Copyright 1879-1885, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post umce, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899. THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. No. 25 Cleveland, Ohio Vol. I I Gilt-Edged Die~ the Sport-Detective.
BY EDWARD L. WBE~LER •
~ .... COOL AS AN ICEBERG APl-eAREO GILT·EDGED DICK. JUST A. Jo·.dNT TRltrLE OF A S~IL& L O'RXTNG UPO~ HIS. Ul'S A.8 THE llLUOR STRUGGLEll TO ms FEET, .IJ<>pyrlght 1879-1885, by Beadle & Adams. Entere
THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. / N'o.25 Cleveland, Ohio Vol.ilJ Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport-Detective. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER.
M! 000L AS AN ICli:BERO APPEARED GILT-EDGICD DICK, JUST A FAINT TRIFLE OF A B11IL1ii W¥11'9 . lll'ON BlB LIPS AS TBll KUO& STRUGGLED TO BIS FmlT. • Gilt-E4ged Dick, the-Sport-Detective. Unfortunately for him, these were not nu merous, for since his debut in Leadville's elec Gilt-Edged Dick, tric town the major had achieved the repute of being an excellent borrowing medium, but a THE SPORT. DETECTIVE ,• poor" returning board," except when he was , clerk of elections. OR, To the colonel had th1> major finally appealed, this morning, for a loan, after having lost his The R oad-Ai:ent's Da ughter, pile at a faro bank the previous night. . But the good-natured German manager of the BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Ton tine shook his head. "I don'd vas got any money, mine friend," he AUTHOR OF "DEAD.WOOD DICK,'' "ROSEBUD said. with a comical 11ttcmpt at seriousness. " I ROB,"" JACK HOYLE,'' ETC., ETC. don'd vas got so much ash ha1f er von «ollar. I vas clean gon' de'tproke." CHAPTER I. "Bahl that is a poor excuse to get out of THE GIRL FROM IDAHO. loaning me a few," the major replied, his calm- LEADVILLE, Colorado-the Mecca of the nessunruffled. "Now, see hern,Jacob, Iknow miner, the gambler, the ruffian, and the gener- you've got lo ~s of money, and why can't you ally adventurous class to be found in every accommodate me for a C'Ouple of week'b_ until minino--town. I can draw on my New York bankers? !JO you Lea~viJ e-the electric city of the Far West suppose I'd wriggle out of an honest debt?" -the carbon town, nestling down in the Rocky "I don'd Yas dink ash you would, major, put Mountains, far up near the timber belt. Lead- I dells you dat I don'd vas got so much money ville with its many rude cabins and shanties, ash von half tollar." bathed in the happy spring sunlight, and two "Then of conrso I cannot borrow it of you,;, men standing on the veranda of the Tontine the major said, stroking his huge mustach:i House, engaged in s;:iirited conversation-two rather impatiently. "Don't know where I could m en so different in appearance as to attract at- bol'row a sum, do you? Of course my electioll tention from a keen observer. . over Fulton is a certainty, but I reckon it The taller of the twain-the blonde-haired, wouldn't be ar..y harm to shove a few do1ia. s in· fair-faced German, with immense ci.rcumfer- to the pockets of certain individuals to clinch ence of waist, was " Colonel "Jacob Schwartz, their votes for me." a politician, a restaurateur, and a mine-owner, "Colonel I" Schwartz laughed oddly. to some small extent. "You pees von pig fool, majori" he said, witb The second party was a dark-visaged little a knowing nod "whE!n you t'irur as how you m11.n of uncer tain age, between thirty and forty, git to pe sheriff. I'll bet you swi glasses of lager con;;picuous for the monstrous size of his mus- ag'in' a belt mit der smeller dot you vas left tache, which hid a sensual mouth, and for the clear out mit der shade trees. You d'ink you rich quality of his attire, which was cut in the ish p(Jpular, but Fulton-he will see you, and go lateot style, and as a whole outfit, taken together you ten or twenty better, yust like rolling off of with the diamond pin, ring and 11:old chain he ·von beer keg." wore, was extraordinarily " nobby" for the " Ha! ha! you. will be deceived then, my good mines. friend, for the contest at the polls this morning ¥ajor Dudley Doud, this gentleman was is not spirited, and is all going for me." registered at the Tontinc, but then, nearly "Ve viii see apout dot. Look ofer dar, an' every man was dubbed" Major"" Colonel:;" or tell me if you see dot girl a-goin' down ther "Captain," con>equently it was hard to tell who street?" deserved the title of rank. The major did look, but did not seem to see Major Doud's antecedents were wholly 'Uu- any one but men. known to the people, yet he held a share of 1 I see no girl nor any one having .a resem· popular estimation among them-was profuse blance to a girl, except that young wrig of a with his money, and this liberality of course chap over there who looks like a sport. ' reached to the hearts of the middle and lower " Yaw I dat ish de one," the colonel nodded, classes of the peoµle. his eyes twinkling! "dot·ish Idaho Kit, dot pe- A politician was the major, clear to the. back- Idaho Katrina, fer long- and shri's yust sailed bone. A new sheriff was to be supplied to the into town ter attend der election." town of Leadville, to fill the vacancy mad& by T-Oe Illajor ~urned to gaze at the personage a the road-agents of the mountains, and right seC'ond timo~ ready and willing and eager was the major to -If a girl it was sne was attired in the garments step into bis preiece3Sor's shoes. For an ofli~e of the opposite sex, and stylishly clothed, too, like that of sheriff was not to be despised, in the from patent-leather cavalry hoots that reached carbon region, where there are ways that are to the knees, to the jaunty, narrow-rimmed dark, and /1;ricks that m-e vain, so far as the sporting hat upon a head of wavy hair. little matter of making money is coneerued. In addition to her other garments she wore a Bt1t at times ,...in the political career of the "b'iled" shirt and vest, while a belt at her waist maior. it came to pass that he was teetotally cont>iined a single pistol. "strapP!'d" of this worM''I filthy lu ~re, and he "With a pecilliar, independent swagger G:iis haressioned face, with its dancing A dense crowd was gathered in front of the blue eyes, it;s sweetly-tempting mouth, that P,Olls1 when the major arrived. Idaho Kate could be firm with resolution, or relaxed in srooa a little apart from the rest, leening idly smiles, in an instant of time; the well-poised against an awning-post, surveying the crowd head, and it;s wealth of wavy brown hair that and the scene with cool indiffer ence. fell over the rounded shoulders-such a pic While, although she was by no means a stran ture did the major contemplate from the ger in the town, she was the center of attraction "stoop." or veranda in front of the Tontine. for many pairs of admiring eyes. "By St. Christopher! the girl's as pretty as a Major Dudley Doud was in some degree a picture " he said, turning t.o tbe girtby, good vain man, and carried the idea that he was a natur~ German. " It is a decided relief to see tborougbred lady's man-en irrepressible, as one handsome woman. Who is she, friend it were~ that the average feminine heart could Schwartz?" not witustand. " Idaho Kit, or Kate, youst as you blease, Conquest;s were therefore extremely to his maJOr. I don'd vas know so much apoud her likin . as a pin's bead, only vat reaches me py hear Dobg his hat, politely, he approached the say. Better ash bow you keep away from her, Girl Sport, graciously. . mv friendt." "Excuse me lady, but I ,Presume it is youi: ?
blonde face, with soft-tinted complexion, and The situation was growing more and more hair, mustache and side whiskers of the veriest interespng, with the threatened approach of a sandy hue. Especially were the side whiskers duel. I notidlable for their luxuriance and length. The major bit his lip and scowled darkly at A firm mouth hovered in under the blonde Kit's thrust, while he cursed fw·iously under his mustache, whose expression now appeared slight breath. ly infected with resentment. This was the first woman, he flattered him The attire of the stranger was perhaps more self, who had ever .dared to brave his anger striking than himself, for it consisted of white wbo had ever got the be..
horseback!" the major announced, triumph I reckon Idaho Kit don't allow no pilg;-im to antly. fight her battles 'ithout payin' fer the job; not "As you choose,'' Gilt-Edged Dick replied, while the Everton mine pans out carbon, any coolly. "I happen to have my animal with me, how. And, Mr. Gilt-Edge, hedn't ye better let and can accommodate you with pleasure." me take keer uv that little girH" At this the major stared a little, for he bad '' No, I thank you," Gilt-Edged Dick replied, calculated to mount the stranger upon a poor smiling slightly. " I guess I am ablo to take animal, and thus have the odds of a thorough _care of Pearll"-with a fond glance at the child bred saddle horse against him. But there was which sat before him on the saddle. "She goes no backing now, and the battle must come off. with me ever, even to the grave!" News had spread all along the 'crowded main A malicious expression flitted over Major street of the town, of the impending duel be Doud's face, as be ceased bis pacing in order tween the gilt-edged stranger and the sherifl' to get a glimpse of the little one. It was an candidate, consequently the crowd increased expression such as mi~bt have come upon the each moment, for it was known that the major face of his Satanic MaJesty when broodihg over was a dead-shot, an excellent knife duelist, and some fearful scheme that had the savor of be- as good a horseman as ever rode the streets of ing a triumph. - Lea:dville's metropolis. Gilt-Edged Dick noticed it-the crowd gener And the anticipated result was that the gilt rally noticed it1 and Idaho Kit noticed it, and edged individual would get carved into steaks hastened to maKe known the fact. by the candidate for election. "See b:r.ar, you black-b'arted rascal I" she At his direction, a miner went for the major's cried, wita sudden vehemence, as she turned horse, but none was sent for the Sport's. In upon the major fiercely, "what infernal thought stead, he gave vent to a shrill whistle, that were it thet popped inter yer noddle then? I echoed and re.echoed along the streets. know, consarn your ugly picture! It occurred Soon there came au answer in the shape of a to you that by strikin' the child, you could whinny, and a superb bay saddle-horse came strike the Sport the deepest. Now, you jest trotting up the street to where the Sport stood. try et, if you believe it healthy-jes' go an' try A handsomer animal the crowd had never it, ef you calculate you know the s1de o' yer seen in the carbon city, as was evidenced by bread the butter's the thickest on-that's all I sundry admiring' exclamations; indeed, he was want you to do; and if I, Idaho Kit, don't pre s. fine creature, with a round supple body-dean, pare you for a fu'st-class funeral in an ar.ti perfectly-contoured limbs, and an eye which ressurecktion climate you may call me a genu possessed something of the smoldering fire that ine fraud. I'll salivate you, you bet, and so will lurked in the eye of the master. Already sad every man in the gang." · dled and stirruped was the horse, but the fact And a cheer from the crowd seemed to ~ that he wo.re no bridle seemed to indicate that an affirmative answer. such an ornament was unnecessary. Raisin"' the little ~irl in his left arm Gilt CHAPTER III. Edged D'ick vaulted mto the saddle with the THE ENCOUNTER. greatest of ease, apparently, and sat gazing THE major made no reply. Whatever were over the crowd as coolly as if nothing of any bis dark thoughts ~ is villainous plans, he chose importance were about to happen, wbile the to keep them to 1nimself 1 . The miner soon ar major paced to and fro, excitedly. rived with his horse-a thoroughbred bay ani Though a great duelist, he was beginning to mal, not nearly so clean-limbed as the Sport's, lose faith in himself, and regard the Sport with but to all appearances more fiery. suspicion. It had never been his luck to meet a Into th~ saddle then, the major vaultedi and · man before who was quite so cool and indiffer drew a long shining dirk-knife froilllhis be t. ent in the face of an approac~g str11ggle for "Have you your second?" Gilt-Edged Dick life, and the coolness of his opponent seemed to asked, almost unconcernedly, as he giµ:ed over act a.~ a...damper to the major's spirits. the sea of strange faces. Ratber-.doubtful was he as to how the duel "I will soon choose one," was the reply, as would end; perhaps it would be the challenger the would-be sher)ff, too, gazed about him. instead of the challen"'ed who would fall I "Ahl Hallk H opkins, will you act for me?" The crowd grew d'enser and larger, excited "Waal, now, you jest bet," the mule-driver politicians " cus3ed and discUSS
