BEADLE & ADAMS’ 20 CENT NOVELS. [No. 21. RED R OB, ‘The Boy Road-Agent. BY OLL coQn reins LE AND ADAMS, 98 WILLIAM STREET, N.Y. Vor. II.] JANUARY 5, 1877. [No. 21. RED. ROB, sais THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR oF ‘IDAHO TOM,” ‘‘DAKOTA DAN,” ETO. “ager NEW YORK: BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, 98 WILLIAM STREET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 2 enaaeeeaneennenEnEnEEmeEemammmmemiadeeemenmarsneene= teseasceesoece RED ROB, THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. CHAPTERI, THE WAGON TRAIN. AN emigrant train was creeping slowly and laboriously along the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande, to- ward Conejos, a little Spanish-Mexican town of Southern Colorado. It was a warm May day; there was no cool shade in which to rest, no breeze to fan the brows of the weary travelers. ” eel cael eae CHAPTER XV. RED ROB’S RAID. Missourt Mout soon returned with the liquor. ‘Here, boy,” he said, ‘‘ drink this down and be a man.” “See here, ole hoss,” said Dakota Dan, interposing, “ if this boy wants to drink, I’ve nothin’ to say, but if he don’t want to, you sha’n’t force it onto him.” ‘The roarin’ demon!” exclaimed the bully, in apparent astonishment, at the same time tossing glass, liquor and al over his shoulder behind him, regardless of whom they struck, ‘‘what’s this? A man, ora mummy? What little, ole, dried-up institution are you that dares to put ina lip © whar Missouri Moll, the King of the Stage, reigns supreme? Why, man, I shall grind, pulverize to dust and sprinkle ovel tnis floor your withered carcass.” ‘‘T don’t know anything ’bout your powers to grind uP foiks,” responded. Dan, coolly, “but Pm determined you sha’n’t carry out. your threat with that boy.” ‘“‘Durned if I don’t show you, ole dry-bones,” roared thé bully; “ see here, ole Dutch oven, send over another mug of ‘strangulation.’ ”: ae "ll be rl you'll ehind 3 boy ‘ that low2 ll be oun and the ‘if n’t ‘7 A te aR I Bet 8 THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. V7 The last words were directed to the bartender’s wife, who 4t once filled the order, when a dozen eager hands flew to € bar to bear the glass to their master, Missouri Moll. As soon as the glass was placed in the stage-driver’s hands, the bully advanced toward the shrinking youth and reached °Uut and attempted to seize his nose between his forefinger and thumb. But at the same instant the form of Dakota Dan ‘ttaightened up and his bony fist was planted directly be- ‘Ween the eyes of Missouri Moll. The driver dropped like a og to the floor, spilling the liquor as he went down. But With a roar like that of a mad bull, he sprung to his feet and Squared off, tore open his coller, shoved up his sleeves 8d was then ready to exterminate the old ranger, The boy burst into a peal of laughter. “The Lord e-ternal!” hissed the desperado, “I'll make You Squeak outen t’other side of your mouth. Tl extarmin- both of you—” “Go in, King Molly, P'll back you,” cried Manuel Chica- loo, the very individual whom the desperado had knocked — a few minutes before; ‘T’ll’tend to that boy—lI’ll ‘tm him how to insult the King of the Stage—I’ll Yarn him Qnhers, the insignificant little son of—” The villain’s low, abusive words were here cut short by the youth’s fist, which, quicker than thought, was planted on © wretch’s mouth, knocking him back against the bar with Tible violence. The youth’s blow proved the signal for a general attack "Pon himself and Dakota Dan. el And, seeing the danger of his friend and the boy, St. Ken- ma, Springing forward, became involved in the fight. ._ligh above the din of the conflict suddenly arose the Plercing scream of a whistle. It issued from the midst of “crowd. It caused an involuntary lull in the confusion. . +he next moment a yell was heard outside. The tramp- "Rg of hoofed feet was heard upon the street. The sounds *PProached. The door was burst suddenly open, and, to © horror of all, a masked horseman galloped into the saloon! f is hand he held a cocked revolver. He was immediately ollowed by another and still another; until a dozen mounted Masked horsemen were in the room. 78 RED ROB, Terror swayed the crowd. “Red Rob! Red Rob, the Boy Road-agent, is upon us!” burst from the lips of one. Tt was enough. A panic seized the crowd, and a general confused rush was made for the door and the windows — The road-agents opened fire upon the confused mass. In % few moments the saloon was deserted by all save the outlaw® and three dead men. Dakota Dan, St. Kenelm and the boy were also gone. A yell that fairly shook the building burst from the lips of the robbers as they ranged their animals around in front of the bar, and called lustily for ‘‘ drinks.” But no one answered their summons. Finally one of the party dismounted and went behind thé bar to wait on the others. To his surprise he found thé bar-tender and his wife there, curled up under a sleeping bunk. The fat couple were routed out, and by strong argument in the shape of a cocked revolver, were pursuaded to set out the drinks and cigars until all were satisfied. Then one of the robbers demanded: ‘* What’s the bill?” The quaking, terrified German looked wild. ‘¢ What’s the bill, I ask?” ‘Mine Cott, nodings!” gasped the man, ‘‘if you leave jist quick. Mine frow is almost to death scared, and trembles in her pody mooch fast.” ~ ‘“‘That’s not the question: what do.we owe you?” demand: ed the masked road-agent. ‘Two dollars pay for all, but I no charge you if you g? fast hurry away.” Despite his remonstrances, the outlaw paid the bill, and without further annoyance rode out of the saloon, and gal~ loped away toward the mountains. By this time, however, Conejos was wild with excitement. The name of Red Rob was upon every lip. But in the midst of all, no one thought of attempting the capture of the young outlaw. Self-defense was the only thought that filled. the minds of the terrified populace, for all they had no need of fear. They possessed nothing that the outlaws wanted— gs tee 09 on us!” | _ general indows. In 3 Outlaws 1e, 1e lips front 1d the d the ping: ment t ot jist les nd- THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 79 nothing that they could make away with, and joy followed the brief reign of terror, when it had become known that the toad-agents, on leaving the saloon, had taken their departure from the village. The list of casualties at the saloon were four men killed —including the one shot at the gambling table—and several Wounded. Among the latter was Missouri Moll. He had Teceived a wound in the fight with Dakota Dan and the boy that was likely to lay him up for several weeks, as in fact it did. Dan and St. Kenelm escaped with but few bruises; but it left their minds in a state of fear. They were afraid that their participancy in the saloon fight would involve them in future trouble; and the fact of their being at the saloon at all would be instrumental in causing the withdrawal of the friendship of the better class of the citizens. “But we’ve got. to watch ’em, major,” Dan said, as they Wended their way back toward camp; ‘‘they’re a set of devils, and thar’s no tellin’ which side you’re fightin’ on, nor Whose friends you're strikin’. Oh, Lor’! if I’d jist had ole Patience, my mare, and Humility, my dorg, thar in that sa- loon, the Triangle ’d been complete, and gracious man! no tellin’ what ’d ’a’ happened.” “T am really sorry that we got into any trouble at all, Dan,” said St. Kenelm. “So am I, major; and I reckon I’m to blame fur it all; but I couldn't help it. If thar’s anything on earth that I’ll fight fur, it’s for women and children, for I war a chile onc’t, and my ole mother war a woman, When that boy came in thar, lookin’ innocent-like, I couldn’t stand and see that ’tar Nal big bully impose on him. But, mortal p’ison, major! a Volkaner of strength and fightosity slumbered in that boy. Ole Patience, my mare, couldn’t kick harder’n he struck that ‘ere Mexican; and I never see’d Humility, my dorg, flip around spryer than he did.” “Do you know how he came out of the fight?” asked the Major. “Never see’d him arter we closed in. I hope he got through safe, though; for I tell ye, major, I took to that boy 83 natural like as water runs down hill. He’s nobody’s 80 RED ROB, greeny, I’ll bet you. I think all his rural appearances war put on. But be that as it may, whenever we meet him agin, we'll meet a good, brave friend.” ‘Yes, we assumed the risk of our lives for him,” replied his companion; ‘‘ but, Dan, it appears that one of Red Rob’s men was in the saloon at the time we were.” ‘‘Even so, major; and the moment the fight began, he called his pals by that ear-splittin’ whistle. Snakes of Jee- rusalem! I thought judgment had come when I see’d the reckless devils come a-gallopin’ right into the saloon and go to shootin’ and bangin’ right and left, regardless of friends or foes. I war jist sailin’ in handsomely on Missouri Moll, churnin’ his physeognomy in splendid style, when they came in. But that boy, major—did you notice him?—did ye see his eyes? Major, I, Daniel Rackback, do firmly, positively and honestly believe that that very identical boy war Red Rob!” “Indeed! I have thought so myself, Dan. Probabiy we'll find out soon. He may give our camp a call before he leaves the country,” replied St. Kenelm, uneasily. At this juncture they reached camp, and found that their friends were entirely ignorant of Red Rob’s raid upon Conejos. CHAPTER XVI. AUNT SHADY’S TROUBLES. GREAT excitement prevailed in Conejos on the morning following Red Rob’s raid upon the saloon. Of three men that had been killed, not one had come to his death by a bullet. In every case, knives had been the fatal weapons. Several, however, had been wounded by the hoofs of the robbers’ horses that thundered so suddenly in upon them. But the most startling of all were the placards posted on every road converging at Conejos, and upon which was writ- ten this notice: ces war 0 ag’in, replied Rob’s an, he f Jee- 1 the id go iends Moll, ame ' see - Pern herria THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 81 “Notice—any one injuring a hair of the heads of the old man and his friend who visited the ‘ Swill-Pail’ last night, will be shot without trial or jury. I am responsible for all that Occurred in the fight there last night, and to me let the injured look for satisfaction. Rep Ros.” This seemed to renew the fear and excitement of the pop- Ulace. All even feared to question each other as to the old Man and friend referred to. They knew how fruitless had been the efforts of the military to capture this band of dur- ing robbers, and so the very name of hid Rob was sufficient to impel obedience to the wishes of the young road-agent. It soon leaked out, however, that the ‘“‘old man” referred to Was the redoubtable Dakota Dan, the ranger; and “his friend,” Major St. Kenelm. This discovery threw some sus- Picions around the emigrant train—in fact, led to the belief that it, or some of its members at least, were in some manner Connected with the outlaws. But this was all set aside in the minds of the law-abiding People, what few there were in Conejos, by Dakota Dan, who Went boldly into the village and made known the truth of the whole affair. This course proved a master-stroke of policy, for it at once drew either the respect or fear of the citizens over to the em- igrants. Dakota Dan was lionized by those who had been his enemies, but the old ranger shook his head dubiously. He would not be caught in a trap by the flattery of such Men as he had seen in the Conejos saloon. The. boy for whom he and St. Kenelm had fought could hot be found, and the ranger now became satisfied that he Was Red Rob. The days wore as quietly away as could be expected, and the time for our friends to resume their journey drew near. Before their departure, however, an entertainment was to be given by the citizens of Conejos in honor of their brief so- Journ. This was to be a Jaile (a ball) or platform dance in the open air, the chief amusement of the Mexican belles and beaux. It was not to be a fandango, a name which many Writers, through ignorance, associate with all Mexican dances, but a ball of different dances—the American cotillion, the Mexican cotillion and round dances. 