu. · not as yet fully satisfied his appetite, for he im By this time the assailant's forehead was mediately steppoo up to the bar and called for bathed, and be was regaled with a brandy the drinks for his party, which Nere promptly •' smash." He then turned and glared at Rosebud produced, paid for, and quatl'.ed. R ob, savagely while Garwood cried: Tbe Ohioan then turned away from the bar, "Now, gentiemen, please git to either side o' and crossed with unsteady steps to where Rose the room, an' let the duelists have the ends, and bud Rob stood leaning against a tier of liquor we will see how the Honorable Ray Vernon, of barrels that were ranged along the side of the Ohio, will scoop it to the snoozer with the few room opposite from the bar. waxed hairs upon his upper lip!" "Hello! it's you, is it1" he demanded, in a " Oh! yas, we will, won't we?" Beautiful Bill thick tone. "You're the man that wants to fight snorted, with a caper. "We'll see tber Sport me1" a-climbin' ther golden stairs, in about two jer~ "I am undoubted!{ the same party," was the of a pif?,'s narrative, we will, no doubt. Tell ye· Sport's response. " believe I received a chal what Ill do, pilgrims-I'll bet a solid pound o' lenp:e from you, to meet you at this place?" pure auriferous wi' ary mortal man, tl:.<1.t Rose ' Yes, curse you! You are a-little too impor bud Rob makes ther Ohio galoot howl!" tant to suit my style, and so I thought l'd comb - " Who are you, that you interfere in this mat you down a little, just for the fun of it. Are ter?" Vernon demanded, fiercely. you ready, you puppy!" "You let him alone," Rosebud Rob advised. " I am at your demand, bat, as a friend, I'd "He know3 who and what you are as the whole advise you to wait until soma other time, when town will, before I'm through with you. Come! your nerves are more quiet, and you are sober. get to your place, if you insist upon fighting You are drunk now, and in no condition for with me, though I would prefer you would fighting a duel." - wait, until you are in a better condition." "You lie!" the other shouted, and· the next "I am ready. If, however, you are afraid. instant he raised his hand, and made a pass at to meet me. I can perhaps find it convenient to Rosebud's face. let you ofl'r' The agile sport parried the blow with his left " I am not afraid to meet a dozen of your ilk, arm, while with his right fist he dealt the villain sir, providin7 they don't come too fast," WM a blow between the eyes that felled him to the the answer. ' Take your place, and let's get to 11.oor. bu>iness." "There! pick up your rooster and sponge him "Thet's ther tor-k, feller-citerzens-git ter yer off, if he's going to do an v business with me," places, an' purceed ter bizness. Thar's no more Rob said, turning to the deputy-sheriff. " The beaucbiful sentence in er grammatical spellin' next time he tries to slap me in the face, I'll. hook, than ther word 'bizness,' an' w'en a feller knock him clear out of time." don't mind his own bizness, here's w'ot likes ter And there was no mistaking the 11.'\Sh that sPe him cornered like a bull o' ther market, and came from his eves. It meaut business. licked!" the Leadville man announced. A crowd quickly gathered. Both men now took their relative positions Suc)l a knock down invariably was the ad- tbe Sport with his back against the door open vance of a fight. - ing into the street, and the Ohioan with his back Garwood and his two companions baswnerl to against the rear wall of the cabin. assist their man t,o his feet, for he had only b >en Tbe spectat,ors were ranged upon either side, stunned by the sledg&-bammer blow; and while leavin ! an alley for the duelists. they were bathing the swelling forehead, R0se "Now, ~0 nt.lemen, let's know the terms of this bud.,Rob turned to the crowd who bad collected ene:ae;ementl" Garwood cried, "and we'll try to learn the nature of the case. anrl k<>ep ori!er." 1 "Tell you how it is, gents," he said, "while "We won't onlv try, but we'll do tbet leetle m~ ~~onent is doctoring up. He, a man total same!" Beautiful Bill declared. "Ary ill-timed lv 1 own to me, as far as acquaintance goes, galoot that shows endicashuns of treaohi>.ry, will . Blonde BilL ~ spot right squar' atween ther eyes wi' one o' any damage, and be stood at bis end of the beat m;r. patent lov&-pellets." as cool and calm, literally, as an iceberg, while "The t;erms of the duel are that we fight with the Honorable Ray Vernon hopped around in a