1 Th~ arrangements for the duel progressed. I Nearer-nearer; then the animal of the Sport Jo Dewolf, a worthy citizen of the town, of- reared upon its hind lei?-', and advanced thieat fered to ·act as third man, or referee, and ac- eningly toward the maJer. 'Ere he could escape cordingly ordered the center of the street from the saddle down came the heavy, iron cleared, for some distance, in order to give the shod feet of the horse upon the head and shoul duelists a starting ground. ders of his own beast, literaJly driving it to the They then rode off to their posts, from whence ground. they were to start. Cheer after cheer 'Went UJ? from the crowd, Gilt Edged Dick was quietly cool and self- for never had they seen anything to equal this. possessed, with the utmost mdifl'erence ex- It was a new pha;:e·of dueling, and a new phase pressed upon his face. He had raised the little of equestrian battling. girl upon his leg, and encircled her with his left Game, though, was the major. Extricating arm, to prevent her from falling ofl'~ while in himself from the saddle he r ose to his feet, and his right hand he held a commcm sheatn knife- taking aim, bul'led his knife straight at the apparently not a Damascus blade, like the ma- heart of the Sport. jor's. A tremor of horror ran through the crowd, "You'd better let some one take care of the for so expert a thrower was the major that it child, Sir Sport," one of the bystanders said, Reemed as if the Sport's life was greatly endan advisingly. " It is simply foolhardiness to im- gered. peril the life of that innocent little girl." Whiz I flew the deadly missile through the "She will not be harmed," Gilt-Edged Dick air-to be cleverly caught by tho frur hand of replied with a co~fident smile. the blonde Sport when within two inches of his "Rnady there!" J o Dewolf shouted, from the heart! center of the street. This act elicited another yell of surprise frcm "Ready!" the Sport answered, promptly. the crowd, while the major stood upon tho "And you, Doud'I" turning in the direction of ground fairly·white with rage. the major. Glad was he that he had not been crushed ty "All right-go ahead," was the signal from the falling horse; but his defeat was bumiliat- tbe major. ing all the same, and he had lost a valuable "Bully fer Maryl Both men are ready. Not», animal in the bargain. gentlemen, when I say-one, two, three-andne- Clear it was, too, that the people were begin glect to add 'the rooster crows an' 'way ·She ning to side with the cool Sport, for the chee1·s goes,' ye'll know I mean bizness, and ther quick- seemed to indicate something of the extent of er ye go through each other, the less you're their good feeling toward him. liable to spile the hilarity o' tiler game. G~t " .Are you satisfied, major?" Jo Dewolf asked, ready, now-one-two-three !" as the would-be sheriff stood glaring around. It was the starter. "Hev ye fot yer fill'I" The major dug the spurs into the fib..iliS of his " Yes; am satisfied for the present, I guess,'' fiery animal; the Sport sinlply gavE' his horse was the savage r eply. "I'll settle with this the " go" and then both animaJs shot out to- rascal some other time." ward each other, swiftly. "Better do it now," I with all classes of humanity of the sterner sex, infor mation, he did not bfitray the fact in bis but po row ever occurred to mar the good repute looks. of the house. " Yes," the old man continued. " The Sport Miners gathered here to smoke and chat over unhorsed the major as easy as rollin' off of a t heir work; speculators were ever present, work loo-. He took the part o' tbet gal, Idaho Kit, ing up their plans· gamblers, sharps and ruffians wf:o be the sassiest, and most independent little hung out here to •1spot" their victims, although piece in the town. I'd as lieve feed an elephant they were careful not to attempt any games a cud of tobaccy as to tread on hm· toes. I withir.. the Tontine's walls. -reckon ther result would be about equal." A special reserve of officers were always on The other smiled. the watch for these gentlemen who lived by " She's a hn.rd little caynss ter manage, thet's villainy; ready were they to ''bounce " them at true," he said, with a chuckle. "Did she take the least provocation. Therefore the aforesaid a shine to Gilt-Edged Dick?" _ gentlemen k~t order. " I r eckon so. She looked all the time- as if On the evening after the street scene just re his style jest suited her." corded, the lounging room of the Tontine was "I reckoned that would be the case. Curse crowded as usual, and the sonuds of human the fellow, why did he come here, just now 1 I voices made a bum that was monotonous. No don't want tJ kick up an open war with h m, loud talking was there-all seemed to converse in but I see no alternative. I'd as soon have a an undertone, as if secrets were being exchang bloodhound get after me, as he. When is the ed and dark plans batched. ,An aged part~ 1 Stap!eton gal expectNl to arrive!" well-dressed, with long white hair and fuu " To-morrow, on the evening stage, I believe. beard, sauntel'ed about among the crowd, ap She comes in by the way of the Webster and parently without object more than to familiar Fairplay stages." · ize himself with the scene and the acting figures "Very well. Keep your eyes around j:ou, on thereof-a man with a hump upon bis back, the outlook for developments, and you will, see painful to behold, and a pair of green goggles me again, probal.oly when you least expoct me" fitted closely to his eyes. He walked with a And with these directions the man of the black cane, and limped perceptibly. Evidently his whi3kers arose and left the stall, and quitted the best days were over and he was fast nearing the restaurant. grave. The white-whiskered individual with the green For an hour he mingled with the crowd, and goggles also left the Tontine~ and hied himself then, seeming to be laboring from fatigue, be to the notorious gambling aen known as the took possession of a stall, that had been vacated, Bonanza saloon. and proceeded to load and light a capacious but This was kept by one Jacob Sleeper, a few handsomely wrought meerschaum pipe. hundred yards up Chestnut street, and was so He had not been seated more than ten min low and ill-looking a building as to impress the utes, when a m:i.n p9.used before the door of the idea upon an observer that it was one of the stall; then, with a nod of r ecognition, entered poorest d ens of its class. and became seared, as if the meeting were not Yet such was not the case. m erely by chance. The iurerior was neat and clean, and supplied A tall brawny individual, with long, brist with a well-stocked bar and other fixtures, and ling, black beard, and an ugly look about his filled with men whose pleasure it was to risk eyes, which were of the sam9 hue as the hair-a their money and ofttinles their lives upon games man clad in greasy buckskin breeches and jack of chance. et, stoga boots, and slouch hat-such was the The patrons comprised every type of charac new-comer. ter to be found in Leadville, from the most "I thought you'd given me the slip," he said aristocratic citizen to the veriest wretch. with a brutal chuckle, as he drew a flask of On every hand-games of all kinds of chance liquor from an inner pocket, and set it upon the went on; men ventured and lost every cent table. "Drink sumo' tbet p'izen, an' et'll clear they possessed in the world, while others won, yer windpipe out." of course; men grew desperate and sought con "No, I thank r.ou," the old man replied, shak solatipi in the flowing bowl; swindlers and ing bis head. ' When I drink at all, I want to sharp. fl eeced the unwary at every turn; quar get dead drunk, which is not practicable, now. rels were of frequent occurrence, wberPin r evol Eh?" vers, knives or gla."5es and long-necked bottles "Not by a hanged sight, ef you've got any took active parts. news. What have you got to tell'I" Such was the scene, eblivened with bacchana· " Lots," the other replied. " Oliver Staple lian songs, and the hilarious laughter of the ton, the financier, bas a daughter, you know1 victorious or the drunken. Well, she is going to join him, here." The old man with the green goggles entered " Ab I H as been off to school, eh?" the saloon. and gazed arpund him with the air of one who was taking a mental inventory of "Yes,b I elieve so." · "Well, what else1" the assembled crowd. He then limped forward to the bar and or "A new Sport has come to town, and licked dered a bottle of ale, which he soon finished with Major Dudley Doud, the first thlng. He carries greatest apparent relish. a little girl with him, and calls himself Gilt All eyes were occasionally cPDtered upon Edged Dick." him, but he seemed to pay no one of the bonanza "pans" of which Idaho Kit In one of these cabins a woman lay upon a was the dispenser. bed, composed of a straw mattress and a blanket " Ef Horrible Hank can double his ducats, so -lay there in evident great pain and suffering, ken we," said one pilgrim; and the crowd uni for her features were contorted, and her eyes versally agreed with fiim. wild and glaring. . "Now, then," Idaho said, pushing back her By the light of a candle that burned dimly hat, and wiping the perspiration from her brow upon the tabl~the only furniture in the room - "now, then I intend to work just five minutes except the bed-one could see that she had once in selling out these packages, after which I shall been as fair as women ever are in the heyday a-djourn the sale. Rearly, now; who's the first of their ripening bloom, but long yeB.I'S had lucky pilgrim as wants me to swindle him? Let passed over her head since then, and left him step up and sacrifice his V, like a man, and mdelible traces of suffering and trouble in the learn a lesson!" painful furrows and wrinkles upon the face. While the crowd seemed momentarily to draw She was evidently five and forty years of back and hesitate, one pilgrim had the courage age. to reach up his last five-dollar note, and receive The bed was a most mis<'rable affair; there in payment therefore one of the sealed packages. was no fir~no stove in the room; the housewas Eagerly did the crowd watch him open the bare and desolate enough. package, and when he poured out ten silver dol '' Isaac!" the woman called, suddenly sitting lars into his hand, they no longer doubted, but bolt upright in bed and glaring fiercely around. rushed forward, frantic with excitement, to "Isaac!" claim a piece of this wonderful bonanza gift. " Y es'm !" came the response, and out from As fast as her hands could fly did Idaho Kit under the table crawled a great strapping fellow, receive the bills and band out the packages. clad in rags and as filthy as could be. warning the eager :purchasers with every breath He was between the &ge of youth and man that they were getting beat. hood, evidently, although fully developed and But believe this they evidently could not, as strong as a grizzly. But there was a strange after what they had Been, and accordingly they vacant stare in his eyes, and a strangert silly tendered their greenbacks and received the en grin upon his features, which pronouncea him velopes until every one was sold. to be a fool. ' Then came a general opening and a general He was now smoking the stub of a clay pipe. discovery, which elicited yells of surprise and "Ahl you, Ike!" the invalid cried, sharply, indignation. · "what have you been doing?" Of all the packages not one contained a silver There was no reply from the fellow except by piece, out of the whole batch of a hundred, ex " finger " talk. cept the one that had started the sale. Only a "Ohl been layin' on the floor, eh?" the woman few old coppers supplied the place of what snapped, angrily, "when I'm dying here for l!hould have been coins. · wan£ of attendance. Give me that black bottle True to her word Idaho Kit had swindled on the table." them; and now she sat comfortably perched up The idiot obeyed, and stood watching the on the seat of her wagon, as cool as the reputed sick woman gulp down the contents, enviously. friP,dity of the much abused cucumber. "Ohl you can't have none, Isaac!" she said, ' I told you so," she nodded, with a reckless in~reting his glance. laugh as the crowd turned toward her with "I ve drained the bottle of every drop. Now dark iooks. " I give ye a.II fair warnin' thet I tell me again when he said be would come." was a-goin' to peel you, and I've done it to the "After dark," the idiot replied, by bis finger tune of some four hundred and eighty dollars in telegraph. my pocket Much obliged? Of course I am. "It's after dark...Eow-long after dark!" the You thought your eyes were smarter than my woman fretted. " why don't be come, if be in hands, and you got terribly sucked in, my pil tep.ds to come at am What time is it, boy?" grims. Go you home, my flock of disconsolates, "Midnight, nearly," the mute replied, as and remember that when an ordinary galoot before. · · gets ahead of Idaho Kit, he's got _to set his " Curse him 1 Perhaps be does not intend to alarm-clock fer two, A. M., an' get up with his come! Maybe be dare not. You Ike get into a eyes open." · corner and lay there-I hear his footsteps now. If you are asked any questions, remember you CHAPTER v.t are deaf, dumb and a fool." THE WOMAN AT THE CABIN. The youth seemed to fear this strange w broadcloth which had seen its best days the not able to be moved, and were you, you would trowsers being tucked in the legs of a pair1 of feel ill at ease in my elegant mansion. You had knee boots, a wide-brim hat slouched over his best' remain here, and keep t he boy here and I forehead, and t he remainder of bis face bidden will send you such necessaries as will maxe1 you behind a mask. comfortable-" A "scaly-looking" man to meet in a dark "Not a thing, sir-not a thing! Don't you place was he, for his belt contained a smali dare to," the woman cried,- excitedly. "All I sized arsenal, and a cocked revolver was held in wan)\of you is a thou5and dollars to give to Ike, • his hand. . . so tliat he will not be penniless, after I am This be restored to his belt now! however, dead." . and approached the bedside in a stealthy fasb. "A thousand dollars, womanl Impossible! I ion, as if he were afraid of the woman upon the have no such amount to give away, nor would I mattress. if I had. You must be mad to think of such a " Marie, is this indeed you?" he asked, in a thing. The boy has no claim upon me." husky voice. "I thought you were del\d-long "Ahl but you'll discover quite to the con ago." • trary, curse you! ·1 have brought the idiot up "And hoped so, no doubt; but you see I am to hate you more than the cougar hates the not!" the invalid replied. "I have been hunting hunter. I have taught him a fearful oath of after you from town to town for fifteen loug, vengeance upon you, and he says it as a prayer, weary years, and at last recognized you in tho night