82 4 RED ROB, Through maidenly curiosity, Octavia St. Kenelm and Mag’ gie Boswell were both anxious to attend the ball, but theif friends held the propriety of their going under careful con- sideration. They grew very uneasy as the time for the ball approached through fear the decision would be in the nega tive; and Octavia finally resolved to appeal to Aunt Shady and have her exert her influence upon her brother Al. She found the old negress seated alone, some little distance from camp, weeping. ‘‘ Why, Aunt Shady, what in the world is the matter with you?” asked the maiden, seeing the tears chasing each other down her sable cheeks. ‘*Oh, honey, dear!” sobbed the. old woman, “I’s most awful sorry in my ole heart.” “What has given you trouble and sorrow, Aunt Shady?” ‘‘Oh, Lor’ bless you, honey. I war jist thinking "bout ole Kaintucky shore, and my little pickaninny—my little boy dat—” “Your little boy? Why, Aunty, I never knew you were married.” ‘Tn course I was, chile; but my ole man he died, and my little Henry Olay, he war put up on de auction-block one day and sold, and den I nebber sees him no more. He war only ‘five years ole when he war sole, Octaby; and "bout de same time your ole father bought me. Dat Henry Clay chile war de sweetest, darlin’est little feller dat you ebber see. His ole mudder’s heart war proud ob de little toad. He war jis’ as smart as a cricket. But oh, Octaby, when ole massa told me dat he sell my little Henry Clay, ebberything turn black, den green, and I tried to hide my little chile in my heart; but I couldn’t, and when he war taken away, it seemed I would die dead. De little feller looked back, held up his hands and cried, and called for his ole: mudder; but no one but me and God, honey, heard dem baby cries. And so he war taken away and I war left alone. But den when your fadder bought me, I wer’n’t so lonesome, for den I hab my little Octaby to love. But now comes anudder sorry—an awful secret, honey.” “An awful secret, aunty? Goodness! I thought you were always the happiest old woman on earth—without tr — Mm ind Mag- ut their ful con- the ball 1€ nega- Shady istance T with other most dy ” bout boy vere my lay ly ne ar le is d , , ee THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 83 troubles or cares, and now here you are with one of those Mysterious things called secrets.” ‘* Yes, honey; and it all concerns yoahself,” and Aunt Shady burst into a flood of tears that almost melted Octavia’s heart with pity. Dropping on her knees at the old woman’s feet with tears ‘in her dark eyes, the maiden asked: “Ts the secret of which you speak concerning me, Aunty?” ‘* Yes, chile, all concernin’ you. But I can’t tell it to you yit, Octaby. Tl tell all ‘bout it some day. I promised your ole father and b’loved ole Massa St. Kenelm—not dat One what sole my little Henry Clay—when he went away dat—” “* Went away?” exclaimed Octavia; ‘is my father not dead?” “Don’t people go away when dey die, honey. My ole Man is ’way up in heaben wid de Lor’, and dar’s whar dis Ole soul ’spects to go some day. But when ole massa went away, as-I1 war gwine to say, he said: ‘Shady, if I—if Sumthin’ don’t happen to Octaby inside of twelve years, you Can tell her the secret of her life—that is, if you are living —twelve years from dis very day and not before. I prom- ised him all dat.” “* And does brother Al not know the secret of which you Speak?” asked Octavia. “No, chile, he known uffin’ "bout it. When he know de Whole thing, I know it ’ll make his heart sad. Oh, deah!” You’: tell me what it is, won’t you, Aunty?” Octavia asked, looking up into the old woman’s face. ““Not yit, chile; de twelve years will not be out yit fur four long weeks; den I tell it all, though it break my ole heart, and I ’spects it will break my poor, darling Octaby’s heart and Massa Al’s too. But I promised do old massa I’d do it, and-de good angel ob my soul recorded my words on de big book/in heaben.” For a moment both the old woman and her young mis- tress were silent—plunged deep in the labyrinths of thought. Finally the negress continued: “And den dar am anudder trouble in my heart, Octaby.” 84 RED ROB, ‘* Another trouble?” repeated Octavia, im painful sur- prise; ‘‘you are the embodiment of secrets and troubles, Aunty. I wish I could relieve you of some of them.” ‘* Law-sakes-alive! Bress your soul, honey, you're jis’ speakin’ right outen your heart-now, Octaby. Now tell me, chile, ar’n’t you in love?” ‘‘ Why, what a question, Aunty Shady. Is tuat what troubles you?” ‘‘ Hain’t dat enuff to? Ebber since dat day dat you met dat young ranger boy, on de road to Cornjos, you’ve been kind a thoughtful and dreamy-like. I know you love dat fellah you talk ’bout, now don’t you?” Octavia laughed a clear, musical laugh. Aunt Shady, too, in that hearty, good-natured way of hers, adding, with a knowing shake of the head: “‘'You can’t fool your ole Aunty, chile. She young once too—” ‘“‘ And loved some one, I dare say,” put in the maiden. ‘* No, not ebbery young squirt dat come along, for, chile, your ole Aunty used to be as gay a colahed gal as dar war in all Kaintucky. And dar war a dozen—oh, law-sakes, yes; a hundred young colahed chaps tryin’ to shine round your Aunty, but I jist up and sack dem ebbery last one. But dar war one, Sam Johnsing, a gay young nigger, dat kept a-coming and a-coming still, and at las’ yer Aunt Shady got her dander up and she jis’ took dat nigger by de collah and sent him a-bouncing. -Den I married one ob massa’s niggers dat war a good man, and loved de Lor’. And dat’s jist de way I'd do wid dat young ranger boy, chile, if I war you.” “‘T may never see him again, Aunty,” replied Octavia, with a roguish smile. ‘‘ Moreover, I don’t know whether he wants to marry, or loves the—” “Oh, pshaw! you don’t understand what I say,” inter- rupted the negress. : ‘‘ Well, it don’t make any difference. The young man will not know where to find me when we get over the moun- tains.” ‘“‘ Law-sakes-alive! You can’ hide from a fellah dat’s lovin’ you. Love in a man has an instinct dat’s like de lose Well he v See 1 sing and —a ity de sir sur- des, jis’ ne, lat THR BOY ROAD-AGENT. 85 Nose ob a bloodhound. Why, didn’t I hide in de ole dry Well onc’t when Sam Johnsing war a-coming? and didn’t he walk right slap-dab up to de well and look down and See me and laff? Den I fired up and says I: ‘Sam John- Sing, what fur you come here? and he 'said he war dry, nd went dar to git a drink, but, tut! it wa’n’t so, honey,” ~~and Aunt Shady gave her head a disdainful toss—“ for © wa’n’t no well at all—nebber had been—only a deep hole de big boys had dug playin’ ‘ hunt gold.’” “Aunty, you speak as though the ranger loved me. ‘Ho knows that he has ever given me a second thought Since we parted?” “T does, dat’s who. No youngester wid a spark ob true Manhood in his bosom could see you and not fall in lub wid You, honey.” “You are very flattering in your compliments, Aunty.” “Well, honest-bright, Octaby, don’t you lub dat boy?” “Aunty Shady,” said Octavia, seriously, “the image of that young man is constantly before me when I am asleep tnd awake. Sometimes I find myself looking around in °pes of seeing him. I am always expecting something, I ‘© not know what; and now, if this is love, then I love that Young ranger and am not ashamed to—” “Yes, dat’s lub—de very fust symptons ob de disease, Chile, . Your ole Aunty knows how it act on de constitush- ‘ng. Dar am always sumthing wanted, but no telling what, When one’s in lub.” “Changing the subject, Aunty, won’t you prevail on brother Al to take me to the ball to-night? I just want to See how the young folks in this miserable country appear.” “T expected dat; but den I war young onc’t, too, and I tells you, Octaby, dar wa’n’t a colahed gal in all Kaintucky at could beat your Aunty at a colahed hoe-down, as we Wed to call’em, dem days. I could jist beat de world “Ncing juba, or cutting de pigeon-wing, and ’xpects I could Skip *round right lively yit. Yes, I likes to see one be Young when dey can. Massa Al will let you go—said he Would go wid you and Miss Boswell, but he told me not to tell you, so I won’t, honey,” and the old woman went off Mto a merry outburst of laughter. 86 RED ROB, CHAPTER XVII. THE MEXICAN BAILE. Octavia was highly pleased over her prospect of going t0 the baile, and yet she was seriously impressed by the revela- tion of the negress concerning the secret of her life. She thought it very strange that a mystery should cloud her life that had glided along so smoothly ever since she could re member, She wondered what the secret could possibly be, and as she could conceive no answer, she quieted her emo- tions by the self-assurance that it was nothing for which she herself was responsible. As to her love for the young ranger, she experienced no regrets in admitting to herself the truth of the matter—that, from the moment she looked into his eyes, she loved him. She could not help it.. But where now was the object of her love? Would she ever see him again? These and many other questions arose in her mind, but being unanswerable, they filled her heart with a vague, pain- ful longing. The evening was finally ushered in, and with the first shades of twilight, the stirring sound of the music of violins floated out upon the ‘balmy air. It came from the clump of trees about a hundred yards south of camp, where the platform for the badle had been constructed. The sound rose and fell with the variations of the tune, now high, now low, now soft, now strong—all swelling forth with a sweet, enchanting melody. It roused the spirits of the young emigrants, and the old ones, too, for that matter. Aunt Shady was taken with a sudden fit of youthful enthusiasm and began to “‘cut the pigeon-wing”’ with all the wonted spiritedness of a maid of twenty. The sound of fluttering feet keeping time to the music soon became mingled with the ravishing strains that floated up from the grove. It was an inviting temptation—one that youth could not resist. M siste Men afte ion. sur sur for Per “a bi ng to Vela- She > life 1 re- be, mo- she at, er it l- THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 87 Major St. Kenelm, accompanied by his sweetheart and Sister, went down to the scene of festivity and amuse- Ment. Some of the men had preceded them, others came after. Several large bonfires contributed their light to the occas- ion. The platform upon which the dance was held, and its Surroundings, were lit up with a glare as if of the mid-day sun. A row of seats was arranged around the edge of the plat- form for the dancers’ accommodation, and to one of these the Major conducted Maggie and Octavia, and seated himself be- tween them. A number of couples were already on the floor, engaged in &slow waltz. This the major considered fortunate, as it attracted much of the attention from them, and the maidens Were saved the embarrassment of running the gantlet of fifty or more pairs of inquisitive eyes. St. Kenelm surveyed the crowd with a critical eye. Those that took part in the amusements of the evening were orderly- looking people, well-dressed, well-behaved and courteous, that JS, in their way of viewing such things; although they were Somewhat at variance with our friends’ views of social man- Ners. There were a number of bright-eyed senoritas there, dressed in their short frocks and slippers; and young men of different nationalities, trigged out in the gay, flashy suit of the ranchero, and others peculiar to the Spanish-Mexican Youths of the country. Outside, where lurked dim shadows among the trees, were Congregated clumps of spectators, mostly such roughs and desperadoes as composed the crowd at the “ Swill-Pail,” the Previous night. And several of them St. Kenelm recog- nized, but with their bearded faces were associated no very Pleasant recollections. However, they were all quiet and Orderly. Several young men, handsomely attired, came in from adjoining towns and ranches. A few of them were strangers there, but this seemed to give the party little concern, and the youths were admitted without a word to the platform, Where they at once entered into the full spirit of the occa- Sion. And if there was any preference shown by the 388 RED ROB, senoritas for the assembled youths, it