pistols, an' don't quit till one or. t'other of us high state of pa.in and rage. yells for quits!" Rosebud Rob announced. "Time, curse you!" he gasped. "Garwood, "I beg to amend that resolution," Vernon you fool, tie up this sid0. I'll murder that ¥1'owled. "We'll shoot till one or the other of us devil if I die a-doing it." IS dead!" " A solid pound o' pure, unalloyed auriferous "Just as you like," Rosebud assented. "I ca rryetb I down in ther left pocket o' my durned was inclined to be merciful, but if you object, I old bricheloons, w'ot sez ye're a durn old liar, have no reason to complain." a blowbard, an' er fit associate fer ther fleas in "Then git read7, for the Lordy's sake I" cried ther hair o' my mother-in-law's leetle 1.aller Beautiful Bill. ' I'm anxious to see sum gore dorgl" exclaimed tbe giantt quickly. . 'Bet1 spilt. Pull yer pistolic perforators, now, an' On course ye won't! A mule 1<.in tell w'ich way w'en ye beer my clarion notes yell-' One! two! the wind blows by the way ther straw goes, three '-let yer luv-pellots slide." ev'ry day ru a week, an' he's a dw"Ded ring The two men drew their weapons, and stepped nosed, lop-eared, slab-sided, long-legged son,uv forward, a pace from the wall. a Hoosher skulemaster, w'at bucks a'gin' ther The Sport grasped a pair i.Jf heavy Colt re jedgment uv a mule or bis driver." volvers, the Ohioan had a pair, if anything lar For the second time the Ohioan suffered the ger and more formidable than bis opponent's. pain of having his wound dressed and bandaged; Up came the right hands of the two duelists, and then he once more took his position trembling as they rose to a level, Beautiful Bill, with a with rage when be realized that his 1oeauty was quick eye t-0 business, shouted: \ in all probability spoiled by the bullets of the "One! two! three! Ther rooster crows an' Sport. away she goes!' "Do you still want more?" Rosebud Rob d& Then the report of two weapons echoed manded. "I could have killed you either shot, through the room, with roaring effect, and there bad I chosen. I'd advise you to throw up, for was a faint groan of pain, coming frc,m the your own sake, as none of your bullets come Oliiean. The Sport's bullet had torn a passage anywhere near me, and if you continue, you'll through the fleshy portion of his left cheek, only get the worst of..it." making ,an ugly-looking wound which bled pro " That's none of your business as long as I fusely. choose to stand the blunt!" was the fierce an _./' " Time I" Garwood ordered. swer. " Ready l" "Yasl giv 'im time t;er rub down his charger, Once more the weapons came to a level, and an' sponge off his cheek," snorted the big Lead Beautiful Bill gave the word. villite, capering about in the most undignified Once more there were two flashes- two reports manner. -a howl of pain. Time was accordingly given to bathe the The Ohioan's Y.istol hand bung helpless and wound of the Ohioan, and bandage it, he mean· bleeding by his side, the wrist shattered by one while cursing like a pirate. of the large bullets from the Sport's revolver. "Such treatment is only fit for a dog," be A faint streak of blood oozing out in the neigh growled. "The next time I'll kill the villain, borhood of the Sport's earA.told where bis oppo outrie;bt." nent's bullet had left a trilling " kiss." "Yas, ye will!" roared the Leadville giant. " Again doth the busy little bee improve each " The next time. my pard, the Sport, 'll knock shinin' minute:" ejaculated Beautiful Bill. you 'wi;,y out o' time, mebbe, an' put another "How are re, Ohio? Want sum more UV tber wrinkle in yer cheek." same piece o goods? Want.er bet ye didn't git This elicited a laugh from the spectators, and licked? Ohl holy polecats! Beautiful Bill am l also increased the rage of the Ohioan; but he -ther .Apoller o' tber West, an' cumin' man fer wisely repressed it. ther next Presidency, but I'll be licked up by er He now took bis place again, and the revol consarned 'arthquake, ef ever I see'd a man so vers once more came to a level; there was a transformed, in er jiffy. Most Honorable Sir, fl.ash and a report, as Beautiful Bill gave the bow doth stand yer thermomeser now? Be yer signal to fire. mercu:r all friz ruto zeroic infinity, or aire it The result was, that the Ohioan gave vent to boomin red-hot, ready fer anuther salivate?" another howl of pain and rage. "I have got enough," the Ohioan replied, sav The second bullet of the Sport bad plowed an agely-'"at least, until