and morning. At times he is rational: streets of Leadville. If I had not been one of then it is that you have cause to fear him, for the merciful, I should have shot you down in it is then when he remembe1:s the wrong you your tracks, but I prefei"I"ed to track you to your have done him-lmows how, when he was a lair. I then retwned here and penned the note babe, you struck him a tilow from which he which brought you here." never rtieovered. Now he is a fool; were I to sig Tb.e man was silent for a few moments. Then nal to him that you were his father it would not he spoke: , arouse his interest. But never fear; he will find "What do you want of me, woman? I am you, when you are off your guard, and avenge nothing to you or yon to me. We parted both our wrongs." enemies; the hand of time has smoothed over "I'll see that he does no harm," the man re the graves of all early loves, hopes and ambi plied calmly. "Good-by, Marie, for I am off. tions; why recall the past or-" I wish you a pleasant journey to the other land. "StOpl" she cried. "Well may you.tremble You'll QQ doubt see me there in a few years, if to hear the past recalled. You deserted me nothing happens I" and left me with the fool, while you took my And th'll'n, with a cruel la::igh, the man left thei other child. Behold your son lying yonder in house, mounted his horse and galloped furiously the corner. He is tb.e image of you, no doubt, away toward Leadville. were you unmaskecl. He is deaf, dumb, and an As he quitted tho cabin, the idiot rose upon idiot, and you are his father. Are you not his elbow and stared after him, as if taking a proud of hiln. ?" • ' mental inventory of his appearance. "Hush! for God's sake!" the man gasped He then dropped back and went to sleep. nervomly, "or you will betray me to him and forever ruin my prospects." The announcement of John Sinith in the Bo " Ha ! ha! what care I, do you suppose, nanza saloon of cow·se created a sensation. whether your prospects are blighted, or not? Any pilgrim who had confidence enough in You are nothing to me, more than the bartJ his ability to risk ten thousand dollars on a word husband implies. I am dying, and possi g,ame fjf cards, was indeed a distinguished indi blf; shall not live the night out." vidual in the eyes bf these feverish Leadvil ; I am sorry for you," the man in the mask lains. replied-" truly sorry. I am aware that l Cool as the much-abused cucumber is reputed wron~ed you by desertion, but you had such an to be was the gray-haired old man, as he stood irasciole temper that I could not stand it." upon the table and surveyed his audience, seek " You lie, -you wretch, I had no temper at a.II, ing a man who had an amount of cheek and du and that's where you took advantage of me. cats equal to his own. You married me for my money, and after you But not one was there who seemed to possess bad squandered all you could get hold of, you the requisite "8*nd," until the door opened and ended the matter by desertin?" me." in sauntered tlfe Sport, Gilt-Edged Dick, the " Don't be hard on me, Marie. If I was at cool blonde individual whose reputation had al fault then, I am wHling to do what is right, ready spread over the town since his encounter now," the man said, buttoning up his coat, as if with Major Doud. to depart. • " Ah! there's the style of pilgrim who is not "Ohl r.ou are, eli?" the woman cried, with a afraid to win a few or risk a few, I tell you!" sneer. 'You are Nilling to r emove me and J ohn Smith cried, pointing to the Sport. "He's Ike to your home, ancl jutroduce us into society, got sand he has, and don't you fergit it. Ten and let us have acce3' to• your money pots? Oh! thousand dollars, now, ag'in' ten thousand, thet yes; you're such a dear, gener o11s soul, I know I can beat any man in the room at a square you'll do all this and even morel" game of poker. Try me a whirl, Sport." There was a ring; of righteous contempt in the '·' I reckon," Gilt-Edged Dick replied, laconi woman's soeech, that caused the man to bite his ca.!ly. "Anything to make it interesting. Ten li.ps bene11.tb his mask, until the blood came. thousand dollars, did you say, sir?" • " Really I could not do this, Marie. You are "Ten thousand, yes, my lord," the venerable Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport-peteetlve. 18 John Smith a.SSured, droppin? from the table don't love you better than some whole fami into the chair with alacrity. ' I believe in hav lies." inf. a good stiff 'pan 'when playing for profit." "You think notY" 'Exactly " the Sport replied, calmly, and "You bet! On account o' yer bein' sech a drawing a huge wallet from his pocket, he laid handsome sort o' galoot, I tuk pains to inquire twenty bills down upon the table, each bill be around, an' I found as how the major hes sed ing of the denomination of half a thousand dol he'd run you out of the town, either by force lars. "The more the merrier, to the man who or by disgrace-an' I reckon he'll keep his wins. Plank, and produce, sir." word." John Smith obeyed readily. "A savage-dispositioned cuss, this majOI', He planked his stake and produced a bran then?" Gilt-Edged Dick observed, a peculiar ex new pack of cards1 which were cut, shuftled and pression hovering about his firm mouth. dealt in a scientific manner, which betrayed "Oh! yes-a regular spitz poodle. 'Tain't the that this deseendant of the great Smith family harm he'll do a person in front of his face, but was an adept in the art of manipulating the behind one's back." ~teboards. "Well, let him go ahead. I'll think of what The table where the two sat was surrounded you have said." by a crowd of men eager to see which would "Con-ect! Look out for a pilgrim they call win. Every confidence had they in the !$ilt Horrible Hank. An' beware, for I reckon they edged gentleman1 yet this man Smith exhibited mean harm to your little gal." so many of the mfallible signs of being a pro A dark look gathered about the Sport's fore fessional gamester that part of the public opin head at this juncture. 1 ion sided for him. "They d better look out how they make at This difference in opinion as to the luck of the tempts on her," he replied sternly. players led to the consummation of large bets "Your daughter I take it?"1 Idaho Kit queried, on every hand between men of capital. by way of keeping up the conversation. For The first game was begun, and played through plain it was that she was enamored of the Sport. and 'John Smith won! · "Exactly, my daughter," was t.b.e reply. Won fairly, as the Sport. admitted. Far "Widower, then, eh?" came next. ahead had tlie gambler seen, and planked his "To this I'd rather not answer," he said, smil cards in the right shape every time. ing. " Good· night to you." "I believe that gives me the 'pan,' ~rdner," And bowing p1easantly this thoroughbred man he said, coolly, raking in the pile. 'Do you of the world turned, and Slluntered into the want another twist?" restam·ant. "Of course, I have a ri~ht to call for re I.dabo Kit gazed after him a moment and venge," Gilt-Edged Dick replied, as coolly as if then sa•mtered along up the street, towar~ the his loss had only been ten cents. " I shall win polls, where a crowd was anxiously awaiting the this time, and quit." returns of the election. The crowd waited expectantly. "Was that a cut direct, or a polite invita The cards were shuffled. tion to mind my own business?" sne muttered. The game was played. " I reckon it was the latter. He's got a secn;t." And Gilt-Edged Dick won. As the Sport entered the restaurant a man "Good! I am glad of it," John Smith said, pushed by him and came out; then, as if invol counting out twenty" five-hundred dollar bills untarily, the two men turned around and gazed from his purse, and handing them to the Sport. at each other through the open door! "Your luck will give you confidence to play with me again, some other time." CHAPTER VI. And then bowfog, he betook himself from the CAPTAIN CARTER STOPS THE STAGE. saloon, to be followe der, and said "Halt I'' Billy had reason to be kissed her; "you must be tired; besides, I have lieve "business was brewing." news to communicate.'' "Halt I" the stranger repea1;e And then Miss Stapleron swept up the broad seated. " Richard W ebst.er was once my hus staircase, leaving her progenioor 1;o order the band, but froc•ired a divorce from me. It is wine. no secret- care not if all the world shall know Once in the elegantly appointed parlor of the it." financier's suit.a, she burst inoo a low, sarcastic " You then are the mother of the child?" laugh, which had in it the spice of venom. "I am; but I hate the child even as I hate the "Richard Webst.er here in Leadville! Hal father." ha! What a charming occurrence, to be sure, "You do!" that we should meet again! And Dudley Doud "Idol" is here, too-Dudley Doud, as evil-disposed a " And it is your wish 1;o strike this Spori; a. man as lives-yet I can twist him around my blow1" finr,:r, when I choose. "Ay'l I shall strike him, and he shall find ' Then, there is poor, confiding papa1 who, that it will be Iio baby blow. First, however, although he has been a graduat.e in villainy, in I intend to extort money from him, and you his day, is too confiding 1;o live in this age. Dudley Doud, must help me in all my plots and Little he dreams that his own daught.er can schemes, and shall share equally with me in the be a great.er villain than himself. Ahl Dick sp0ils." Webst.er, your divorced wife has come 1;o " You swear this'I'' Leadville-not 1;o coitrt your favor, but 1.o re "I do-and more: After I am satisfied with new the feud- to trample you beneath my feet my vengeance upon Gilt-Edged Dick, I will and crush you. And there are marry ways 1;o marry vou, providing you can prove yourself as do it-many ways you do not dream of, perhaps. rich asl." One is through the doll-faced child, whom I " It's a bargain. I will devote my entire bat.a as cordially as if she were some vagrant's efforts to your servicei,. and to accruing a for brat inst.ead of being my own flesh and blood. tune, in order that .L may claim thee, my I will not kill her-no, I could not do that, but Louise. For my only hope in life is merged in through her I will wring Dick W ebst.er's heart, you, and I care not what stands in my way, I until his very hair chan~es from gold to white. will overcome the obstacle that I may claim Gilt-Edged Dick, indeeal I wonder where he you." caught that name1 Hal ha! he will need to be " You talk like a hero, Dudley Doud, and if gilt-edged, to turn aside my assault. Dudley you faithfully execute my commands, you shall Doud snail be my agent, roo-for what would receive a just reward. I want to torture-Rich· he not do for m e1 Poor, miserable fold! He ard W ebst.er in ·every way that I can that is adores the ground I walk upon-even calls me a excruciating to him. I want 1;o rend his heart beautiful-'' first, 1tnd then kill him afterward." "Devil! exactly. A beautiful devil!" a cool "Ay, yes; I see. You will kill the girl'I'' voice exclaimed, and with a cold, i:p.ock.ing "No; I want none of her innocent blood upon smile, the major st.epped into the parlor and my hands-not I. I will have her abducted, confronted Miss Stapleton. and place her where she will be as securely hid· den as is Charley Ro;s." CHAPTER VII. · "And then extort money from the Gilt-Edged THE TIGRESS AND TIGER UNITE;}, Sport'I'' YES, Dudley Doud it was, attired in the " Of course. He shall pay handsomely if he hight of fashion, and looking exceedingly dan ever looks upon the face of the child again, once dified. No man in Leadville pret.ended to wear I 9et her in my power." finer clothes than the major when he was flush ' Good! There are other ways to inflict tor· of wealth. ture, too,'' the major suggested, with an evil " Beautiful Devil!" he repeated, advancing chucklll. "But leave them to me. I've a grudge into the parlor, where Miss Stapleton was against the Sport myself, and if I do r:ot make standing. "Forgive me, my dear Louise, but I things hot for him, you may put me down as a accidentally overheard your soliloquy, and failure. I will now bid you adieu, and when th:mght I'd st.ep in-and perhaps we could strike you want me, I am most generally to be found a bargain at 011ce. I am desperat.ely in need of around the Tontine restaurant," funds, and you know a desperate man stops not '' Very well; when I am ready to begin action at trifles." you tvill be apprised," Miss Stapleton said, bow· "Don't, eh1" Miss Stapleton replied, pushing mg him out in her cool, haughty way. him a chair. "Well, as I have seldom had the pleasure of seeing men despe1'ate, I cannot say. The major went back 1;o the Tontine, took bis I am glad you have come, however. I want to nightly ration of brandy, and then sought his test your old feelings for me-" . lodgings for the night. " Oh! my Louise, let me assure you that they In the morning he was up with the sun, and are the same. The weakness for you has not met HoITible Hank in front of the United faded, in the least, nor bas any other woman States. suf!Planted you in my afl'ections." The ruffianly mnle-driver bad been upon a ·~am glad. I am sure of you on my side, nocturnal spree, and looked considerably the then." worse for it, one eye being bandaged, and a gash "Against the Gilt-Edged Sport, yes. But tell from his mouth to the left ear being covered me, what is the myst.ery between you and him, with court-plast.er. In no amiable mood was Louise?" the giant either, judging from the wayin which "There is no myst.ery," Miss Stapleton re he paced to and ft v his fists doubled up and hil plied, laying aside her wraps, and becoming forehead adorned with a scowl Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport-Def'ectlve. · 17 " Hello I" the major saluted, as be saw the note in exchange for five one hundreds, Mal giant. "Who's been carving you1" den!h 1 ' e asked of the proprietor. "Thunder 