seemed to be i favor of those who were strangers. In fact, the maidens seemed to vie with each other in making the young strangers’ evening at Conejos one of pleasure. Our three friends studied every action and movement of the people closely. They saw that they possessed none of those rigid formalities of politeness and social etiquette to which they had been accustomed; and which, to some, makes fashionable society burdensome. All acted out theif natures in a mutual sociability. Their gallantry and senti- ments were the spontaneous outburst of their natures, In- troductions were entirely dispensed with. If a gentleman wished a partner for the next waltz or cotillion, and he was a stranger, he had only to select his lady and make his wishes known. It seemed an incumbent duty for her to ac- cept, at leas. she always did, and all went on merrily as ever. Our friends, by close observation, soon became posted in all the particulars pertaining to society in this far south-west- ern land. Both Octavia and Maggie loved to dance, but they felt it would be useless for them to attempt those strange figures and steps among those born dancers, whose women were perfection itself in the art—their movements so graceful; their rising, falling, bowing, sinking and waving of hand- kerchiefs so in keeping with the tune that they seemed to float upon the ‘varying waves of the music. The ‘‘ proprietor” of the dale waited upon St. Kenelm and his fair companions, and invited them to take a part in the dancing. They declined on the ground of being unac- customed to their steps and dances. ‘* Si, senor,” replied the proprietor, ‘‘your American dances—your cotillions and waltzes we dance sometimes, and a set for a cotillion A soon be called especially for your pleasure.” ‘“‘Thank you, sir,” replied St. Kenelm, “ but we only came here as spectators, and have no desire to expose our ignorance of the ‘ light fantastic toe.’ ” “No excuses, senor,” replied the Mexican, with a smile. ““I will make an announcement for a cotillion soon, and hope you will respond.” THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 89 The proprietor glided away and the dancing went on. St. Kenelm, and the maidens at his side, continued to Watch the graceful forms, whirling, circling and floating away in the giddy mazes of the waltz. Suddenly the major felt his sister clutch his arm with a ot start, while a little cry of surprise burst from her Ps. : “Why, sister,” he said, ‘‘ what is the matter?” “There he is, brother—the young ranger who rode with Me—who saved the train from an Indian massacre,” re- Plied Octavia, her face flushed and her lips quivering with Motion. “Where?” asked the young man. “That is he standing on the corner of the stage with the embroidered Spencer jacket and gold-banded hat,” said Octavia. Albert St. Kenelm had no difficulty in selecting the form Of the person referred to. It was that of a youth of per- haps eighteen years of age. He was dressed in a suit of Costly fabric highly ornamented, and after the style of a lexican ranchero. This youth had just arrived, and his handsome face, his fine form and unobtrusive martial air, set off in his flashy Uniform, rendered him a conspicuous object for many in- Quisitive and critical eyes. When St. Kenelm had singled him out, the youth stood With the side of his face toward him, yet with this partial View the major became vaguely impressed with the belief that there was something familiar about the boy’s features; but to save him, he could not recall the face from the depths of the past. However, he kept his eyes upon the youth, whom he, as Well as old Aunt’ Shady, knew had won his sister’s heart. € saw the young lad run his eyes carefully over the as- _ Sembly, and when they finally caught sight of Octavia’s face when their eyes met, there was that mutual recognition of two loving hearts visible in the faint smile, the drooping €yelids and the momentary embarrassment of each. The young ranger’s search seemed ended now, and he turned his eyes upon the dancers 90 RED ROB, St. Kenelm studied his face closely, then said, in a reflec tive tone: “He is a manly-looking youth, Octavia, and i have cel tainly met him before. But it was not in Missouri, nor i2 St. Louis, nor on the way here, I am sure.” “‘T know I never saw him until the day before we reached Conejos,” said Octavia. ‘* Let me see,” continued the major, thoughtfully, ‘‘ wasn’t it the night I was at the ‘ Swill-Pail’ saloon that I saw him? —yes, by heavens, it was! That is the very country-boy that came in dressed in citizen’s clothing, and looking s0 ‘green’ and awkward, and whose presence there got Dab and I into trouble. Yes, it’s the very same lad.” ‘* Are you sure of this, brother?” Octavia asked. “Tam positive of it now, and shall manage to speak to him soon. That boy is a verification of the old adage, ‘ Still watersrun deep.’ Since you and he exchanged glances, sister, I know full well the feeling that exists between you and him. You love him, Octavia, and before your acquaint- ance goes any further, I must know who he is, where he be- longs, and in fact all about him. I observe that he is the center of an attraction that seems very inquisitive, but he meets their impertinent glances without flinching. He is the very boy, yet how different he appears, from when Mis- souri Moll tried to force the liquor on him. I think now there was a purpose in the unsophisticated look he assumed when he entered the saloon. It is queer these people don’t inquire into the character of a stranger before he is per- mitted to take part in the dance. I dare say he will soon march up to some Mexican belle and lead her right out upon the floor without the least ceremony.” At this juncture the music ceased and the dancers sought their seats, Then the announcement was made that a “set for a cotil- lion would form on the floor.” Before the words were scarcely uttered, the young stranger was seen making his way across the staging toward our three friends, eo reflec: re cel- nor in ched asn’t him? -boy 2 so Dan THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. $i CHAPTER XVIII. A STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT. As he approached, the young man put out his hand to- Ward St. Kenelm, saying: ‘Senor, I am supremely happy to see you here, and to know that you escaped unharmed.” ‘*T presume I know,” replied St. Kenelm, grasping the Youth’s hand, ‘‘ what you have reference to.” ‘“The saloon,” said the lad. ‘““The same,” responded the major, ‘though I scarcely Tecognize the bashful boy in citizen’s gray in yourself.” The youth smiled, and, turning to Octavia, lifted his hat, and said: “ Senorita, E congratulate you on your escape from the Savages the evening I met you on the road.” ““Thank you, sir,” Octavia replied, blushing crimson al- Most; ‘‘and to you, I believe, is owing the salvation of our Whole train.” “Tt is a pleasure to know that I was near enough to be of ~ Service to the train. But, fair senorita, you and I are Amer- icans, and Americans dance cotillions. Would you honor Me with your company, this dance?” “* With pleasure,” replied Octavia, half unconsciously, and, Tising to her feet, she accepted the proffered arm of the young cavalier, and was escorted to the floor. Major St. Kenelm did not approve of this act of his sister. To him it seemed too familiar for such limited acquaintance. But then he saw that Octavia’s girlish infatuation had led her away, and while he decided not to reprove her for this first unbecoming act, he determined it should not be repeated on that or any other occasion. He felt in no way indignant toward the youth, for he but followed the too familiar cus- toms of the country. Moreover, he, as well as the whole ‘train, was under a life-long obligation to the boy who had, 92 : RED ROB, upon Octavia’s own evidence, saved the whole train from an Indian massacre. The music finally struck up, and Octavia and her compan- ion were soon whirling away in the dance. The major and his pretty sweetheart watched them with, an admiring gaze through the whole dance. When the music at Jength ceased, the youth escorted Octavia to her former seat by her brother’s side, and thanked her with the fervent gallantry of a young knight, for the honor she had conferred upon him. Then, with a polite bow to all, he turned and moved away toward the opposite end of the platform. He was near the middle of the floor, when a rock, hurled by an unseen hand, whizzed past his head and struck the ground several paces beyond. Another stone fell on the floor at his feet. The’ youth stopped on the floor and gazed around him, with a calm, defiant look, for the authors of the cowardly act. ‘“That’s him! that’s him!” suddenly burst from the lips of one of the rowdies standing off at one side, ‘‘ that’s the very lark that caused the trouble t’other night at the saloon.” The boy advanced to the edge of the platform, and, fold- ing his arms upon his breast, said, ina calm, defiant tone: “Villains, I defy you!” For a moment a general row was threatened. The roughs gathered in a body at one side, brandishing knives and pistols and uttering fearful execrations. The manager of the baile advanced to the edge of the plat- form and addressed the rabble in kind words, begging them not to raise a disturbance in the presence of the females. But he was only answered by clamorous demands for the boy, and, like wolves, gradually growing bolder, they edged and crowded toward the platform. They held the balance of power.in point of numbers, and a knowledge of this fact emboldened them. ‘“We want that boy,” shouted one of the desperadoes; ‘he’s the very chap that caused the death of Zeke Tarlo, Tom Eakers and Long John t’other night at the ‘ Swill Pail.’ We don’t want to raise a fuss here, but we do want that young, white-livered cuss, and, what’s more, we'll have him or die.” n an pan- rith Isic ner ont ed nd e THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 93 : “Gentlemen, or rather rowdies,” said the youth, advanc ing to the edge of the platform nearest to them, ‘‘ I’m afraid You'll die, for you can not have your wish gratified. I did Not enter the saloon the other night to raise a disturbance, &nd so I am not responsible for the death of your fricnds. I sincerely regret that there was any blood shed at all; though, I daresay, Conejos and the world would be better off to-day if you had all been killed. I did not come here to-night for @ fight, and at any other time I am willing to meet you Whenever and wherever you may appoint, and adjust this Matter—this grudge you hold against me for fancied in- Juries.” “Hear, will ye?” roared an outlaw, ‘the young squirt talks as though he war a host. But, that won’t work, my gay and festive young cuss. You can’t intimidate us fellers that’s on our muscle. You’ve got to walk-the-chalk right Out of thar, or else we’ll snake ye out by the heels.” By this time the confusion among the dancers amounted almost to.a panic. Maggie and Octavia were trembling with terror. A commotion of fear swayed the crowd. The des- Peradoes advanced still closer and closer toward the brave, Unflinching boy. ““ See here, villains!” the youth suddenly exclaimed, in a Stern, resolute tone, holding above his head, between his thumb aud forefinger, a small silver whistle which all could See distinctly, ‘‘if you persist in a row here, I will make it & bloody one for you. You will not get off as you did at the saloon the other night. You have scorned my power— you have mocked my youth; but let me tell you, despera- does, that one blast upon that whistle will bring a troop of armed men upon you. J am Red Rob, the Boy Road-agent, and my men are within call-yea, even within sound of my ®oice /” These words fell like a thunderbolt upon the ears of those Who heard them. Tle outlaws recoiled from the presence Of the youth as if from the mouth of a cannon about to be fired. The dancers became panic-stricken and fled from the Platform in wild confusion. At the end of one minute but a single person remained Upon the platform or within the glare of the bonfires. 