I get able to use my hand. other furrow, tbi l time through his right cheek I As for you, my man," turning to Rosebud-" as "Kerwhoop! converted polecats an' old tar for you, I'll fix you yet. You have not heard ant'lers I what did I tell ye, pilgrims? I sed tber the iast of me, by any means!" · Sport w'u'd make ther Buckeye galoot howl! Then, turning, he staggered from the room, £!fered ter bet on it, an' nary a pilgrim durst followed by Garwood and the two miners, who ring mea deal. Ho! ho! whar's ther man who bad entered with them. , no\7 sez thet tber Sport ain't a reg'lar seckond Rosebud gazed after them, a smile hovering edishion o' true grit an' straight-grained bull about bis lips, as he lit a fresh cigar. dosian? Whar?'' "Gentlemen," he said, sarcastically, "I have Nowhere, apparently-at least the tide of ad the honor of introducing you to four members of miI'l!.tion seemed pretty evenly centered upon the outlaw gang, known as the ~ilent Tongues. the Sport. Yonder they go, headed by the right Honorable ::;.Neither of the Obioan's bullets bad done him Ray Vernon, of Ohio." Blonde Bill. A cry ot surprise came from the crowd. He saw that e!lcape hero was out of the ques "You don't mean to say ther deputy-sheriff, tion, unarmed as he was, and accordingly saun toor' a miner crifld. tered back to the cave. "I do, precisely," Rosebud replied. "I hap As the darkness closed in, their former guard J>0ned to spy around and get into the meeting- · entered the cave, bearing a !!g"hted lantern, and house of these Silent Tongues last night, and a tray of steaming roast veruson, pot of coffee learned so much that his honor from Ohio chal- and some cold biscuits, which he deposited, and 1en~ed me to fight, naturally expecting, no withdrew, without speaking. douot to get the best of me." " That fellow would not do to be Mothet' . " Then you charge these men with being mem Grundy's servant," Calamity observed, dryly. bers of the outlaw gang, eh?" another bystander "Nobody is qualified for that position except 11 demanded, pulling out his revolvers. man who can talk." "I do," the Sport replied-" at least, the dep "You should say, rather, a woman who can uiy-sheriff and t~e Ohioan, and it is not im talk," Dick replied, with a smile. " But I should J>robable that ef you would take off. the false be pleased to know to whom we are indebted beards of one of those miners, you'd find his for this feast. Prisoners are seldom treated nibs, the Reverend Lester Van Syckel; who is thus." the real Captain Terrible." "Perhaps Raphael's conscience is working on This was enough, for with a shout of ven him, and he is whackin' up," tbe girl suggested. .geance a number of the crowd sprung in pur "It's strange we do not see or hear something suit of the outlaws, who had left the saloon from him. Don't you think so?" while the Sport was speaking. "A little queer, maybe, but I am not at all But the pursuers afrived in the outer world eager to see him again, as his next coming may just in time to gall0 with chagrin upon four bode us no good." horsemen that were flying down the gulch at' a " True. Indeed, I believe these Silent Tongues safe distance, out of rifle-range, and bound are batching up some devilish means of getting mountain ward. rid of us." Rosebud Rob turned to Avalanche and Beau "No. I think they are waiting for the arrival tiful Bill, with a shake of the head. of their leader, Captain Terrible, whom I be "I'm afraid that they'll get to the stronghold lieve to be either the Ohioan Vernon, or the ahead of us. If Miss Van Syckel is ready, we minister, Van Syckel." will start at once." They were not again disturbed that night, and He left them and betook himself hastily to after finishing the reli hable repast,_Calamity the Leviathan hotel, where he was so fortunate lay down to sleep, while Deadwood JJick kept as to meet the pseudo-minister's daughter, in guard near the entrance. the main hall. Early on the following morning, the man On explaining matters, she signified her will Raphael made his appearance at the cave, un ingness to get ready a t once. masked. She then ascended to prepare, while Rosebud Dick and Calamity were seated at the rude hunted up horses for the party. table, with which their abode was furnished They were presently joined by Miss Van engaged in finishing the remnants of the last Syckel, who was disguised as a young miner, in night's meal, when he entt>red, and bowed plea an admirable manner. santly. A mount was at once made, and the party set " Pray excuse my intrusion," he said, politely. ~ff in a direction opR • I BEADLE'S FRONTIER SERIFS llo. Ptr Copy. : 1. The Shawnee's Foe. -· 50. Harry Hard.skull. 