'n' dtivils! who d'ye suppose!" the "Sorry, but I hain't any of that denomina mule-driver gasped, bis uninjured optic flaming tion," the saloon-keeper replied. "But there's redly. "Who d•ye suppose, ye fool!" the Sport over there, who is pretty flush of "Well, to be candid, I haven't the slightest stamp,s. Maybe he can acco=odate you, gen idea, Henry. I supposed you were too big to eral!' Jet uny one gouge ye up in this shape." "Yes. I reckon I can," Gilt-Edged Dick re "Big-1 Great Hellen Blazes! Major, thar's plied, having overheard the conversation and nary a male mortul on ther face o' ther yeut'th, from his vest-pocket he took a huge roll of 1oills, as kin wrassle wi' thcr great premium muleteer and extracted one from the lot. This he hand frum Webster City, an' I'll bet hi" h on't." ed to the speculator, who in turn gave him five "~eu, a m I to understand that it was a one-hundred-dollar notes. \ woman inst.end of a man, who peeled youP' He was about hurrying from the sli.loon when "Yes, sir-ce, ct war a petticoater, and thet Major Doud stepped forward and intercepted same petticoater who flayed you, major-she him. w'at calls herself Idaho Kit, cuss her." "Hold up, Mr. Pratt," he said. "Maybe this "Indeed! The girl 11ppears to be a very ti isn't any of my business, and again maybe I can gress. How did you come to get into her be of some service to you, if you will let me see claws!" that note." "Oh I I followed her," the mule-driver grunt "You may see it, certainly,'' the speculator ed, rather sheepishly. "Sum galoot bet .me I replied, in evident rurprise. " I trust it is all dassen't ketch on te::- ther gal and kiss her. right." . Waal, neow, ldon'tginerallyblufl', wu'th a cent, The major took the bill, gave it a glance, and so I gambols oil' arter ther gal, an' w'en I over then nodded knowingly as .he handed it back. took her, I jest daccntly asked her to let me "Yes, Ws all right, maybe, if you are not samp)., ther ambrosial sweetness o' her mug." sharp enough to detect it-but the bill is cwn t~r '' Well, did she acquiesce to your demand?" feit I" - " Great llelleu Blazes, no I she jest give a "Counterfeit!" the speculator echoed. screech like a red-bot tarrant'ler, an' she clumb " Yes, counterfeit," the major assured. " I me like a streak o' lightnin' goin' up a telegrafl' had a bill that was a very duplicate to that, a pole, an' ther fu'st I knowed I didn't know noth short time ago." m'. Results o' ther l?ame-an enlargement o' "What's this?" Gilt-Edged Dick asked, coming ther mouth fer me, an one sp'iled eye!" forward. " Who says the bill I gave that gen "Why didn't')"ou shoot the vagabond!" tleman is c throwing them upon t he· floor, ·and grinding and I'll drop the first man dead in his tracks them beneath his heel fiercely. " I have been who offers to raise-a hand against me. Carry swindled out of ten thousand dollars and ac the news to Mary, for I mean business, and if knowledge myself beat!" you doubt it, begin to· spill yourselves onto me A murmur of astonishment ran through the just as quick as you please." · crowd that had collected. The situation was now exceedingly interest The Sport stood gazing ·at the mass of crum ing. The blonde Sport stood with his back pled bills upon the floor, a strange, deadly glit against the rear wall of the saloonhwith two ter in his eyes. cocked revolvers instead ef one in is hands, Major Dudley Doud took the cigar from his and both of them leveled upon the crowd, who mouth, and blew a cloud of smoke into the air. stood agape, with Major Dudley Doud and Hor " You see how it is, gentlemen," he said, with rible Hank as relief-figures in the front of the quiet malice in his tone. " This sportive indi rest. · vidual did iµ:cidentally discover some more of There the crowd sto<>d, some of them scowling the queer in his possession, and it strikes me while others looked uncertain. that the very fact has a suspicious savol'I" No love bad these Leadvillites for men who "Waal, neow, ef it don't I'll nevyer lambaste shoved the queer, or who were light-fingered, another mule," Horrible Hank agreed. "Et or still less compassion had they for a horse 'pears kinder ter me like's if ther gilt-edged cuss thief. warn't unaware o' thei: kind o' rhino he ker And now that they stood in front of a coun ried." terfeiter:, ~t was their will to fall upon· him and "See here!" Gilt-Edged Dick said, quickly: destroy nim. · " I want no more of these insinuations. If there But the prevailing will appeared uot to be are those in . the crowd who believe that I am a backed by the requisite courage. To venture professional counterfeit-shover, I want them to into the jaw$ of death did not seem to bo an en say so outright, and also want them to step out ticing thing to these sons of carbon, and there here and let me get one whack at them. I'll fore they hesitatod. allow I came into this town to mind my own "Come on!" Gilt-Edged Dick called out· business, and to play a straight game, and I won't "don't stand there wanting to, but' yet afraid: allow no man to run over me, or sling out hints As I r emarked before, I'll shoot the first man he cannot back!" dead in bis tracks who offPJrs to raise a band " Oho! W ell maybe you think beca'se Y"' against me." flopped ther maJOr1 ontf>r his back thet ther hull .town is afeard on ye " Horrible Hank growled, CHAPTER vm. with an ugly leer. ,! Mebbe ye calcylate thar THE MAJOR'S EVIL ATTEMPT- SHOT! ar' sum men as can't lick ye, or is afeard ter "YES, come on I Are you all cowards that call ye a counterfeiter." r.ou hesitate to do your duty?" the major cried. " I am waiting for some individual to call me 'Go, take the Sport, you citizens of the town, that!" the Sport replied coolly, as he drew a re as becomes men of your stamp, and hold him in vol ver from a sling upon his hip and deliberately custody until be can prove that he did not in cocked it. " I had just as soon make business tentionally attempt to pass tho counterfeit for the undertaker now as at any other time, bill." providino- the timbel' is furnished me. I am "Yas I waltz right up ter him, like a flock o' not at""1tll particular as to who the man is, hornets, an' tickle him under the ribs-use per either." suasive language emanating from ther muzzle "I believe you intend that hint for me!" the of a six-shooter, an' inwite him ter a festival major said, with a scowl; "but I do not grasp over yonder in ther jail!" assented the mule.. at it. I am too wise to accuse a man of any driver, in delight. thing that cannot be proven. The circumstance Strong as were these suggestions, they had of your finding yourself in possession of so not the effect to advance the smoldering, much bogus wealth certainly must be regarded angry elements. The cold steel tubes of Gilt. as suspicious, and until we find you not guilty Edged Dick's revolvers were calibered for twelve of an attempt to swindle our citizens, I r&om deaths, and some of those who ventm·ed for mend that you surrender yourself to the cus ward to capture the blonde Sport, were bound tody of the jail-keeper." Ui intercept some of these flying bullets; they "Keerectl thet's a fair an' square shake, an' baa. no heroic desire to court martyrdom and ef ye kin prove thet ye're a reg'lar calendar therefore they hesitated- were literally heid at saint, an' unguilty o' shovin~ ther C@eer, we, baJ by one man. ther representatives o' ther town, will amend 'Gentlemen," Mr. Pratt, the speculator, said, <>ID' constitoochinal by-laws and have you re ":looking over the crowd, calmly, "I think you leased." have no cause for this sudden hostility against "I think not!" Gilt-Edge replied calmly. the Sport. To my positive knowledge he did " In the first place, I have not surrendered yet, play a game of cards for ten thousand dollars nor do I intend to, until some more forcible ar a side, with one John Smith, a few nights gument be brought to bear on me. I perceive since, and got beat, and Smith raked in his that it is the ooinion of you two rascals that I stakes, leaving bis own upon the board. An am guilty of fotentionally passing counterfeit other game was played, and the Sport won, and money, although you are too cowardly to admit I distinctly remember that-Smith shoved Web it openly. Now, I do not care if you do think ster over his stake, so that there was a mutual me guilty, or if the whole town thinks me interchange of money. . I saw all this Ill:Yself, guilty. I declare my innocence to one and all, or I should be in favor of arresting the Sport,. Gilt-Eciged Dick, the Sport-Detective. 19 myself. As the matter stands I have no charge softly-" a bitter enemy, with ingemrlty enottgh t,o make against him." in scheming for a brace of arch-devils. B1lt "You are a fool!" Major Doud growled, sav she cannot- harm Y0"-'1Y little Pearl, if you agely, seeing that he had no chance no'I!.> to are brave and regard the instructions I have catch his enemy. "If I had my say, this u-ilt often given you. Have you your pistol with Edged individual should prO'Ve beyond perad you, pet?" venture how he came into posses:;ion of the "Yes, papa!" And from a _ pocket in her counterfeit money. I do not believe in letting dress the child brought a small gold-mounted .criminals escape unpunished!" revolver, whose sights j'Vere set with diamonds. " Then, am I to understand that you consider "Here it i!!." me a criminaH" Dick demanded, approaching, " Very good. Yonder upon the door-case coolly. crawls a fly. Let me see if you have forgotten "Yes! curse you, you arti a criminal a coun how to brush it off." terfeit-shover, and moreover, in all llkelihood The little maiden smiled up into bis eyes, con you are Jabez Carter the road-agent. There, fidently i then turning she cocked her tiny wea now-refute the charges, if you dare!" pon, ana fired wi h astonishing quickness. " Well, I do refute them, by pronouncing you Rising, Gilt-Edged Dick crossed the r oom. an unmitigated liar!" the Elport r eplied, stern and found the fly lying upon the carpet, minus ly. "It is evident you have not got your fill of one of its wings. satisfaction from me, my pilgrim, and I will "Well done," he said, catching the child give you more rope to work in." aga.in in his embrace and kissing her raptur. And raising his arm, the blonde " iceberg," as ously. " You are a better marksman than I, some one had nicknamed him slapped the P earl. And if any one offers to do you harm, major fairly across the mouth with1 the flat of you must serve him or her the same as you did his hand-a terrible blow it was, that sent the the fly. Above all, look out for the woman candidate staggering back t.o the floor. With who shcok her fist at you. Remain closely i~ out pausing to note the effect of his act, the your r oom, and you will not be harmed. I wm. Sport then stepped to the bar, relit his cigar, see that the security of the house i5 extended and sauntered leisurely from the saloon as if you." nothing had happened, for not a band was raised "You are not going to leave me, papa?" t.o hinder his exit. "Yes, my child, for a short time I must Straight to the Tontine the Sport went, a nd leave you here to look out for yourself. I to the section of rooms which he liad secured for have business to attend to which demands my his accommodation, consisting of a little parlor whole attention, and I may be absent some and two small bedchambers. days. But you will not be afraid, my pet, will Little Pearl was seated at a window, idly you?" thrumming upon a handsome guitar, but laid it "No papa! I will be very brave, and trust aside and StJrung to the Sport's embrace, as he in the Llrd. He will helpme through." - entered. " Right, little one. He will watch over the "Papal papal I am so glad you have come," innocent." she said, throwing her arms about bis neck, as And then kissing hEr again and again, the the stalwart Sport r aised her in his own strong Sport took his departme. - arms. " I got so frightened, while you were Descending first to the r estaurant underneath, out-so scared." he gave the courteous proprietor some instruc "What! my little pet get frightened? What tions in regard to littlePearl; then he-lit a cigar at, pray? I supposed she was as brave as the and went out upon the street. By a previous bravest!" And the Sport sat down upon the order a hostler ·had ah·eady brought around his mfa with the little maiden upon his knee, and superb horse, and leaping into the saddle the softly stroked her beautiful hair. " Tell me, Sport galloped away toward California gulch dea1:.,_ what was it that frightened you?" leisurely, exciting many complimentary re "uh! papa! it was a woman-a nice-dressed, marks from spectators who admired bis saddle stylish-looking woman, such as I have often pose. dreamed was my mamma. She came along Away he dashed, entering the deep gulch down the sidewalk on the other side of the which was a wing of the town, and following street, and when she got opposite our rooms she along its rufi:ged bottom until civilization had paused, looked up, and shook her fist at me." been left behmd, and he found himself in a wild, " Pshaw I You only imagined the fist-shaking mountainous country, where solitude reigned part did you not, my child1'' supreme. "No! papal indeed I did not. I saw her do Here be dismounted, and secured bis horse to it, and she scowled at me in a.n angry man a strong sapling; then changed his rifle from ner." the saddle-bow to his shoulder, and continued on. "Well! what then?" On up the mountain - side with sweeping "Then she went on down the street, I don't strides, following a well-beaten trail and keep know where." · ing his gaze roving on either side, went the Gilt-Edged Dick was silent, a shadow lurking Sport. Evident it was that be was in search of upon his forehead. Evidently he had recog something, but what, one could not determine nized the woman by Little Pearl's description; by any move or act of his. the gleam that now shot into his eyes was sim For several hours he continued on, winding ple assurance that he <'Ould be defiant. _ up and around the mountain through pine and " The woman is evidently an old enemy of brush, as if endeavoring to reach the extreme mine, dear," he said, stroking the child's hair, ti?