94 RED ROB, And that person was Red Rob, the Boy Road-agent. A smile of grim trrumph lit up the face of the young out- law; then he uttered a series of ‘‘ clucking” whistles, when a riderless horse—a beautiful cream-coiored or ‘* buck-skin” mustang stud, with a white mane and tail, and handsomely caparisoned, galloped from the darkness into the glare of the lights. The youth spoke to it; it came alongside of the platform; the young outlaw mounted it and galloped away. And soon the clatter of four score of hoofed feet was heard, retreating from the lower end of the grove, in the direction of the mountains. CHAPTER XIX. ZELLA AT THE GROTTO, A wait as if of agony burst from the lips of the negro boy, Slyly, when he saw Asa Sheridan stagger and fall in a dead faint in the mountain grotto, whither he had conducted him. ‘‘ Oh, de good Lord hab marcy!” the youth cried, rolling upon the earth and tearing at his head as though a nest of hornets had attacked him; ‘ what will dis poo’ nigger boy do? He’s dead as sure as de Lord’s in heaben, and de young missus told me—boo-hoo!— Oh, de Lord help me!” A thought appeared to enter the youth’s mind all at once, and, springing to his feet, he glided out of the grotto, and sped away down the mountain steep with all the speed of a Tyrolean youth on his native Alps. But a brief period had elapsed ere he returned, followed by a female. ; A ery of joy burst from the boy’s lips, and he executed a leap into the air that would have done credit to a gymnast, as he entered the grotto. For in the dim glow of the light he had left burning in the retreat he saw that Sheridan had recovered from his swoon, and was just finishing the painful task of binding up his wound. ' out: vhen cin” nely the m; on ng he THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 95 “Oh, Missus Zella!” he shouted, clapping his hands in an €xcess of joy; ‘‘ de young man’s come to—he’s alive again. Lyi, missus, and ar’n’t dis nigger chile tickled plum to death!” *“You were wounded, were you, stranger?” asked the sweet, low voice of the woman, advancing toward the young man, and pusliing back the shawl that was thrown hood-like over her head. Sheridan raised his eyes and beheld the beautiful face that he had seen at the window of the “ judgment hall,” the face Of the angel, who had been instrumental in delivering him from the dungeon of the ruins. A thrill of indescribable joy Shot through his whole frame, and his heart took new cour- ge and grew stronger in that feeling which the first glimpse Of her fair face had awakened within it. The sweet, blue eyes of the girl looked down upon him. With a light of angelic serenity shining from their azure depths. The pretty face was flushed and clothed in an ex- Pression of the greatest anxiety. She was excited and nearly Cut of breath in consequence of her hasty ascent of the steep Mountain side. Sheridan comprehended the whole situation at a glance. Frightened by his fainting, Slyly had hurried away and brought his young mistress there; and seeing the maiden was aiarmed, the wounded man hastened to relieve her of her fears. “Yes,” he replied, with an air of relief, ‘‘I received a Tifle-wound as I sped across the open space, between the Tuins and the chaparral, at the foot of the mountains. But, My dear, unknown young friend, the wound is so very slight that I am almost ashamed to admit that I fainted when I €ntered this grotto. I am very sorry that you have been Put to unnecessary trouble after doing what you have for Me.” “Then you know who I am?” the maiden said, gazing €arnestly into the young man’s face. ‘TI suppose you are Zella. Am I right?” ““Yes, sir; I am Zella.” ‘The same whose face I saw at the window of the ‘judg- Ment hall? ” 96 RED ROB, “The same.” ‘*God bless you then, Zella!” the young man exclaimed, thankfully; ‘‘ you have been an angel of mercy to me.” ‘*T have done only what I considered it my duty to do— what my heart’s instinct, my woman’s sense of mercy guided me in.” ‘‘ Heart’s instinct?” repeated Sheridan to himself, his own heart giving a great bound; ‘that I would call love, Can this angel of mercy—this pure, modest flower hidden away here amid the San Juan ruins—can it be possible that she cares for me?” His mental questioning was here interrupted by the sweet voice of Zella, who, turning to Slyly,. said; “‘Slyly, you will go out and keep watch. A close search is being made by the men, and some of them may have seen us, and will attempt to follow. Keep within speaking dis- tance of the grotto.” “Tl do dat, Missus Zella,” and the ebon-colored boy bounded out into the darkness. Then Zella turned to Asa Sheridan and said: ** You may think it immodest of me, young stranger, in coming to you here. But Slyly told me you were wounded and bleeding to death. I knew he could do nothing; so I came myself.” ‘* For which I shall never cease to be grateful to you, Miss —Miss Zella,” Asa replied, in a tone of the deepest interest. ‘‘ Although my wound is simply a flesh-wound which I suc- ceeded in binding up alone, I feel as thankful to you, for your good intention in coming here, as though you had saved my life. The principle of the good Samaritan is all the same, But, Zella, I am astonished to find a single rose blooming among so many deadly thorns.” ‘*T do not understand you, Mr.—” “Sheridan,” said the young man, ‘‘Asa Sheridan is the name. I had reference to yourself among so many—so—” “‘T comprehend now, Mr. Sheridan,” answered the fair girl, sadly, and with a mortified look; ‘“‘but, do not touch upon that subject now. It is painful to me. I will visit you again, if you so desire, before you leave here; then I will tell you all,” “ry ing ti you 7 she any) Voil con hay an lec imed, do— lided own Can vay she eet THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 97 _ ‘Yes, Zella, I desire that you do come again. 1 am will- ig to remain your prisoner here until you tell me to go, if You will be my jailer.” A confused smile lit up the maiden’s fair, lovely face. “You are extravagant of compliments, Mr. Sheridan,” She replied, “but I do not want you to consider yourself ‘nybody’s prisoner. I was satisfied that you would suffer Voilence if not death, and as my soul revolts against the Commission of crime, I resolved to save you. You may have to remain here a month, no telling. This grotto can be reached by two ways only—one the path you came, ‘nd the other by climbing up a succession of dangerous ledges. Your enemies will hunt you down if possible, but Whenever they give up the search and all danger is past, you Will be so informed and guided away to safety. I will see that you want for nothing. Slyly is out hunting and ram- bling among the mountain hills most of his time, and so I Can send him here without his absence being suspected. Do Not hesitate to entrust any word for me to him.” “T will not, Zella; but how am I ever to repay you for this kindness? I am nothing but a penniless miner with Only the clothes on my back. The Indians robbed me of all Possessed.” “Never mind, Mr. Sheridan,” Zella smiled, rising to her feet, and drawing her shawl around her shoulders, ‘I am Rot doing this for money. So let that not trouble you.” “Are you going so soon?” Sheridan demanded. ““T must go. My absence may arouse suspicions. Good- Night, Mr. Sheridan.” Before he could speak again she was gone, and Asa Sheridan was alone. The young man now threw himself Upon the couch arranged for him, and gave way to a train °f reflections. He reviewed the night’s experience. It was full of horrors, perils and sufferings, but, amid all, the sweet, ®Ngelic face of Zella shone out like the beacon star of hope. is thoughts finally reverted to his companions, Basil Wal- Taymond and Nathan Wolfe. But, as to where they now Were, and what had been their fate, he could form no con- _©eption. He had heard sentence passed upon each, it is "ue, and had heard Slyly say the old man had escaped, but 98 RED ROB, this was all. His mind, and heart, too, had been so con- fused when Zella was there, that he never once thought of inquiring after them. And now that he was alone, a spirit of restlessness took possession of him that lasted through the remainder of that terrible night. CHAPTER XX. LOVE IN A MOUNTAIN GROTTO. THE coming of day dispelledemuch of the gloom and bit- ter recollections of the night from the mind of Asa Sheri- dan; and feeling like a new mau he arose from his couch and surveyed the scene spread out before him. The sun was shining into the grotto, diffusing new life and vigor through his overworked body and mind. Birds were singing outside. The flash of a little cascade near the mouth of the grotto could be seen pouring down in ribbons of foam. Away across the valley, over the top of a somber pinon forest, he could see the dark mountains piled up against the eastern sky like a mighty cloudbank. To the young exile everything seemed so bright, so plea- sant, so joyous, that his mind reverted to the night’s adven- tures as to a‘horrible nightmare. But his wound, his feeble strength and the many-evidences of his fair rescuer’s kind- ness around him, all were ample proof of what he had passed through. And yet he looked back to certain inci- dents in the night’s adventures with pleasure—such as he had never before enjoyed. It was those incidents in which he was brought face to face with the fair Zella, the good angel whose transcendent beauty and gentle soul had found their way to his heart—into that sacred chamber of love. During the day, Slyly put in an appearance with a supply of provisions, and a basket of luscious early peaches, that still grew in the neglected orchards around those ancient ruins and in many of the fertile valleys of New Mexico. “And here’s sumthin’ else, Massa Shear-a-ding, dat de ) con- rht of spirit ‘ough bit- Ti ch THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 99 Young missus send you,” said the precocious young African, drawing a time-worn book from the bosom of his calico shirt. «She said it war the bestest she had to kill time Wid, and I guess it is, for I knocked a couple ob hours ‘oOming up de mountain wid it, lookin’ at de picters. Dar’s §0bs of dem, massa, in de book. Jings!” and the boy gave his knee a sudden slap that started Sheridan, ‘‘ but wouldn’t Tike to be Miss Zella’s prisoner, and git lots ob good fix- Mgs to eat, and have nothing to do but look at picters? ings!” a “My brave little fellow,” said Asa, taking the book, you don’t think what you’re saying. I may be killed at ‘hy moment. My enemjes might follow you here and find Me, and then I reckon you’d not want to be in my place.” “Te! he! hi! hi!” laughed the boy, shoving his bands Into his breeches pockets and leaning back to give full flow ‘o his exuberance of spirits, while his whole face seemed Sddenly transformed into a double row of white pearls; “dat’s a good un’ on Slyly, the Weasel, as dey call 1i@ hy, Massa Shear-a-ding, dar ar’n’t a man, Injun or wolf, at can foller de Weasel. I can climb a tree quicker’n a Wild-cat, and I can run like sixty and jump—oh, golly! you dis’ ort to see me jump, massa. And den it’d make you Tun clean over to hear me sing, ‘Dar was an ole nigger and his name was Uncle Ned,’ or else dat odder song ’bout de “Swanee Riber.’” “Who taught you those songs, Slyly?” “De young missus. Ain’t she a bully gal?” Sheridan smiled and replied: . Some day I may have you render those songs in your happiest vein, Slyly.” As he spoke he opened the book and glancing at the title- Page read aloud: “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.” “Golly, don’t know dat song, massa,” laughed Slyly, the €asel, Sheridan smiled, but did not correct the youth. He turn- ed through the book rapidly, glancing abstractedly at each lustration. “Tell your mistress,” he at length said, ‘that I ama e 100 RED. ROB, thousand times obliged to her for these kindnesses she h® bestowed upon me.” “* Guess I will tell her, massa; but she told me to ax yo! how your wound was.” “Getting along as well as could be expected.” ‘‘ Crackey! dat’s fine, ain’t it?” exclaimed the Weasé: irisking about as though he was delighted with the news ‘‘when I tells de young missus dat, 1’ll bet it'll set de blush -a-skippin’ over her face.” Slyly remained but a few minutes longer, and when é -~went away Asa sat down and ate of the delicious fruit set! him by Zella. When he had thus satisfied himself, he agai? ‘took up the book and began turning through it, lookidg} © -carelessly at each illustration. While thus engaged, he cam suddenly across a sheet of note-paper, upon which had bee? written a letter bearing no date, but which had evidently been written the day before. The paper had never bee! folded, and a glance at the single name ‘‘ Aaron,” to-whod i was addressed, and the name of the writer, satisfied As# that it was only awaiting an opportunity to be dispatched t its destination. Sheridan could not resist the temptation to read it. It rat‘ “My Dear AARON: ‘*T have long delayed writing to inquire after your worldly shappiness. For these many years it has afforded me infinite pleasure:and satisfaction to know you are living in constant sorrow over a lost child. You know I told you, Aaron, that I would have revenge when you won Estelle’s Jove from me} and then deprived me of all my lands by taking advantage of a slight flaw in the title. You should have known bette! than to have crossed my path—aroused my Spanish blood. But I presume you know it now. I beg you will take goo care of the child I left you, for I always hated the brat. But then she will be a thorn in your side to keep you constantly reminded of your lost child and my vengeance. Your daugh ter I still have. She is now grown to womanhood, and has large, soft, blue eyes, silken, brown hair and a sweet, angelic face.