2. The Young Mountaineer• . 51. Madman of the Oconto, l 3. Wild Jim. ., 52. Slim Jim. . 4. Hawk-Eye, the Hunter. )_ , 53. Tiger-Eye. I • 5. The Boy Gulde. '.:{.54. The Red Star of the· 6. War Tiger of the Modoc• .T} Seminoles. 7. The Red Modocs. .55. Trapper Joe. • 8. Iron Hand. 5 6. The Indian Queen'• • 9. Shadow. Bill, the Seout. / Revenge. :10. Wnpawkaneta, or the 57. Engle-Eyed Zeke. Rangers of the Oneida. .58. Sear-Cheek, the Wild :11. Davy Croekett•a B 07 · ' Half-Breed. Hunter. · . · 59. Red Men of the Woods. 1!. The Forest Avenger. f 60. Tu8ealoo8a Sam.. .13. Old Jaek'a Frontier 61. The Bully of the·Woods. Cabin. 62. The Trapper's Bride. :14. On the Deep. 63. Red Rattle8nake, The :15. Sharp Snout. Pawnee. 16, The Mountain Demon. 64. The Seout of Tippeeaaoe .1'1. 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DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. l Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job :=:The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance 34 A Game or Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike 8 'fhe Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 85 Deadwood Dick or Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince or the Pistol 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective II Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of theSierr8'1 8 Death-Face, the Detective 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza 89 Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jane's Last 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Adventure Edna, the Girl Brigand 40 Deadwood Dick's Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian 41 Deadwood Dick's Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 10 Omaha 011, the Masked Terr:>r; or, Deadwood Dick 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp in Dane:er 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 11 Jim Biudsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to 44 Detective Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's Death Game 12 Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Parda of Flood 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam's Scheme Bar ~ 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jacil: in Colorado 13 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 47 The l\liner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter 48 Dick Drew, the Miner's Son; or, Apollo Bill, the 15 Deadwood Dick ou Deck: or, Calamity Jane Road-Agent 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 17 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugg"t Ned, the Knight of the 50 Sierra Sam's Double; or, The Three Female Detect. Gulch ives J.8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 51 Sierra Sam's Sentence; or, Little Luck at Reugh 19 Photograph Phil: or, Hosebud Rob's Reappearance Ranch · llO Watch-E,re. the Shadow 52 Th.e Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe's Disguise 21 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double 53 Denver Doll's Device; or, '!'he Detective Queen Cross 54 Denver Doll as Detective 22 Canada Chet, the Counterreiter Chief 55 DenvPr Doll's Partner; or, Big nuckskln the Sport 23 Deadwood Dick i11 Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke M Denver Doll's Mine; or, Little Bill's Big LOBB for Liberty 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 24 Deadwood Dick as Detective 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's 25 Gilt-Edged Dick _ Fortune 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve 59 Deadwood Dick's Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport. 27 Chip, the Girl Sport 60 Dumb Dick's Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold l\liner 28 Jack Hoyle's Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 61 Deadwood Dick's Mission 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 62 SpottPr Fritz; or, The Store-Detective's Decoy 80 Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon's 68 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners ot Bast!& Gulch fras City 81 Blonde Bill; or. Deadwood Dick's Home Base 64 Colorado Charlie's Detective Dash; or, The Cattle 82 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent Kingii