~ · 90 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport-Detective. At last he emerged upon a. narrow ledge of "Yes,_ you were shot," the maiden replied, rock, and paused to get a brya.th of the pure approacrung and standing near. " I accident :tlower-;;cented a.ir that wafted down from the ally came across your body and brought you nor'west. herPI" As he did so there came the sharp twang of a "Which is very good of you Do you know rifle, and he staggered1 back a pace, a stinging who shot mer" sensation in the breast. Before he could collect " I don't know for certain. I heard two shots his senses, the rifle cracked again, and a bullet fired but did not see any one." glanced across his temple, and he fell -to the " i't was doubtless the work of some of my ground insensible, the blood spurting from the enemies in Leadville," Dick said. "How much wounds in Lreast and forehead. am I hurt!" Evidently the assassin had aimed to kill, and "Not seriously, I trust. You have a bullet · had not come far short of bis mark. in the left breast, hut in a fleshy part, and the For an hour the Sport lay upon the very edge cut upon your temple, which stunned you." of the ledge, as still as though he were dead; "Lucky that it was not worse. Excuse me, then footsteps came down tlie mountain, and lady, but your wearing of a mask leads me to be later a woman glided onto the plateau with a curious as to yourself. Have you any objec little cry of horror. tions to telling me who you are!" She was pretty of form,_and _young in years "My name is-Coral Carter," the maiden re evidently, for her step posSessed elasticity, and sponded, hesitatingly. "I always wear a mR.sk her form the roundness of youth. She was clad they say because I am so homely. P erhaps they in a serviceable costume of buckskin, the skirt are right." reaching to a pretty pair of anklei; and feetl "I trust not, lady, for the form betokens a which were inca.sed in buckskin1 •leggings a.nu lovely face. The name Carter is not a strange moccasins. one-there is a Jabez Carter, r oad-agent, I be· Her face was covered with a full mask; a lieve." slouch ha.t upon her head finishing her costumE\. "Of course! the maiden r eplied, dryly. Evidently she had seen the Sport from above, "Jabez Carter is a road-agent, and I am, un-· for she ran forward, and knelt by his side, with luckily, his child." a low cry of anxiety. "You?" and the Sport started strangely. "Thank Go~e IS not dea:d!" she murmured, " Y es, I! O_r at least I have no r eason to think after placing her ear to his breast, " but he is different, as he has ever claimed m,e as his daugh wounded, and cannot long survive, unless the ter." :tlow of blood is stanched. I wonder if I can " You do not seem to be proud of your rela-. carry him?" tion to.the road-agent, judginJ!: by your words?" Stooping she raised the insensible Sport bodily "Nor am I. Jabez Carter is not a father for in her arms, and. staggered across the ledge to one to be proud of. He is a wretch as sour and an aperture in the rocks, which provad to be the me:r:ciless as human can be." entrance to a cave. Into it she made her stag " -No need to tell me this lady. The road gering way, bravely, the great weight of her agent is no stranger to me by r eputation. I burden causing her to pant. have heard of him, and I may add that it is a The cavern proved to be a large one, of con part of my mission iri the carbon r egion to find siderable width, and great length. Evidently and brino- him to justice. " it was one of the wonders of nature's hand, for "You then are Gilt-Edged Dick, the famous surely no human had ever wrought out the great mountain detective?" apartment in the heart of the mountain. "I am Gilt-Edged Dick; I was not aware that Back through the whole length of the cavern my fame had already preceded me into this did the girl carry the insensible Sport, until she wild region." came to an opening similar to that which she " Then you were behind your calculations, had first entered. for J abez Carter was aware of your coming by The cavern at this point was turned into an the t ime you r eached Leadville, and rightly abode, evidently, for there was a couch of skins, guessed your errand." some cooking utensils, and stools. " And one of his tools took me in, to the tune The masked maiden laid the Sport upon the or ten thousand dollars, I suspect!" Gilt-Edge couch, and darting out of the cavern was gone replied. "Is not John Smit4, card-sharp, one for a f ew moments, returning finally with a of the lights of Jabez Carter's troopr ' basin of water. · "He is. · Did he play with you, and win 1" This she applied to the Sport's forehead, and " He did. He won the first game, and raked to his wounds, which had by this time nearly in my cash. W e played again, and I got his stopped bleeding. The wound in his left breast stake back again." was not dangerous, but the "Perhaps not. But mark me, I shall bit,e road-agent stronii;hold probably in search of· back, yet. I do not often allow a pilgrim to get the gambler Smim, with1 a view to regaining ahead of me. You know my mission in this p()!IS0SSion of the Sport's money. country-cannot we strike a bargain by which This was only a conjecture, however, and you are to give up the road-agent and counter Dick waited impatiently for her return. feiting gang? You evidently have no love for Jabez Cart.er, and ther e are ·enough rewards The woman of the little cabi.n in Stray Horse afloat to make you rich, besides allowing me a Gulch had died. liberal compensation for my trouble." A few miners and their wives fro;i;n the ad Coral Carter shook her head, quickly. joining cabins, had dropped in when apprised "Nn, sir, you can make no such bargain with of the ·fact · by the sniveling, idiotic creature me. Although I am a firm believer in justice, who people had said was her son. . and an enemy of all criminals, I am bound by a They found a stiffening, rigid form surmount t.errible oath never to betray my father or any ed by a distorted face; evident it was the member of his gang, and I never break my woman had died in great pain. Poverty and word. You will have to seek another to aid in distress were everywhere present in the cabin; your mission, than me." so the miners set to work and nailed up a coffin shaped pine box, and the miners' wives laid out CHAPTER IX. the stiffened form. IDIOT IKE ON \OHE WAR-PATH. At sunset it was buried, near the cabhl, only "VERY :well, lady. I will not att,empt to a little knot of neighbors being present, for persuade you against your will. I might have nothing could be found or· had been seen of known you would refuse to betray your father, Idiot I ke since morning. be be ever so cruel a parent," Gilt-Edged Dick He bad last been seen upon the mountain, said considerat.el)'. with his rifle upon his shoulder, acting in a "Were it not for my oath, I should not hesi wild mamaer, and some one had prophesied that tate to betray Jabez Cart.er and bis gang, and he would soon end his miserable existence. aid in their delivery to justice," the masked But they reckoned wrongly. maiden declared. " He has no claim upon me That night Idiot Ike was roving about the that I honor, except my oath. He is a heart streets of Leadville, with a burning glitter m less wretch, equally cruel to every one, even his eye, having no apparent object in his move bis own tools who serve him. Were be a thou ments more than to watch the mass of human sand times my father, and engaged in unlaw· ity that surged to and fro. ful business, I would betray him to justice, but This seemmg indifference, however, was de for my oath. That I cannot break." ceptive. With the eyes of a hawk he scrutin "Nor will I ask you to, lady. I am satisfied ized every face sharply, as if trying to recog that you would aid me were it in your power. nize the man he sought. I believe you to be a friend to honesty and jus All the evening he lounged about the street, tice, and accordingly you are my friend. Let first in one place and then in another, watch . me ask you one more qu~ion-do you live in ing and waiting with the patience of a fox the outlaws' stronghold!'' hound. "Part of the time-a very small part, too, Nobody paid him the lea..~t attention, for he for I am ever roving about." was not at all an attractive personage, with bis "But you have free access to the retreat?" great head covered by a shock of reddish hair, "Yes-I come and go as I please. The money his wild staiing eyes, and contorted .mouth. which Smith swind!ed you out of I will en No one knew or cared for him, consequently he deavor to restore to you. That I can do with was not noticed, particularly. ut breaking my oath." . Until ten o'clock at night he lingered in the "Do so, a d it shall pay you well, for your street, when his eyes suddenly emitted a ; enom reward shall not be small, lady. Although by ous sparkle as he saw Miss Stapleton, the finan no means beggared by the loss of so large a cier's daughter, pass along. sum, I felt it keenly," the Sport said, bowing. Evidently she was the one he had been wat<'h "Now, if you will show me w~ich way Lead ing for, for his teeth shut with a strange click, ville lies, I will thank you for your kindness to and he leaned forward, with a frightful scowl me, and endeavor to get hack to my hotel." upon his face. After she had proceeded some . "No, I cannot allow that yet. You are distance up the street, he stole silently after her, wounded, and it is not safe for you to attempt but carrying himself in such a way that no one to reach Leadville until you are sutficie•1tly re might- suspect his design. If Miss Stapleton Etored. You must remain here, and yov shall walked fast he walked fast-if she walked have tlttbest care I can bestow upon you." slowly, he fohowed her example in that respect, " I will remain a short time if you insist, but keeping at a regular distance in her rear. it cannot be long. I have other business to at At last she reac-he ing before the mirror removing her hat. With ed, and asserts that he is my brother," Milll a chuckle, he pushed the door further ajar, and Stapleton replied. darted in, closing and loCting it behind him. "Hal ha! now that's pretty good. Your Miss Stapleteu wheeled around from her posi brother, eh? Why the chap must certainly be tion before the mirror, and uttered a little crazy, or else you have neglected to mention scream of horror when she saw him, her face this member of your family to me." turning even whiter than was its natural tint. "I'm not crazy.'....I'm a fool!" Ike announced. "Mercy I Who are lou? What do you want! "Idon'tknowanything-I'manidiot. He! he!" What do you mean'I' she gasped, trembling "So I should judge. Louie, my dear, what with fear and apprehension. do you propose to do with the fellow! He is Idiot Ike grinned maliciously, and drew a evidently a dangerous person to be abroad." long-bladed knife from his boot-leg, in a sug "I don't know, just at present. Gag him and gestive fashion, and whetteditdeliberatelyur;on leave him in the other room. My father can his instep. attend to him when he comes. I was jwst out "You be old Stapleton's gal, not?" he de upon the street looking for you. I have busi manded, when he had sharpened the blade to ness I" his satisfaction. "You be old Stapleton's gal, " Good. I never was in more readiness than what is rich as Crcesus or sum other cuss!" now." " Yes, I am Louise Stapleton. Surely you do " Well, the Sport, Gilt-Edged Dick, is missing not mean me harm!" the financier's daughter -has not been seen sinl)e morning. Do yon said ready to faint with terror. know what bas become of him!" "I reckon," the idiot replied, with a foolish "No, I do not." · grin. "You be old Stapleton's darter, an' I " Well, he is gone, and the child is yet at; the be old Stapleton's son. My mammy is dead. Tontine. Now is our best chance to abduct her I" She told me to hate you and old Stapleton, be "Howl Give's the twig, ana I'm ready.n cause you deserted us. I'm goin' to cut off your " Easy enou~h. You go and disguise. your head and use it for a foot-ball. Ho! ho!" self· and inqrure at the hotel for Gilt-Edged "Ohl mercy! mercy! Spare me! spare me! Dick's daughter. When she is produced you I never harmed you, sir-I never hurt you-I do can explain that you were sent for her by Dick, not even know who you are.'