- She is the very image of ner mother. I see Esiellé Le Grand every day in her face and form. She is well edu- cated—several years in a convent made her all that is lovely- And, my dear Aaron, I am going to break the facts to het soon, and then—well, 7 can guess the rest Jf J couldn't have the mother to.wed, I will have the daughter / “ Yours, revengefully, LEOPOLD HaMALLADO.” she has ax yoll V easel, news; lushes en he t sent agaib king came bee ntly reen 100 ' Asa | to in: THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 101 “The demon! the gloating fiend!” burst from the lips of the young miner, when he had concluded the revengeful €pistle. ‘ The description of the girl is that of Zella, Can It be possible that she is the stolen child—the beautiful Woman soon to be made the wife of one she has known only 88a father? God forbid! It cannot be possible. There Must be some other girl at the ruins doomed to the fate threatened in this letter. Zella was certainly ignorant of the cruel missive being in the book. I will keep it till she Comes. I will show it to her, and find out the truth—the Secrets connected with her life, and the ruins of Quivira. But there is not a doubt in my mind but those ‘ Phantom Aztecs’ are robbers—that very party of emigrants that Passed through Santa Fe two or three years ago, and whom the people called Silent Tongues. Oh, the wickedness of this world!” Slyly came daily to the mountain grotto, with food and €licacies—such as the country afforded—sent by. Zella. Sheridan whiled away the time the best he could, though the hours seemed to drag by on leaden feet. His wound Caled rapidly, and he grew as strong as ever. He longed toplunge out once more into the free air; but an invisible Power held him a prisoner in the grotto. It was love. Nearly a week went by ere Zella came to the grotto—it Seemed a year to Asa. It was in broad daylight when she Came, and her presence was hailed with infinite joy by her Captive. “Tt seems an age, Zella,” he said, with a frank earnest- Ness in his tone, ‘‘ since I last saw you. I have read Robin- Son Crusoe through twice, and to kill time have begun read- hg it backward with the book upside down” “Then you must know the story by heart,” the maiden Said, with a pleasant smile. ‘I must admit that litera- ture at the ruins is scarce—in fact, limited to that single Volume.” “Well, Zella, I hegan to think you were never coming back.» “And I began top think so, too,” the maiden replied. Ver since your escape the men have been on the constant “ 0k-out for you, but to-day they went away toward the RED ROB, south, and I took advantage of their absence to venturé out.” . ‘Can you tell me anything of my dear old friend, Basil Walraymond, and of Nathan Wolfe, Zella?” “The old man was sentenced to the ‘ tiger-pit,’ you remem ber?” replied Zella. ‘‘ Well, he was put into a pen, as I cal! it, and a wild panther, which the men had caught in trap, turned in upon him—” ‘“My God, Zella! what sort of inhuman monsters aré your friends?— But, pardon me—go on, Zella; was Wal: raymond killed?” ‘“No; but he had a terrible struggle with the beast. ,His arm was crushed and broken by the panther’s jaws, but he escaped and has not been recaptured yet. Your other friend is still in custody. Slyly and I have been try- ing to find where he is incarcerated, but so far have failed.” Sheridan groaned in spirit, and relapsed into a painful silence. But at length he said: ‘Poor old man! he was one of the noblest-hearted men I ever met. I reverenced him, Zella.” ‘Yes, he was a noble-looking old man, and my heart bled with pity for him when I saw him standing in the ‘ tiger-pit,’ waiting for the ferocious brute to be turned loos@ — upon him. His tall form, his snowy beard, and stern, thoughtful face, made him an object of veneration to me- I knew, however, as he stood waiting, that he had no ide of what was to come. I knew that he possessed no wea pons, and this would render his destruction certain. My wits were put to work—I wanted to save that man. 1 “®eeslipped around and threw a knife into the pit. It saved his life. With the weapon he afterward killed the panther; but oh, Mr. Sheridan! how my heart was wrung with pity and sadness, when I saw the old man all covered with blood; and saw his poor broken arm dangling helplessly at his side, and his white, bearded face looking up at his tor mentors, so sad, so pitiful, in the glare of the torches! wanted to rush into that horrible pit and help him—sav@ him, but I knew I could do nothing. But God was with the innocent and just. He came to the old man’s assistanc’ When another beast was turned loose into the pit, the old Man Cade and and as j enturé Basil mem- , ast in 4 are Wal- ast. WS, our try: d.” ful THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 103 Man placed his shoulder against the stone wall that harri- ded the arched gateway opening into the pit. It toppled ‘nd fell, aud with a shout he leaped through the opening ‘nd escaped.” “Zella, is Leopold Hamallado your father?” asked Asa, 4s if suddenly startled from a dream. Zella’s face became flushed, and in a little asperity of Re, she said: “You have been questioning Slyly?” “T have not, Zella, upon my word and honor. There is What led to the question. I found that paper in the book You sent me, and supposing it was also intended for me, I Tead it.” She took the cruel letter and read it, then burst into a flood of teats. “Oh, heavens!” she moaned, with all the bitterness of iI rt ae se €spair, ‘‘ you will despise me now!” “And why should f, Zella?” he asked, in a tone intended Pacify her sudden-sorrow; ‘if the contents of this letter ae true, you can’t help it.” “Tt is true—oh, heavens, it is too true!” she cried, wring- ‘Mg her hands in grief. ‘The man whom I have always “Onsidered my father told me but a day or two ago that I Was not his chitt—that he had stolen me from my father, Who had married the woman he—Leopold Hamallado— °Ved, and thereby incurred his hatred. But this is not all © told me, but I will not repeat it. The letter tells it all, and but for one thing, Mr. Sheridan, I would have fled last Nght from the ruins to the Navajo agency.” “And what was that one thing, Zella” “The promise | made you—to come back and tell you of Your friends and of ‘the ‘ Phantom Aztecs.’” “Heaven bless you, girl! I would have died here waiting ° you,” Sheridan-said, crossing the grotto and seating him- Self by her side. < ‘‘ Zella, I can not keep back the emotions of my heart longer—not if you despise me for my boldness. Ut to be plain, Zella, I love you!—I loved you from the Moment I first saw your face at the window of the ‘ judg- Ment hall.’ Zella, it would be all I could wish for on earth know that my love is reciprocated.” 104 RED ROB, ** Asa,” she replied—it was the first time she had addres* ed him thus—“ perhaps if you were away from here, and were to calmly think over the little you know of me, yo! would change your mind and love.” ‘Never, Zella,” he replied, half desponding, half hopeful “‘T-am not a boy; I know my heart. Your situation, dea! > girl, makes my love all the stronger.” ‘“‘But I have been reared as the daughter of a Spaniard; and that Spaniard is the leader of as notorious a set of out laws as ever existed.” ‘“‘T care not for that, either. As I told you before—a this letter tells me—you could not help your situation.” “But what do you know of me—of my character?” sbé asked. ‘* Purity and innocence are written upon your’brow, upo? your heart, and upon your soul. Zella, my own heart’s it stinct tells me this.” *“God knows,” she said, sadly, ‘‘I have lived a spotles life despite the society I have lived in. For ten years I lived with a Spanish lady at Albuquerque who was a mother to mé in every respect. She seat me to a Catholic school, where obtained a liberal education. As she had no children of bet own, she wanted to adopt me, but my father objected, aD finally dragged me off away up here, where; for some two 0% three years, he has been the leader of a gang of robbers— nearly all Spanish-Mexicans—who for cruelty to captive’ have no equal. They have traps set all through the mou” tains for wild animals; and whenever a bear or panther # caught, they secure it and shut it up until they can captut? an innocent miner or hunter, when the two are thrown t& gether in that horrible ‘ tiger-pit.’. But one thing can be said to the credit of these bad men: they have never, by word % act, offered me the least insult, or uttered an immodest w0 in my presence. On the contrary, all seemed to vie with each other in their endeavors to make me happy and comfo™ table in those dismal old ruins. _ My supposed father told D® that I was a little child when he stole me away from DY father. He said my mother was dead, but he refused to tell me where my father lived, and what his name is. But © come briefly to the point, I have been living these years wit? THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 105 “band of lawless men, and could you, Asa, conscientiously Wed such a woman?” dress “This detracts nothing from my love for you, Zella. The », and | SWeetest flowers oft bloom amid the thorniest thistles. I { », you} “ow whereof I speak. My love is no boyish infatuation. or five days have I been studying this matter over, and my | veful; } ly fears were that you would not return to me here. I | deat longed to lay bare my heart’s love. I have now done so, aw &id with this confession of love, Zella, I will repeat the ques- i] iard, | “on: will you be my wife?