! who is dying at a cabin up in Stray Horse Gulch. • "But I know who you are-you're old Sta This will effectually ward off suspicion, and the pleton's gal, and you be my sister, an' I hate child will accompany you, until you meet me in ye," was the reply. ·u I come and kill you just Stray Horse. I will then determine what shall for fun. Then I kill old Stapleton, too, for be done with her." mammy said so." The major bowed, and after a few more words1 And with a chuckle the idiot glided nearer, hauled the idiot into an adjoining room, ana flourishing the gleaming blade and grinning then took his departure. horribly. To his own lodgings he went, and soon suc With loud screams Miss Stapleton retreated, ceeded in effectually disguising himself by the step by step, her terror knowing no bounds. addition of false beard and wig, and an ex To be murdered thus in cold blood was a hor change of clothing. rible thought, and murder, evidently, was the He then took himself to the Tontine1 and idiot's intention. sought out the proprietor, whom he found m the But the crime was destined not to be commit bar-room. ted, for the door was burst open, and Major "Good-evening,n the disguised villain said. Dudley Doud leaped into the room. "I am in search of a little girl who was left in Evidently he had heard Miss Stapleton's yourcharge bya fellownamed Gilt-Edged Dkk. screams, and instantly comprehending the situ He told me I would find her in your care." ation, he seized the idiot by the collar and jerked "Yes, I have such a child in my care, but 1 him to the floor. Then springing upon him, he also have orders from Gilt-Edged Dick not to let held him down where he had fallen. her leave the hotel under any pretext," the pro "Let me up I let me up I" the idiot growled, prietor replied savagely. "Let me up, or I'll cut your heart· " I know-he told me so, but at that time out." the poor fellow did not calculate upon being "No you won't,'' the major assured, triumph hurt and he told me to tell you it would be all antly. "I've got you down, and I'm going to right if you gave the little one over into my hold you until you are safely bound. Miss charge." _ Stanleton can you procure a rope and assist "Hurt, did you say'I'' 1 me! ' "Yes. He was up where they were ~g The financier's daughter assented by procuring at the Redowa mine to-day, and a tilly piece straps from an adjoining room, and binding the of rock entered his breast from the blast. Ther feet and wrists of her assailant. In a few min cool galoot didn't say much, but sunk to ther utes the idiot was safely secured. ground, and on examieation we found thet he "Cus.5 ye I" he gritted glaring first from one war bleedin' like a stuck pig. We finally got. to the other: " I'll be the death o' ye, yet. I'll ther flow checked, but he told us it wotV.in't do cutyourheartsoutand use 'em for fox-bait. He! no good, as he war bleedin' internally. So we he! foxbiteatheart bait, you bet. He! he! he!" carried him over to my shanty, and he tolcl. me " We'll see about that, directly," the major ter cum an' fetch ther little 'un, a.• .he wanted said. "Miss Louie, my dear, do you know who ter soo her afore he died. I reckon .,. ..s paper's the C'reature is'I'' what'll explain." "No more than that he is evidently dement- And the disiroised major handed tb0proprietor GHt-lldged Dick, the Sport-Detective. 13 of the Tontine a scrap of paper which he had Ere any one could stop him, he was in the t:l)oughtfully provided himself with1 before start street, which at this ' late hour was quite de ing out on his villainous mission. serted. A saddled horse stood in front of the It was a ragged scrawl, meant to imitate the Tontine; into the saddle he vaulted, and a mo ba11dwriting of a man whose nerves were un ment later was speeding madly down the street steady, and read as follows: at the top of the animal's speed. "DEAR Sm:-1 run wounded-dying, I guess, and I want to see my little daughter. Give her in charge CHAPTER X. of the bearer of this note, and it will be all right. THE SPORT TO THE RESCUE. H Gn..T-EDGED DICK." BULLET after bullet was fired at him, but The restaurant proprietQr read it over several withoµt apparent effect; then some of the bolder · times, and then gazed at the disguised major ones p·ocm·ed horses, and set out in pursuit. keenly. But this, too, was uselellS foi: by the time they "I don't know about this,'' be said, thought were ready to start the disguised1 major and bis fully. " It is an entirely different style of captive were far away. chirography from that used by the Sport when A few miles from town in the dark depths of he registered here. And the fact that I have Stray Horse Gulch, he met Miss Stapleton, by heard nothing of the reported a.ccident makes which time poor little P earl had fainted from me ·believe that there is some villainy back of sheer affright. The financier's daughter was all this. What is your name, sir?" well mounted, and wrapped in a heavy cloak, "William Wallace, I reckon. By occupation, with a vail drawn over her face to conceal I am a miner." her identity. The proprietor paced across the room and ".Ahl you've got her, eh?" she demanded, as back thoughtfully, Dudley Doud watching nar Dudley Doud rode up. rowly. " Yes, by stealing her at the risk of my life. "I have decided not to let the child go," You needn't say now that I will do nothing m the proprietor answered, finally. " I was or your cause." dered not to let her go under any preUlxt, and "!'heard the firing, and concluded that you by keeping her until the Sport calls for her, I were having trouble. Did you get burtP' shall only be following his instructions." "No, although some of the bullets flew pret " Very well. If this is your decision, I am ty close to my bead. What are you going to do not to blame as I have fulfilled my mission. with this brat?" The Sport wili :probably never see his child, as "I scarcely know. The people I bad hoped be was fast nearmg death when l came away." to leave her with are gone. Do you not know And with the words, the foiled villain turned of some safe retreat where I can hide It.er for as if to leave the room. He calculated that per ever from the world?" haps his last words would move the proprietor "Hardly from the world, for civilization and cause him to r.ivoke his decision. strides rapidly oni and encroaches upon all And he had calculated c9rrectly, for the pro nooks and hiding-p aces. There is an old hag prietor did change his mind, and called him back above here, who is partially demented-perhaps just as he was about to leave ~he room. you might make terms w1th her." " Hold on. I've about made up my mind "Then, lead on, and I will bargain with her. that you can take the child if she is willing to Is the child in a faint?" go. I scarcely know what to believe. Perhaps " Yes, I reckon she got skeered purty badly." the instinct of the child will be keener than Without further words Dudley Doud led the mine, and if so she will refuse to go, and I shall ·way, Miss Stapleton following close behind him. gratify her wishes by keeping her." Calling a waiter, he dispatched him for Little The patience of Gilt-Edgect Dick was about. Pearl-G'.ilt-Edge's child. exhausted when finally he heard a footstep, and The major was triumphant, for he felt sure to his surprise, the Girl Sport, Idaho Kit, came that his plot, or rather that of Miss Stapleton, bounding into tbe cavern-the same cool char was about to prosper. acter in whose behalf he bad once interceded The servant soon r eturned, leading Pearl by the same bnndoome sharp who bad fleeced the the band, and gave her to the proprietor, who Leadvillites out of their ducats, by the sin1ple r aised her upon bis knee, admiringly. twist of the wrist and the nimblenPss of hPr fin· "Little girl, this man,'' pointing to the dis gers, combined perhaps with the nimbleness of guised Dudley Doud, " has come, he says, to her tongue. take you to your papa, who he says was badly Her face was now flushed, and even prettier hurt to-day, and wants to see you. Do you than before, and her eyes flashed excitedly. want to go with him.1" " You must get out o' beer,'' she said. " The Pearl's big blue eyes gazed straight at the captain has discovered by spying around thet villain, searchingly and stRadily, until he was you're beer, an' he's climbin' up beer like two forced to flinch. She saw his evident agitation, forty on the half-shell!" and shivered. ''You mean Cart.er, the r oad-agent?'' "No! no! I do not want to go with him. "Yes, tbetsameidentical cuss. Obi hedon'i; He is a bad, wicked man!" sbe said. luv ye more than S()me bull families, I reckon, "But you shall go, my girl!" the major sud and your hest bolt is to puckacbee!" denly hissed in a passion, and springing for "But tbe girl-Coral Carter!" Dick said-" I ward he dealt the proprietor a blow in the face, was waiting for her. She was to bring me of stunning force, seized the child in bis arms, back the cash, out of which I was swindled, in and leaped toward the door. Leadville." Gilt-Edged D ick, the Sport-Detective. Idaho Kit laµghed. sured. And then, as best he could, he relat.ed "No use waitfu.' fer her, as she is as uncertain the facts of the capture of little Pearl. as &'town-clock. Ef she said she'd come back, Gilt-Edged Dick heard him through With a ye can about calculate she won't do nothin' o' the face that had turned suddenly white, but was as . kind. Hello! you're wounded, eh!" outwardly calm as the stoical Sport himself. " Yes, slightly; but am yet bett.er than two Whatever were his emotions, he evidently did dead men. Do you know the way out of this not choose to make a display of them in public, place'I'' . for a score or more had gathered around to note "Yes, I reckon so. If you've got any shoot the effect of the news upon him. There was, in'-irons, ye'd better pull 'em out, and look at however, a gleam in his eyes that betokened no 'em, fer most likely we'll git a blaze at the agents, good to the offender. afore we git out o' ther wilderness. W'at ever " I think I know the agfmcy of the abduction fetched you out into the mountains!" . of my child,'' he said, coolly. "Was not the "A desire to capture this road-agent, Jabez abductor about like this Major Doud you have Carter, and bring him to justice," the Moun here, in size and e:ait!" tain Sport and Detective confessed. " Some "Perhaps, yes, ;r the restaurateur replied; "but one shot me on my way hither, and the road surely you would not suspect the major of such agent's daughter brought me in here and cared a hand!" for me." " As quickly as I would suspect a cat of catch "Do you know who salivated you!" ing a robin.._ had she a fair chance," Gilt-Edge "No. I only wish I did." replied. " l s the major in town now! If you "Well, I can accommodate you with a little can find him, I'll forfeit a gold eagle." information on the subject. I recently saw the And Gilt-Edge41 Dick turned and left the ruffian, Horrible Hank, lurking in the vicinity saloon. and reckon it was him." On the porch of the Tontine he paused and " Very likely. He probably was dogging me gazed up and down the street. at the instigation of the man called Major " Louise is in town, and this is her accursed Doud. I shall endeavor to effect a permanent work. although I am satisfied that Doud was the settlement with them both. I am ready to go, abductor," he muttered to himself. ''Poor now." little Pearl! If she has fallen into the merciless Idaho Kit nodded, and led the way out of the hands of Louise Sta_pleton, there is no telling cavern by the same route by which Dick had what indignities she may suffer, although I first entered. do not believe they would kill her. No doubt Leaving the cavern, they descended the moun the abduction is part of a plan to extort money tain-side, the Girl Sport leading the way care from me. But they shall fail, curse theml fully, and cautiously. they shall find that I can beat them both at As light and graceful of step as a fawn was their own game. If Louise Stapleton is in her she, and just fitted for the wild, rollicking life of lodgings; I must see her. She shall give me up a mountain guide. my chila or I 'vill tear out her heart and tread An hour of toil broue;ht them among the upon it with my feet!" . footings, and they shortly reached the gulch The decision made, he ordered his horse taken bottom, where Gilt-Edge found his horse still care of, and then set off up the street toward tethered. the hotel where the Stapletons stopped, for he "I will bid you good-by, here," Idaho Kit had previously taken pams to acquamt himself said, extending her hand, " and see you later in with this item of knowledge. • Leadville. I guess you can do the distance be Arrived at the hotel, he did not enter the twi'!'t here and there without any danger." waiting-room, but ascended the staircase to the "I reckon. I thank you for your trouble; first landing, where he was fortunate enough to when you need helo of auy kind, come to me." meet a chambermaid, who, in consideration of Then Gilt-Edge:l Dick mounted and galloped a quarter, condescended to point out the rooms away toward L aadville, arriving there late in occupied by the Leadville financier and his the night, as it was dark when he left Idaho dau~hter. Kit. Without invitation, or ceremony, the Sport Before the Tontiue he stoppad, and dismount entered the parlor of the suit, to find it in dark ing, entered the restaurant. ness, and empty, at that. With matches he On entering, the first man he encountered was soon lighted a lamp, however, and proceeded to the proprietor, who looked suddenly guilty as he investigate. . saw the Sport. The parlor being tenantles•, he entered one of "You've heard about it!" he inquired stop the sleeoing apartment~, only to find that empty ping the Sport, hesitatingly-" you've heard also. The next one visited, however, offered a about it!" . disc:losure. " Heard about what! I have heard of noth Upon the floor, helplessly bound and gagged, ing-came straight from the mountains here. lity Idiot Ike, where he had been left by What do you mean!" Webster demanded, some Dudley Doud. thin ~ like a suspicion of the truth entering his "Hello! what does this mean?" Gilt-Edged mind. · Dick muttered. " There has been foul play "Why-whv-your child-your little girl has here, evidently. I wonder who this inclividual been abducted." is, anyhow, and how he came in this fix'I'' "Been abducted!" Gilt-Edged Dick fairly A couple of sweeps of the Sport's knife freed yelled. "Man, do not tell me a lie about this!" tb.e idiot of his bonds and gag, and at once he "Indeed. I am not lying," the proprietor as- was upon his feet. Gilt-Edged Dlek. the Sport-Detective. ' ' He gave the Sport a grateful glance, and ting all you can down to memory. When you' . would have darted from the room, only that learn anything that you think will be interest-j Dick interrupted him. · ing to me, report, at the Tontine, where you "Hold on," he said firmly, drawing a revol will probably find me." ver, and confronting the idiot. "Don't:OO in a " All right. When I get hungry-what then 1" hurry. If you don't mind, I'd like to intervJ.ew "Oh! as to that, here is gold-ten dollars. you as to how you came in-here, in such a fiX." When you get hungry, sneak cautiously out and The iwot looked suddenly sullen. get you something to eat. Then, sneak 1oack "I cum here ter see my sister, and she an' an again. Do you understand? other galoot held ther most trumps, an' won," " Yes. I will help you, because you hate my he replied, with a grin. enemies. I will help you to crush them, like a " Your sister?-not Miss Stapleton?" worm beneath your feet." "Yas, old Stapleton's gal. He be my daddy, "And crush them I will!" Gilt-Edged Dick and I be bis gal's brother. They deserted me said, fiercely, as he turned and left the room. an' mammy, an' I kill 'em, yet." , After he had gone Ike Stapleton extinguished Gilt-Edge immeiliately saw pretty near how the light, 'and sat down upon a cfiair in the matters stood. darkness, his head bowed upon his hands. Years before when, in a blind moment, he "Yes, so will I crush' them,'' he muttered, v had wedded Louise Stapleton, he had learned hoarsely. "I am a fool, and have always been \ t:hat there was a skeleton in the family closet, a fool, and shall always be a fool, but I still but just what was its nature he had not been know enough to fight my enemies. Ha I ha, able to ascertain. yes-when I am mad I am most Eane and sensi I This idiot then was a disowned offspring of ble. I am mad now, and I'll serve Gilt-Edged Oliver Stapleton I Sport and likE)wise serve myself. I have not Richard Webster gave vent to a low whistle forgotten the oath that mammy taught me-the of surprise at the discovery. vengeful oath t o kill Oliver Stapleton who de "Then your sister turned against you?" serted her, and left her upon the cruei merciPS " Yes, cuss her !" of the world. Ho! ho! how I will triumph, "Who was with her?" wheia I run the game down to the death!" " A man came in and attacked me from be- The whole appearance of the idiot seemed to hind." - have undergone a sudden change. The vacant " OQ.I What was bis name?'' stare was t,,one from bis eyes; his form appear " She called him Dudley Doud." ed possessea of more than usual strength; his "Ah! The tiger and the tigress have formed muscles worked as if he were in the act of be a partnership, then? What is your name, young ginning a pitched battle with somebody. man?" For some time he remained in this condition; "I'm Idiot Ike, fer short; I'm a fool!" and the then the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs speaker's face suddeilly assumed a broad ~rin. seemed to arouse bjm from a reverie, and he "Ohl vou're a fool, eh?" Gilt-Edged DJCk re skulked from the parlor into the bedroom. plierl, d1:yly. "Perhaps; but I should not be A moment later Oliver Stapleton entered the surprised if those who think you ar e a·fool arE1 r oom, and after a considerable furn bling around, the greatest fools. Where did this worthy sis and a good deal of swearing, he succeeded in ter of yours go?" lighting a lamp. , "Why do you want to know?" Ike demanded, "Where can Louise have gone?" he grow1ed1 a little sourly. on glancing into either sleeping apartment "Because she has done me a great wrmag, and and not discoverinj!; her. " It is apprcaching \ I wish to find her." morning, and she should be in her bed. Con " Then ye ain't her friend?" found the girl, I suppose I shall have to wait for "No-more her enemy than her friend, J: her. Off with that Dudley Doud, no doubt, the DV reckon." Lord only knows where." " Then I'm vow· friend. I'm a fool, but The Leadville financier bad evidently been mebbe I kin be o' sum service to you. The gal imbibing the ardent too freely, and the effect an' Dl5ud left me layin' here, and Doud went was extreme nervousness, for be glanced around furst, an' the gal afterward. They were goin' him sharply before seating himself. Evrn after to st;eal some little girl, an' take her off into the be bad lighted a cigar, and took up an evening mountains, I reckon, fTom what I could under paper, be orca!'-icnally glanced arr.und as if not stand." quite satisfied-as if taving a rrcmonition of "Exactly," Dick srud. quietly. "The little approachmg danv.er. girl was my child, and they have succeeded in - And perhaps bis intuitkn was correct- per capturing her. Did you bear them speak of ex haps, we say, for in the midst of nn article on torting money from Gilt-Edged Dick?" mining, over which be was rartially drrnmi11g, " Yes. I beard 'em say sumtbing like it." be was s-uddenly arouse will not require a great deal of provocation on shoulder you can have it!" the major growled your part to cause me to get up and eject you back. ' 1 You are Jabez Cart.er, the road-agent, -from the room. There is the door yonder-you under your guise of a Sport, and last night you will favor me if you will use it!" , and your men robbed the treasure-box of the "Then you won't come down, in order to se stage below here, and appropriated wealth to cure the child's release¥" the amount of five thousand dollars or over. "Not a cent's worth, my woman. You are And now that we've caught you, we propose to playing a desperate game, but you have encoun do the square thing by giving you a decent send tered at least one breaker in your path." off." " Then the brat shall die I" the tigress cried, "I am not Jabez Cart.er" the Sport returned, 'Savagely. "I will see to it myself, that you coolly. " I am Richard ~V~bster, the Mountain never look upon her face again." Detective, and I can prove it by 'Papers which And turning, the financier's daughter swept I have on my person. This last little game of from the room, with a m<><;king laugh. yourshmajor, won't!work; it is too trR.Usparent." After she had gone, Gilt-Edged Dick gazed ' ' 0 I but it will work," the major retorted, ter hev it. So, march along now, ter the court "I'll ope)l this yere case, et ye please," Idaho house, or wherever ye hold yer funerals, and I'll Kit said, rising. " Tber gilt-edged galoot yon keep yer covered. Ther first sign o' shenanigan der ar' accused o' bein' Jabez Carter, ther road thet I see, I'll, salt ye so thet ye'll keep till old agent, an' I, fer one, want ter hear ther testy Gabriel blows his fish-horn. One-two-three- mony, an' then offer a leetle myself." march/" ." Keerect I Who's ther plamtiff?" the judge And they did march. grunted, nearly pitching from his judicial pul Not one was there who did not fear the Girl pit so full was he. Sport-not one who did not believe that she ,1 I am," Dudley Doud said, rising. "I wish would salivate them according to her promi<;e, to offer that the defendant in this case is the should they disobey her. same notorious road-agent, Jabez Carter by So they marched down the street before her name, who last night robbed the Leadville stage. looking sheepish enough, while the crowd For proof of this I offer one of Carter's own brought up the rear, yelling and hooting in de band, Jenkins by name, who has turned State's rision. evidence, and is willing to swear that this same _ Gilt-Edged Dick walked silently beside the Gilt-Edged Dick is none other than his com Girl Sport wondering what would be the issue. mander, Jabez Car~, in disguise." He realized that he was in a tight situation, and "Keerect!" the Judge growled, turnmg his could see no immediate way of escape from it, back to the audience and taking a nip from a if they refu.<;ed to r~ognize his detective certi pocket-bottle. " Let ther son of a sea-cook rise ficate from the Governor of the State. an' be sweared." What was the game of this eccentric Girl A villainQus-looking ruffian arose and was Sport, he could not imagine, but he had confi duly sworn, and after hesitating under the stern dence that she would-in some way clear him. gaze of the judge, he began: It was a rare spectacle to see a single woman "I am Thomas J enkins, and for ove a year, -and a mere girl at that-marching a pack of until to-day, have been a member of Jabl"z Car rough, lawless men through the main street of ter's band ~outlaws. Last night I helped Car "the electric city "-it was a side scene in the ter rob the stage, an' when I went to camp my drama of wild life in the mines, and the people conscience beginned to smite me, an' I suffered cheered vociferously. like a man wi' ther jim-jams. This mornin' I The only court-boUSfl the town then afforded pulled out from camp, resolved ter lead a Chris was an empty store, and into this Idaho Kit tyan life, an' meetin' ther major, I offered to marched her posse, and placed them UEOn the turn Spate's evidence an' betray Carter, ef he stand, ready to be sworn. would see that I got off free. So we cum inter Then it was half an hour before the judge and town.an' found Carter in tber disguise o' Gilt State's attorney could be found, the former in Edged Dick. I swear to his identity as tber dividual being highly intoxicated. same Carter who has all along been cur cap He was·a Californian of herculea.n proportions, tain." and was not choice of the language he med, ,; Enough!" the judge grunted. "Send thet which was exactly suited to the town, over feller ter jail, ter await my decision. Let some which he held sway as supreme "magistrat& one else testify." and bis name was J oe Slum. "That's all I have to offer," the major said. By th<" time everything was in r eadiness for " I think it is ccnclusive evidence." the t1ial, the little room was packed full of "I think not!" Idaho Kit spoke up. "Ef you people, and the street -outside was proportion please, your honor, I happ€n to know that the ateiy packed with spectators. testimony just offered is a cu~sed lie, and that No little amount of interest was there excited the witness never was a member of Jabez Car ih the case of the Gilt-Edged Sport, who had in tPr's notorious tand of outlaws. There, now I" his short stay in Leadville aroused a feeling of "Hunah ! (hie) fer ther gal!" his judgeship admiration for himself, at least among a large hiC'coughed; for be it kno" n the judge was a class of the citizens. widower, and an ardent admirer of female No man quite so cool bad they ever seen, loveliness, such as was combined in the Girl except it was the Road Prince, Deadwood DiCk Sport. " Tell us beer how ye know et's a lie, -and this Gilt-Edged Sport was as brave as be bloomin' beauty." was cool. "Yes! prove your stout assertion, yonng wo Therefore they were interesW. man!" the major demanded, beginning to fear A brave man riveted their attention and ad that his cause was lost-that his second attempt miration, even though he might be the greatest against Gilt-Edged Dick was a failure. villain. "Of course I will!" Kit answered, 1mabashed. It bad been proven that he was no coward, "I r eckon when I launch inter a thing I sail and the sympathies of the people were strong tbr'u' it fur keeps. In ther first place, I know toward him, be be road-agent or not. And that Gilt-Ed~ed are a detective an' a sleuth. then, a great majority believed in his innocence. Mebbe he ain't well known to ye beer , but go When everything was in readiness, the up Nor'west further, and you'll find by inquiry judge arose from his seat atod glanced over his that he has made his mark and left a spotless audience. reputation in many a mining-town. That he "Ahem I" be said, with a clever judicial state isn't Jabez Carter, I aJso know, for the very liness and a drunken " hie." " If thar's any thing that brought him down into the carbonate cuss as wants justice, let him state his case and regions was to look up this notorious J abez Car plank a V., an' I'll render a decision. No tick ter and"bring him to justice-a thing that thus bare." Then he sat abruptly down. ~r he has not been successful in doing." 30 Gilt-Edged Dick. the Sport-Detective. . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.--~~~~~~~~~~~~----~~-- '-- "But what proof have we of this1'' Dudley and then I am going to pull out-I know netl Doud demanded, savagely. where, but anywhere to escape the vengeance "The proof is sure enough," Kit replied, with of the man who calls himself my father." a cool le.ugh-" for I am Jabez Carter's daugh- "I, too, am going to leave-going_ back int.o ter I" the mines of the Northwest," Gilt-Edged Dick A murmur of astonishment ran through the said, thoughtfully. "Now, if you must go1 I audience at this announcement; even the Gilt will not detain you, but I want you to promise Edged Sport gave vent to a low whistle indica mo one thing-that you will see me again before tive of surprise. you leave for good. I wish to have a longer ''Enough I" the judge yelled, descending from talk with you, than has yet been my priv his stand. " Ther court is out, an' I'm dry. ilege." Who sez likker? Ther Gilt-Edged Sport is free A faint blush stole upon the girl's cheek, and an' so's whisky, ter them as bas got plenty o1 her eyes assumed a happy expression as she wealth. By-by, boys! Call ag'in." glanced into his own. And then the big Californian wended his way "I promise you that,'' she said; then turning, out of the building, intent upon finding a saloon · 1eft the court-room. wherein to procure liquid consolation to slake the inordinate thirst of bis inner man. CHAPTER XIIL Dudley Doud turned to Gilt-Edge, a mali CONCLUSION. cious expression upon his face. IN the mean time, the rea,l Jabez Carter was "Twice, and I :have failed, my gay cavalier. elsewhere. Look out for the third. I'll put you below He had come into the town previous to the ground, then." • an-est of Gilt-Edged Dick, and had gone to the "Oh! you will eh1'' Dick replied, calmly. hotel where Oliver Stapleton stopped. A few "Look out that it1 is not three times, and out inquiries put him on the track, and later he with you." entered the financier's room, without the cus "No, ye won't tech thet Sport, Dudley Doud, tomary ceremony of knocking, to find Oliver ye cussed ruff!" Idaho declared, stepping up, Stapleton a.nu his daughter seated at a late and shaking her pretty fist under the nose of the breakfast. major. "No ye won't, I say. I constitute my J • Sir, what mean you by this intrusion?" the self ther natteral guardian an' protector o' this financier exclaimed haughtily, rising from his Gilt-Edged, an' when ye propogate his funeral, seat. ye've got ter arrano-e for mine, too, I tell ye. " Oh! pray, do not let me disturb you," the Comet slide off with ye, ef ye don't want me road·alfent said politely, helping himself to a ter salivate ye fer all ye're wu'th. I've a notion chair. 