—mine to love always—mine to 4 ou} Sherish and protect from this cold, cruel world?” i The maiden’s eyes drooped shyly. A deep flush suffused —as €r face; her lips quivered with the joyous emotions of her | Young heart, and in a low, tremulous tone, said: | she “Asa, my heart is yours.” Asa’s heart gave a great bound of joy. He took her little ii poo btown hand in his, and drawing her closer to his wildly: in throbbing breast, imprinted upon her warm, ripe, red lips the seal of their betrothal. less A deep silence succeeded, and joy reigned supreme within ved that mountain grotto, Never did two hearts beat more joy- i me °Us in reciprocal love. For several moments they sat motion- el 88 and silent as if listening to the responsive yet silent com- per Munion going on between their hearts, The past, the pre- if nd Sent and the future with all their sorrows and dangers, were | of Tgotten in that moment of sweet, rapturous bliss, ee But this holy silence was suddenly broken—broken by @ he sound of footsteps ascending the rocky acclivity. The | nD Next moment a sombrero appeared within sight above the i is Stony ledge in front of the grotto, and beneath the hat ap- Hf ¥ Peared the dark, sinister eyes and wicked face of Leopold a F, amallado, whom Asa at once recognized as the judge of { d the «Phantom Aztecs.” | q 1 t | i wh” ‘ eee ee RED ROB, CHAPTER XXI. IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO DEL LOS PINOS. In the valley of the Rio del los Pinos, not far from thé San Juan, human voices could have been heard calling to each other from the depth of the deep, dark pinon forest. They were children’s voices, and with them were now and then mingled the deeper tones of men, the sturdy ringing blows of axes, the crash of falling timber and the barking of dogs, Drawing nearer these sounds, one would have discovered that they issued from an encampment that was teeming with busy life. White men and black; white women and black, were there, all actively engaged in some duty or other; while three or four children played “hide-and-seek” in the wood back of the camp. The men were at work in a-little glade on the foundation of four or five log-cabins, which were, of themselves, evi- dence of permanent settlement. And that these settlers had traveled far to reach this secluded spot, was also evident from their covered wagons and jaded animals. The most conspicuous of all, however, and that mest likely to arrest the attention of a stranger, was a small, brass howitzer mounted upon a little eminence commanding the valley for some distance around. Near by the workmen stood a little old man, dressed in the garb of a borderman. He was leaning upon his mfle and watching the men with a bland, quizzical expression on his thin, bearded face. At his side crouched a dog, and behind him stood a drowsy-looking horse with a bridle and blanket apon it. The former was Dakota Dan; the animal at his side, his dog, Humility; the one behind him, his mare, Patience. And, as the reader has already inferred, this little band of settlers was the emigrant party we left, in a preceding chap- ter, at the little village of Conejos. Three weeks previous THE BOY ROAD-AGENT, 107 they had left the last named point, and under the guidance % Dakota Dan had reached the valley of the del los Pinos the shrine of their pilgrimage—in safety, They had left Conejos on the morning after the baile, when d Rob, the Boy Road-agent, had made his identity known, Sttiking terror into the hearts of the people, and putting a SUdden termination to the night’s amusemént. “The self-announcement of the handsome young outlaw had §0ne like a dart to the breast of Octavia St. Kenelm, and she Was carried back to camp ina dead swoon. This proved, Yond a doubt, the great love she entertained for the youth, Nd while her brother felt himself under manysobligations to d Rob, for the assistance he had rendered them in the hour of need and imminent peril, he also felt relieved, re- Jiced, when they got away from the vicinity of Conejos, € was afraid the young outlaw would make a formal de- Mand for Octavia’s hand, and in case of refusal, carry her away by shéer force. The brother would much rather see *r go down to her grave than wed to such a character. his was the St. Kenelm pride of spirit. And when they &t last found themselves in the valley of the del los Pinos all €lt relieved so far as Red Rob was céncerned—felt satisfied at the mountains separated them from the young free- ter, But, another fear kept them in a constant state of alarm, X the morning they left Conejos, a man overtook them a Short way out from the village, and gave St. Kenelm a folded Paper, then wheeled his horse and galloped away. The major opened it and saw, written upon it, in a miser- “ble, scrawling hand, these words: “Mistur Saint Kenelm, sur, you and that thare ole kuss, Dakory Dan, needn’t think ’cos you’r gorin’ to git er way be- re am able to git out, that you will eskape my vengeance. N foller you to Californy or hell, but whafl’ll have satisfak- Shun, And mind ye,Tll go backed by ther boys, too, and Jum yh er not expektin’ the King of the Road. ee a ‘*Missourr Mout.” Tt was the threat of a bully and a coward, else they would ’ have entertained little fears. They knew that he would not K satisfaction openly, but would creep upon them in the 108 RED ROB, dark like'a coyote or lurking sivage. However, Dakota Dat had been retained in the service of the party as a scout, and his presence gave them some assurance that Missouri Moll would not approach the camp unseen. The weather had been exceedingly fine, and so far all bad gone en well. Building had progressed rapidly. The logs for six cabins were nearly all cut and hewn, and drawn id, ready to be notched and lain up. Two buildings were await ing their rafters, and in a few days more would be prepared for occupation. Some of the men were chopping in the tia ber, some hauling in, and others building. Thus the work went steadily ow in the new settlement which had been named “The Hidden Home.” The days wore on, and one evening the little band were assembled around a bright, glowing fire in the open air, some engaged in conversation, some reading and some musing over the past. Octavia and Maggie were there, their pretty young faces looking bright as ever; although the former could not entirely conceal the disappointment her young heart had sustained if its relations with that handsome young road-agent, Red Rob. Major St. Kenelm and old Mr. Gilbrest were discussing the prospects of the future in connection with their new homes. “ There is not a doubt in my mind,” said the latter, “ but that this valley, for sheep-raising and. fruit culture, is witl- out a parallel. I believe we can make these two branches of industry pay us well, even if we never strike a lick toward mining. “Tt appears that the ancients, who once dwelt in this valley, made fruit culture a specialty; and from this source; I am informed, the Navajo Indians still derive the largest portion of their revenue. It it true, wool-growing and theif - looms are not neglected. Besides attending to our flocks and orchards, I would think that, when the busy season is ovels we could prospect some for treasure in the mountains sul rounding us.” “‘Pervidin’,” put in Dakota Dan, philosophically, ‘the nohle red-men—the Utes or ’Rapahocs—don’t come dow? and eat yer fruit, kill yer flocks, and discomboborate ye bar. Durn an Ingin; you can’: enny more tell when he’s go} Sel bir Va Ta 8a mM jis sk an ind (oll ad gs in, it ed m- rk od THE BOY ROAD AGENT. 109 80in’ to drap down among a f ‘lev than ye can swaller yer- Seif. But then the Triangler Extarminator will keep a-bob- bin’ and see what cxn be done for a while to’rds-keepin’ the Valley purged of red skins, or of ghosts, anyhow,” and the Tanger cast a lugdbrious look toward old Aunt Shady, who St with her ears open, listening intently to every word. “Oh, Lord sakes alive!” she exclaimed, when ghosts were Mentioned, ‘‘if dar am ghosteses in dis here country, I’ll ist pack up my duds and hoof it cl’ar back to ole Kaintucky Shore whar I war bo’n.” . Durn Kentucky!” retorted old Dan, for he delighted m tormenting the old negress; “‘ it’s nothin’ but an abolition Nigger-nest.” “See here, man! how you talks!” the old woman ex- “aimed, in injured pride; ‘‘you hain’t got no respect for be Lincoln, de proclamation, nor de Lord, you hain’t.” _ At this juncture, Humility, who was lying by his master’s ‘ide, thrgst his nose upward and sniffed the air as though © had giiddenly detected the presence of something im the dtmosphére. F “What is it, pup?” questioned Dan, throwing his rifle Across his knees. ’ The dog rose upon all fours, wagged his tail, pricked up his ears, and appeared now to be listening intently. “Sumthin’s wrong, boys, sure as water runs down hill— ' there! I’ve heard of it—smoke of Jerusalem!” The old borderman was excited. He pointed directly before him, and all eyes instantly followed in the direction hdicated, and to their horror beheld the face of a man cov- ed with a long, grizzled beard, staring at them with wild, earthly eyes. But the most horrible of all was the dis- “overy that the head and face of the man rested, not upon © neck and shoulders of a human, but upon those of an tmal—an animal with a human head—an apparition that Alea each soul with a strange horror. Tom side to side the face of the monster turned, as if ting every object and studying each face around the fire. €n it turned, and bounding across the range of light, dis- *PPeared in the gloom beyond, while Humility, with a yelp, away in swift pursuit. 110 RED ROB, A deep silence fell upon the encampment. The pinons sighed mournfully overhead, and the deep baJ of the dog sounded faint in the distance. CHAPTER XXII. HOW MISSOURI MOLL KEPT HIS WORD. ““Tr’s a God’s fact, friends; P've heard of it afore,” said Dakota Dan, although he hetrayed but little emotion.“ It called Centaur, and said to be the descendant of a race of people that used to inhabit this country, hundreds of yea® ago. An ole miner told me it alers appeared round camp fires o’ nights, attracked by the light. And he said, whe™ ever you see’d one of them critters, sumthin’ bad war sure 1 follow.” b “You don’t believe in ghosts, do you, Dan?” asked St Kenelm, desirous of testing the old ranger’s superstitious te?’ dencies. ‘“‘ Wal, no, major, though some things do look kindé quare at times. One as can read books never believe sich things. Take me on the trail, in the woods, or on the rivels and I’ve a good eddycation, And then I used to knoW every letter in the alfabet from A to izzard, and could read a right smart sprinkle; but then one will furgit sich thing® Howsumever, I can talk two langwidges aside my own.” “Indeed!” said St. Kenelm, surprised by this announce ment of his linguistic lore; ‘‘ what two?—French and Spa ish?” ‘“‘No, major; more intelligent langwidge—hoss and dog langwidge.” A smile passed over every face at this reply, notwithstand ing the serious impression left upon all by the apparition. — Humility soon returned from the woods, and the uneask ness he now betrayed by bounding away into the gloom, then back to his master’s side, convinced the ranger that something was wrong out in the woods. So he at ond? eep bay ” said ‘“c It’s ice of years amp ‘hen re t0 St teD det ich er, ow ad rs. e- a- 7s THE BOY ROAD-AGENT, 111 Made known his intention of going out (o reconnoiter the sur ‘Ounding forest. He left the camp, and in less than ten minutes returned Tom the same direction, having made the entire circuit of the place. His face and movements both betrayed some ex: Atement. “Put out the fire,” he said, endeavoring to appear calm, “for as true as thar’s a heaven above us, Missouri Moll, With a party of friends and a horde of Ingins, are near! €ep cool ’bout it, or they may smell a ‘ mice.’ ” An exclamation of surprise burst from every lip, and ter- Tor blanched each face. The fearful news fell like a thun- derboit upon the ears of the little band, and for a moment all seemed stupefied by the shock it gave them. But the calm, cool voice of the old ranger, admonishing them of their danger, soon set all in motion. Yo extinguish the fire, secure the women and children in Places of sufety, and place every man in a defensive position, Sccupied but a few brief moments. Three covered wagons were arranged side by side near the center of the camp, and the beds of the women placed Mside of these. This was done as a measure of greater Safety. If an enemy charged through camp, the defense. less would not be so exposed to crushing hoofs or murderous Weapons as if they were upon the ground. ~ Octavia St. Kelelm and Maggie Boswell occupied the Wagon on the right, facing south, the Gilbrest women and Children the middle one, and old Aunt Shady and another Negro woman the third. Two guards were posted, one north, the other east of the Camp. The men stood with rifles in hand, waiting for the Worst to come, Dakota Dan and his faithful dog reconnoitered in the Woods. The horses and mules in the corral manifested some un- €asiness. ‘fhe pinons swayed and rustled ominously in the breeze. The coyotes gibbered incessantly away off among the foothills. The men conversed in low tones, the women in tremulous Whispers. 4 112 RED ROB, Octavia and Maggie did not disrobe when they retired t0 their ‘apartment ” in the wagon. Fear had banished al sleep from their eyes, They went to work and fastened the lower edge of the wagon cover securely down to the bos all around, as though this frail barrier of canvas would s@ cure their retreat against intruders. Then, locked in each other’s arms, they entered. into conversation, They talked in low tones of their dangerous situation, of Red Rob, avd in fact of everything suggested to their.young minds. Octavia spoke in praiseworthy terms of the outlaw youth, who had made captive her heart. In spite of all that he! friends had said—in spite of all she had seen, she could nol help loving Red Rob. Her own reason taught her that he was unworthy of her love; still she could not rend asunder the magic chain that bound her heart to him. ‘** Brother Albert rejoices that we are away from the vicinity of Red Rob’s. retreat,” Octavia said to Muggie, ‘‘ and all oD my account. But, Maggie, I cannot help loving him, outlaw though he be.” ‘* Your infatuation, will wear off, by-and-by, Octavia,” re plied the sedate, matter-of-fact Maggie. ‘“No, never, Maggie!’ responded Octavia, firmly. ‘ All naturally suppose that I love Red Rob, but none knew it posi tively but you and brother. I have made confidents of n0 others.” * ‘* Red Rob is unworthy of your thoughts, Octavia, to say nothing of your love,” affirmed Maggie. ‘*We all felt thankful, from the bottom of our hearts, that he saved the train from the Indians; and then you and I, and all the rest, felt grateful to him for saving brother's life, the night he visited the saloon in Conejos.” “T admit that, Octavia,” said Maggie, ‘‘ but in neither ip stance was his real character known.” ‘That matters not, dear Maggie. We accepted the gift, and so must not rebuke the donor, or else we will be wicked and selfish creatures. If an infidel saves your life, the act would be no greater if it had been done by a Christian.” “T admit this, Octavia; but we were deceived in his cha® acter. We thought at first, all of us, that we were bestow- ing our thanks and admiration upon a good, brave and noble Tetired t0 ‘ished all fastened the box rould se in each y talked ob, and youth, at her id not hat he under cinity 1] on itlaw ’ Te- All osi- no ay s, id 9 THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 118 boy, but instead of that, he turns out to be tlie notorious Toad-agent, Red Rob. He had some designs, it is thought, in saving the train—perhaps to destroy it himself.” “Oh, Maggie, do not talk so of him. It hurts me, and—” Octavia’s words were here brought to an abrupt conclusion by a faint noise outside, followed by a slight vibratory jarr- ing of the wagon. Both listened with bated breath and wildly-palpitating hearts. “What do you think it was?” asked Maggie, when they found the movement was not repeated. ““T presume it was one of the men passing, and struck his foot against the wagon-tongue,” replied Octavia. “*T will look out and see what is gojng on, if the darkness will admit,” said Maggie. } Carefully she raised the lower edge of the tilt in front, and gazed out. The wagon was standing in the little clearing, yet the shadows of the woods rose up like a grim black wall around them, infolding all in a mantle of gloom. Maggie could see hothing, but she thought she heard stealthy footsteps re- treating rapidly from near the wagon. Before she could make this fact known to her companion, both felt a kind of athrumming jar like a heavy rope being drawn suddenly taut. The next instant the wagon started forward with such a violent lurch that the maidens were thrown from their Seats. But quickly recovering their former positions, they Were startled by the discovery that the wagon was in mo- tion, ‘** What does it mean, Maggie?” gasped the terrified Oc- tavia. ““The men must be moving the wagon by hand,” was the response. They tore aside the canvas in front and gazed out. Not the sign of a man or horse was about the wagon. And yet the vehicle was in rapid motion—the wheels rattling and thundering over the uneven ground as thoud@fiawe by a Span of fiery animals. “Oh, heavens, what does it mean?” cried Octavia, in terror. “ Look, Octavia!” exclaimed Maggie, pointing on ahead; *““do you see that rope?” RED ROB, Octavia saw it the moment she spoke. Objects wefé fi gradually unfolding themselves from the darkness as thé eyes became more accustomed to gloom, and the maidens could now sce the dim outlines of arope, one end of which was attached to the wagon-tongue, the other end being | lost in the impenetrable gloom of the woods, but a rod oF in two away. | An enemy had crept from the woods and attached the rope to the wagon. Octavia uttered a cry of alarm. a The report of rifles at the further side of the camp told | that their friends were engaged there with an enemy. | The wagon rolled into the woods and came to a violent | halt by striking against a tree. The maidens were thrown prostrate by the collision. As they hurriedly rose to theif feet again, a gruff, coarse voice shouted: “Quick, men, seize them!” R Then the canvas was stripped from the bows, and two men.sprung up into the wagon. The maidens uttered a scream—it told where they were. The next moment they felt strong arms encircle their waists -—felt themselves lifted from their feet and handed from the wagon to other men on horseback, ready to receive them. Then, despite their cries and entreaties, they were borne swiftly away. The conflict on the opposite side of the camp had been very brief—in fact, the enemy had only made a feint to draw the attention of the men from the foe operating on the other side of the camp. ~ But as soon as the settlers saw what was up—heard the noise of the wagon and the screams of the maidens, they turned and hurried to the girls" assist- ance. But they were too late. When they reached the wagons, the enemy were gone with the maidens; but from i] out the darkness, a deep, hoarse voice, furious with demoniac i} passion ag@ hellish triumph, hurled back the words: Hi} ‘“* Veng@atice is mine at last!” Major St. Kenelm recognized the voice. It well-nigh froze the blood in his veins, It was the voice of the desperado, Missouri Moll! Oct act ore en as th cts were Ss as the Maidens F which 1 being rod or ed the ) told olent own heir THE BOY ROAD-AGENT, 115 CHAPTER XXIII. THE NIGHT FLIGHT. Daxora Dan was busily engaged north of the camp when Octavia and Maggie were captured. A band of Arapahoes, acting in concert with the outlaws, attacked the camp in Order to draw attention from the south side, and thereby €nable Missouri Moll to carry out his designs. But as soon 4s the outlaw’s shout of vengeance announced his success, the Indians withdrew. Then the defenders hurried to the Other side of the camp to find the maidens gone. “Oh, heavens!” burst from Albert St. Kenelm’s lips, and he fairly staggered under the terrible blow. “Oh, Lord!’ groaned Dakota Dan. ‘I knowed some- thin’ war goin’ wrong,” he continued, with a dubious shake Of the head, ‘“‘when I heard them rovin’ wild cats of Ara- Pahoes utter their war-yoop, and then not make a general attack. J knowed it war one of their tarnal slippery tricks to draw our attention aside, while other of their friends done Some deviltry at another point.” “You were right, Dan,” replied St. Kenelm, with a heavy heart. ‘* The outlaws had tied a number of lariats together, When one of their men crawled in and fastened one end of it to the wagon-tongue, leaving the other end out in the Woods where the main party would not be exposed. By this means, the wagon was drawn suddenly into the impene- trable shadows. The rope is here yet.” “Too bad, too bad!” sighed the ranger, regretfully. ‘IT did not think Missouri Moll could outwit the Triangle. But Pll make it all up yet, friends—I will, true as water runs down hill. Jist keep a stiddy nerve, a stiff lip and quiet tongue. I’ve never found a case yit, but what we— that’s’ me, Patience, my mare, and Humility, my dorg— Could work out. We figure by the rule of three, and we have solved some knotty problems. When man, hoof and -howler are all once set a-goin’, you could jist as well stop a i 116 RED ROB, an avalanche. With Humility to take the lead with bis olfactory snoot, me next to direct movements, and drap # occasional bullet: here and there, and old Patience to brivé up the rear and slap an occasional red-skin into purgatory— with all these things set to work like machinery, then ook out for a pestilence. Why, bless your soul, friends, whe I war up in Dakota, the Triangle got to be sich a dead cel’ tainty that jist to shout ‘Dakota Dan” at a red-skin he’ drap down instanter, and arrange his hair for the skulP knife. As for Missouri Moll and his men—why, they won be a huckleberry to us for to circumvent if they don’t f in with the Ingins. If two men will go with me, we'll take the trail at once, and won’t come back without the gals.” Major St. Kenelm and Richard Boswell, brothers of thé captured maidens, at once announeed their readiness to ac company him; and leaving the camp in charge of Mr. Gil- brest, his boys and the negroes, the three set out in pursuit of Missouri Moll. They all journeyed on foot, although the ranger took his mare along to be used in case of emergency. They had no difficulty in finding the trail of the outlaws; nor in following it. Humility took the lead with his nos¢ to the ground, and all the men had to do was to follow the dog. To St. Kenelm and Boswell, this would have been # difficult task, owing to the darkness, which at times entirely concealed the animal from view; but to old Dan it was n0 trouble whatever. The dog and master had become so ac- customed to each other’s part in the great drama of bordert life they were continually enacting, that they seemed con- trolled by the same intuitive volition. Thus for miles they journeyed on, when a low, significant whine of the dog told that the enemy was near. The trio came to a halt—they listened. They heard 4 slight, confused crashing through the undergrowth and tram- ple of hoofed feet some distance in advance. ‘“* Plant yerselves right here, friends,” said the old border- man, ‘and then I'll know ‘whar to find ye when I come back. Don’t move if the earth sinks ’neath yer feet, for, if we git sep’rated, we might git into trouble. [ll run d with bis ‘nd drap all Ce to bring urgatory— then Icok nds, whell dead cer skin he'd e skulp €y won't lon’t fall le, we'll it them of the to ac- r. Gil- ursuit k his AWS, 10Se the n & ely no Cc: or fa ‘ THE BOY ROAD-AGENT, 117 S1t and reconnoiter the sitewation—be back in a minute or More.” And, so saying, the ranger stole softly away. St. Kenelm énd Boswell listened. They could now hear the murmur of Many voices, asx if engaged in consultation; and presently they heard the tread of horses’ feet going away, and all Sounds become hushed. The enemy had resumed his journey. Dakota Dan soon made his reappearance. “‘ Well, what discovery, Dan?” asked St. Kenelm, with €ager impatience. ‘“« The ’tarnal devils have divided the work—that is, the Arapahoes and outlaws met out thar, and the ’Rappas claim- ed one of the gals for their share of the spoils.” “And did they get one of them?” asked Roswell. “They did, by Jerusalem! The outlaws didn’t want to give her up, but they had to or fight. But I don’t know Which one the ‘Rappas got. It war too dark to tell—the "Raps went one way and the whites the t’other.” This news added new weight to the brothers’ grief, but to the major the blow fell with double force. Both his Sister and sweetheart were in peril, but, while they were Captives together, he knew the presence of one would be Some comfort to the other. But now they were separated, and he instinctively felt that the one in the power of the In- dians was in the most imminent peril, and between his love for his sister and that of his sweetheart, it was a hard mat- ter for him to decide which party to follow first—the one Which had Octavia, or the one which had Maggie in custody. Fortunately, however, he had no decision to make, for Dakota Dan knew not which of the maidens had been given up to the Indians. But which-ever was in the power of the Outlaws, Dakota Dan considered in the most peril. For, notwithstanding his hatred for the Indians, he considered them more honorable and humane toward female captives than their white associates. He argued this to his two com- panions, and succeeded in convincing them that an Indian Was a savage by nature, but with many redeeming traits of character, while a renegade was a creature whose moral de- pravity was utter and complete. 