'Finish your repast, and then we'll have to, as it is!" a sociable little talk." And up came a cocked revolver in her hand " I am finished already. Proceed with what to a level with the major's breast. you have to say, and make it very brief, as I And the major, with a sullen curse, moved off. have my time occupied by business of much H e probably saw the be3t reason for so doing, more importance." in the fact that the Girl Sport meant business. "Oh, you have, eh? Well, I'll try to make With him also dispersed the crowd, until Kit this as important as possible. First of all, do and Gilt-Edged Dick were the only ones left you rncognize me as any one you have known standin!?; in the court-room. in former years?" Then ·it was that the blonde Sport turned to " I do not. M.y memory is not at all retentive the dare-devil, and took her hand in his, press of ~rsons or events." inft it warmly. ' Perhaps you remember that you once had a 'Kit, my g-i rl, I thank you more than I can foster-brother named Guy Malvern." ever express m words, for the aid you have lent "Guy Malvern I" the speculator exclaimed, me on these se7eral occasions, and if you will with a start-" you Guy Malvern, sir? Impos name a reward, no matter how big, if I can I sible!" will pay it!" he said, earnestly, gratefully. " By no means impossible. I am indeed Guy "Not a cent do I want!" was the reply. "Per Malvern, and the same foster-brother whom haps I shall yet call upon you to fight for me, as you used to hate, and who used to hate you, so in coming here to-day to rescue you, I have cordially. Perhaps as J abez Carter, the road broken faith with my fatJ:i.er, and incurred his agent, I am changed, but you remember~me, all .bitter, life-long hate. Even now he is in this the same." town, searching fot me, no doubt, with murder " I have heard of you, and heard no good. ous intent!" What brings you here?" "FP.ar not, then, my dear girl, for he shall " I come to make a revelation that will star not harm you while I am around. Come! let us tle you. That young woman yonder, is not go to the Tontino, and I will speak to the pro your daughter I" prietor that you have rooms where you will not "Not my daught.er, sir? What do you mean?" be disturbed." the financier cried. "No! no! I could not do that. My reputation " I mean what I say; that young woman is is not enviable no3 although, God knows, it is not your daughter. Let me explain: without cause. were T to even glance at the " Many years ago, you and. I were of the uotel where you stop a thousand tongues would same family, and both loved the same maicfon quickiy attack me. No, I must not do that, al whose name was Marie Melton. On account or1 though I arr: grateful for your offer of protec this rivalry in love, we grew to hat.a eachotilar. tion. I have yet one more mission her abouts, Of course you were the handsomer of the two- BEADLE'S FRONTIER SERIES• llo. Per Copy. 1 1. The Shawnee'• Foe. 50. Harry Hard•knJJ. 2. The Young Mountaineer. 61. Madman of the Oconto, 3. Wiid Jim. ' ·. 52. Slim Jim. 4. Hawk-E3'e, the Hunter.)• 53. Tlger·E3'e. 5. The Boy Gulde. ··1.. 54. The Re.d Star of tile 6. War Tiger of the Modoc• T\ Seminoles. 7. The Red Modoc•. •. 55. Trnpper Joe. • 8. Iron Hand. · 5 6. The Indian • Library • BUJ One and You Will Buy th.e Restl P er Sample Ce•er See 8 tbe1· •t•e. DEADWOOD DICK LIB RARY. l Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret: or, Boss Bob'a Bosa J ob : The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance 84 A Game of 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 of 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 theSlerr&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 Rlvalsof the Road 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian 41 Deadwood Dick's Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 10 Omaha 011, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick 42 'fhe Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp in Dan1?er 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 11 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., tbe Boy Phenix; or, Through to 44 Detective Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's Death Game 12 Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam's Scheme Bar 46 The Jim town Sport ; or, Gypsy J ac1< In Colorarlo 18 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rltle Team 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Ch•im 14 Gold Riffe, the Sharpshooter 48 Dick Drew, the Miner's Son; or, Apollo Bill, the 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane Road-Agent 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 17 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the 50 Sierra Sam's Double; or, The Three Female Detect, Gulch · ives , 8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 51 Sierra Sam's Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough 19 Photograph Phil: or, Uosebud Rob's Reappearance Ranch 20 Watch-Eye , the Shadow 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe's Disguise 21 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double 53 Denver Doll's Dev ice; or, 'l'he Detective Queen Cross 54 Denver Doll as DPtective l!2 Canada Chet, the Counterrelter Chief 55 Denver Doll's Partoer; or, Big Ruckskin the Sport 28 Deadwood Dick In Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke 56 Deaver D oll's Mine; or, Little Bill's Big LoSB for Liberty 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 24 Deadwood Dick as Detective 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy'I 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 J ane, the Gold Miner 28 Jack Hoyle's Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 61 Deadwood Dick's Mission 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective's Deco7 SO Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon's 68 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Mloers o Sassa· Gulch fras City 31 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick's Home Base 64 Colorado Charlie's Detective Dash; or, The Catt!<> 82 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent Kio gs tc-to any of noises and people. goose· here's a handsome sixteen-karat ring, Around the stand of the Girl Sport the crowd recorr{mended to be genuine brass. Now we grew thickest, for many had a curiosity to know have some pens, likew.ise a few pins, a shirt what kind of a game she was up to. button- you may've lost one, you know-ha! I Clad with unscrupulous care was she in her here is a brand-new ~ennine one-dollar note, semi-maJe s uit, and looking as royally pretty as I find cruising around m my museum, and I'll I ever before lllldP.r the light of tbe lamp, together chuck that in, in the bargain. Now then, who'll with the effulgence of the full moon. give me twenty-ay. fiftePn, ten or .fi'l:e dollars Restless grew her audience-so restless, that for the Jot-five dollars for the lot. Where's she at lafit caused the arrangement of her wares, the rilgrim that wants to throw away five dol and began to look around. lars in exchange for fifty dollars worth of mer After a searching scrutiny of those assembled, chandi~e , more or Jess? Tber.e is none? Well. she beiran: I might have known better, that I couldn't "Feller-citizens: It becomes me as the pro- cheat' such an intelligent audience-the veriest 10 Gilt-Ed~ed Dick, the Sport-Detective. set of gaup-heads I ever see'd in m;y: life. Cheat pan now!" Horrible Hank, the mule-driver, an you P Waal, I opine a pilgrim will hev to get "IlOunced, stepping forward. UP. in the morning. · But to make the game "Yes, you wi111 in a pig's eye," Idaho Kit re hilarious I~~ you, my festive galoot.~, and go plied, with a gnm laugh. " I'm goin' to put you some better on the venture. Only don't be back the hull business in the envelope, just as I deceived in regard to the worth of the articles did before, and before I get through with you, in that envelope. ' you will willingly admit that I am the king, or "With the exception of the dollar bill, the rest rather the queen of frauds." of the stuff cost me about ten cents, a.nd before And according to her word the girl sharper I get through with _you I'm going to make you did as she promised, restoring first the paper J>4" five of Uncle Sams1 dollars for it, and be and other articles to a fresh envelope, and then glad to get more. Yes, that's jest my little tossing up the coins and causing them to fall into game. Now, see here-glue your optics upon the same receptacle. me. Here in this box are silver coins. quarters She then sealed the envelope and stood gazing halves, and dollars. Now watch me sharp, ana1 around her with a strange cynical smile which see that I don't cheat you before your eyes, for none could interpret. I 'm · a hard citizen, and don't you forget it. "Who grabs the bonanza this time, for five Now. here I select out a silver dollar, and toss dollars, with the warning that they are getting it into the air, and down it comes into the en unmercifully fleeced-where's the man?" velope-you all saw it, didn't you? Oh! of "Gim'me ther pot!" cried Horrible Hank, course you did. Well, that's one dollar; here excitedly, as he forked up a five-dollar note. goes another-that's two; then follows still an "I'H run ther risk o' losin', an'll bet I'm a V other making three. But I ain't no hog-here ahead!" goes four quarters in succession that makes "I'll bet you a hundred dollars you ain't!" four; two fifties you, see going in, now, making Idaho Kit cried, as she received the note. "Will five. Pshaw! don't get tired of waitino-, pil you bet!" ?ims, for I ain't done, yet; four more dollars " Cuss ye, no. Ef I'm beat I kin lose et, I will I toss up for your edification-one, two reckon. Give me the package." three, four. There-five and four makes nine The order was obeyed, and tearing it open the and the one dollar bill in the package makes ten mule-driver emptied the contents into his hat. dollars. Now, 1 will seal up this package And there among the other articles were the there! now is there ary galoot in the audience identical coins, or ten dollars in all. with more money than brains who will step up A murmur of excited amazement ran through and give me five dollars for the lot? Whm:e's the crowd. the man? Let him step forward and show him This was beyond their comprehension. self. Cheat? Ot course it's a cheat. Why, "There, you see you've got no sand at all," didn't you see me toss the coins into the pack the Sport said, laughing. ·u If you'd have bet age? Come; does any one want the lot?" with me you'd have won." There was hesitation in the crowd. Amazed "Durn my foolish pelt, yes," the mule-driver were they-suspicious, too. To be sure they muttered, somewhat crestfallen. " I'm five were confident that they had seen every one ahead, though." go into the envelope; yet the mystery of the ''"Yes, that means one more drunk on the Girl Sharp's giving away ten dollars for five market, I silppose," Idaho replied, grimly. was something passing strange. Either she was "Now, pilgrims, I'm going to do less talking a lunatichor else there was some game under all and more work. I'm goin!!" to fill one hundred beyond t eir comprehension.• envelopes inside of ten minutes. Excited were they to a great pitch, yet too " I want you all to watch lest I should cheat suspiciqus to nibble at the offered bait. you by neglecting to put in the coins, for I've Idaho Kit saw this, with a chuckle, and after repeatedly told you I'm up to all such fraudu lightino- a cigarette, she resumed: lent tricks. When I get the requisite number "Well, I'll be hanged ef this ain't a curious of packages done, I shall sell them off for five world. An old snoozer here to my right be dollars apiece; so those who want to invest lieves et's a bona fide offer, an' thet I'm givin' must have their V's ready I" away my cash to influence votes for next elec Then to work she went with nimble fingers, tion when I'm to run fer sheriff on ther WO first filling the envelopes with her stock in man's Sufferage ticket. Ha! ha! that man no trade, and then tossing the coins into the air so doubt means well, but is a bigger fool than I that they seemed to descend into the same re- should be, were I to part with my cash so free ly. Of course I can't blame you for not buying ceptacle. '- the package, pilgrims. You didn't want to pay Eagerly the crowd watched for some sign five dollars for ten cents' worth of trash, and that would expoS:0 a clieat, but none could they you are wise. To show you how badly you see. Evidently this eccentric girl wa.~ doing would have been cheated had you invested, I just as she bad done before-was parting with will simply turn the contents out in ·a little her money on the receipt of less than half its pasteboard tray I have here, and let you see." value. It was strange, but. what tbeiI' eyes had This she did. and held the tray in such a po beheld they must credit, even though it was sition that they cquld view the contents. Then something miraculous. there arose upon the lips of the spectators ex As a people they became greatly excited, and clamations of surprise, for there wer e the coins by the time Idaho Kit bad filled her hundred a mong the other articles. packages, every man in the crowd held a five "&y, 'thar,' I'll give you fivedollarsforthat dollar note in his upraised fi..'1;s, ready to claim Gilt-Edg ed Dick, the Sport-Detective. 11