118 RED ROB, The old ranger’s views were accepted as a decision to thé question as to which party they should follow. Moreover, Missouri Moll was ucting under a spirit of revenge, and there was no telling what his. devilish heart would lead him into to gratify that spirit. : The trail of the outlaws continued due southward, crossed the San Juan river, and headed for the mountains wherei? their safety would be assured. Missouri Moll led the way with an’ ease and rapidity that were evidence of a familiar knowledge of the country and its tortuous windings. He was followed by ten men, all well mounted and armed, and all of the most desperate cliar- acier. The outlaw had kept Maggie Boswell a captive in his possession, under the impression that she was St. Kenelm’s sister. He carried her in front of him, the poor girl lying an almost lifeless burden in his strong arms. As they rode along, the ruffians conversed together over their victory, all appearing wonderfully elated at their ‘‘ mas- ter’s ” success. ‘*Durn ther souls of them!” the desperado growled, as they moved along, “‘Tll Tarn ’em how to tamper with me, Missouri Moll, King of the Road. This ’ere gal ‘ll not be- gin to pay for that ’tarnal gap that Saint Kenelm cut across my face, forever ruinin’ my beauty. Nec, boys; we'll cut for the hills und ambush. The friends of this gal ’ll be apt to foller us, of course, when we’!l shoot every devil of ’em. But, lookey here, boys, I want about five of you to drap behind now, and act asa rear guard. ‘If persuers should come onto us, ail to onc’t, it would hussel me like thunder to git out of the way with this gal. She’s a dead lump, al- most. ‘Thar’s no danger, yit it’s best to keep on the safe side. The emegrants cau’t track us in the night, so we'll be able tu git hid afore morning. But then I want a rear guard. It’ll be more military like. They'll think l’m a reg’lar West P'int gineral afore they git through with me.” Five men at once signified their willingness to comply with their master’s orders, and at once took their positions in the rear of the cavalcade. After crossing the river, the outlaws entered the dry, gravel define! with : Sive « dog ¢ be c hims and Dak evel I on gra for ya M le | to the reover, | there into, ‘ossed erein that and , all ar his n’s ng er S- THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. « 119 Stavelly bed of a stream, and continued to follow its well- defined course toward the mountains. They did not move With all the speed nor silence possible, for in their exces- Sive elations of triumph, they had forgotten all about the dog of Dakota Dan, by means of which swift pursuit could be conducted. And while the outlaw was congratulating himself on the success that-had attended his night’s work, and the distance he was putting between himself and enemies, Dakota Dan and his two companions were gaining upon them every minute. Ignorant of this fact, however, Missouri Moll rode leisurely On up the creek. As he advanced, the banks on either side gradually rose higher and higher, and ere long the outlaws found thenselves traversing the dark, distal depths of a Yawning can n several hundred feet deep. But Missouri Moil k.ew the tortuous windings of the rift, and to where it led, and so pushed on in triumph. Soon he and his four companions debouched from the dis- Mal gorge into an open-court or park, that was walld in on all Sides by the mountain, that rose a thousand feet above them. The m:on was now in the zenith, throwing its mellow light into the little valley. For a hundred feet or more the walls Tose almost perpendicular, then began to slope gradu:lly backward in irregular tiers, one above the other, like the ter- Taced seats of an amphitheater. The shadows concealed Many of the irregularities of the awful hights, giving the Place that symmetry of form that lingers about the ruined handiwork of mat. Here, wishin this valley, Missouri Moll believed he was Sife; but no sooner had he expressed an assurance to that effect than the report of firearms came rolling up the canon, With the sullen roar of artillery, awaking a thousand moun- tain echoes—gathering volume as it advanced. “The guard has been attacked!” exclaimed Missouri Moll, With sudden terror. ‘‘ That old Dakota Dan and them emi- grants have overtaken them in the pass!” They listened with bated breath. The firing ceased all at once—in fact there was but one discharge. Then, when the rebounding echoes of the repurts had died away, a deadly hush succeeded, Se SS EE i] 120 RED ROB, The moon shining down into the little valley fell upon the stolid faces of five motionless horsemen. Suddenly the clatter of hoofs is heard coming swiftly up the stony pass. “Brace for a fight, boys!” exclaimed Missouri Moll; ‘it may be enemies what’s got in alead of the rear guard.” Five hands sought a revolver each—five locks clicked as one, and the men were ready for fight. Then forth from the shadows of the pass came three rider- less horses, mad with affright. These were followed by two others with riders—all that remained of the five detailed: to guard the rear approach. ‘“They’re comin’!” cried one of the fugitives, ‘close be- hind! They’ve killed three of the boys!” ‘‘Dismount, men!” roared Missouri Moll, ‘‘ and defend the approach to the valley with your lives!” CHAPTER XXIV. THE WILD RIDER. ' Daxota Dan and his companions had come up with the rear guard of the outlaws when about half-way through tie pass; and with one well-irected broadside tumbled three of the villains from their horses --the other two seeking safety in flight. Before firing upon them, however, the old ranger had assured himself of the fact that no captive was in their possession, This attack would place the others on the defensive, and, being fully acquainted with the pass himself, Dan knew it would require some precaution to avert an ambuscade, He trusted, however, to the superior instinct of Humility, and, passing over the three dead outlaws, they picked their way onward through the eternal gloom of the pass. As they approached the valley without finding the enemy, the old ranger began, to speculate over the possible movements of the outlaws. He soon arrived at a decision, which proved & 2 the yup. Ae THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 121 to be the correct one as to the position and intention of ihe foe, and at once ordered a halt, saying: “We can’t go another step till daylight, boys; tho’ this may seem a cruel fact to you. The devils are in the valley concealed, coverin’ the mouth of this pass with their rifles. We've got to wait for daylight, then mebby we can execute a flank movement onto them. If we could only see now, Humility here, and Patience thar, would do their part, and do it well; but then we can’t, and so we'll have to wait.” This decision was a painful one to Boswell and St. Kenelm, but they accepted it without a murmur; though the long hours of night were passed in dire impatience. The first evidence they received of the approach of day was the sight of a slender thread of light hundteds of feet above their heads. _ Dakota Dan was in no hurry to be on the move. He wai'ed until broad daylight had unfolded every object in the little valley from the shadows of night. As the sun gilded the distant mountain hights, he crept forward, followed by his two companions. As they neared the mouth of the pass the light struggling in showed that all was clear before them. At length they debouched into the little valley, and to their surprise found it deserted by all except the outlaws’ horses. This, however, convinced them that the villains were not far away—had secreted themselves in some niche or cave in the carped and fluted walls that hemmed in the little vale. White the three s!ood carefully searching the valley before them for their enemies, a veice that seemed to come from the clouds shouted forth: “Raise yer eyes, Dakota Dan, and you'll see what yer lookin’ for!” The trio lifted their eyes, and. upon a sharp projecting ledge or table-rock, two hundred feet above them, beheld Missouri Moll standing, with Maggie Boswell at his side. A cry of surprise and indignation burst from the lips of the men, and Humility growled. fiercely: Plain and distinct the outlaw and his frail captive stood out against the rosy morn, he a demon, she an angel. The shriek of an eagle perched on a cliff high up in the by) RED ROB, the v him | “ clouds, and the soft chirp of a bluebird in the valley were fit accompaniments to the two spirits on the rock. Three rifles were raised simultaneously to shoot the des perad» down, but he in‘erposed the body of the trembling = Maggie between him and danger, and then shouted: , “Shoot if you’d complete what I’ve begun.” + Sku “Don’t fire, for God’s sake!” moaned St. Kenelm, lowel }|_ drix ing his own rifle. pe Dan and Boswell obeyed the lover’s request. Then the old ranger scanned the rock for some placé He where he might be able to ascend the rock, but the wall was x perpendicular. He could do nothing, and he dare not ven- ture further into the valley for fear his body would become the focus for half a dozen concealed rifles. “Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the demon on the cliff. ‘‘I dare a you to shoot!” “Tv ll be too easy a death for you, monster,” replied Dan, ss his bearded face assuming a look of intense pain. ‘‘I want that pup to chaw yer throat till yer life leaks out little by jerks.” “You can talk now,” responded the desperado, ‘but I defy you and the men you have back in that pass.” “That’s good,” said Dan; in a low tone. ‘He thinks thar’s more of us back in the canon, but let him think so, and directly I'll swing old Mortality into posish and send @ bullet plumb center through his brain afore he’s time to creep behind the gal.” } ‘*Be careful, Dan, for her sake,’ continued St. Kenelm, whose heart could no longer couceal its emotions of love for her so near, and yet so far away beyond their assistance. Maggie was standing on the edge of the dizzy hight, her head bowed, her arms hanging at length and her hands clasped together. Her pale face looked serene in its sadness, and to St. Kenelm, never so swect and angelic as now. ““Thar’s no way to flank the ’tarnal varmint,” said Dan, after a moment’s reflection, ‘‘ else I’d send Humility, my dorg thar, up to throttle the big, cowardly sneak.” | ‘* Where do you suppose his men are?” asked Boswell. | “Three of them’s back in the pass,” replied Dan, face- | tiously, ‘(and Tl venture to assert the others are guardin’ vere des- jing er ce 7 e THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 128 the way by which he got up thar, or else they are hid behind tim under them rocks.” “Why don’t you shoot?” suddenly yelled out the des- Perado, from above; ‘‘1’m ready.” “You be, be you? You're durned brave now, ar’n’t ye? Skulk behind a gal, can’t ye? You'll make another boy drink likker, won’t ye?” returned Dan, with all the sarcasm he could throw into the words. ‘Ho, ho!” retorted the outlaw, ‘‘ vengeance is sweet. Here I can defy you all, and the moment a man 0° you fires @ shot, I will give you what you seek—lI will hurl this girl down to you, as true as there is a God!” The brother and lover groaned in spirit. ‘You're a brave critter, ar’n’t you? What did that gal do to you?” responded Dan. “Do you see that?” asked the desperado, laying his forefiuger on a livid scar that extended across his cheek. “Yes; pity the knife that made it didn’t find your heart,” the old ranger shouted back. ‘ Rither your knife, or that of the man who stands at your ‘Side, made that scar in the Conejos saloon,” continued Mis- souri Moll. ‘‘I swore then I’d have revenge, even if you Were backed by a legion of devils, and I will too. ‘The two girls’ captivity is but a foretaste of what’stofoller. Besides, you’ve not the road-agents to aid and abet you as they did at Conejos. Your friend, Red Rob, will not be so handy next time. He'll not dance with yer gals soon again, for they are My gals now.” wt “T can’t see what all that’s got todo with that scar on yer face, and that bigger one on yer soul. Away up yander, Missouri Moll,” said the ranger, lifting his hand warningly toward heaven, ‘‘ is a God in whose eyes you are a smaller Speck of insignificance than in mine. He’ll settle accounts with you, man, and send you below where Satan is already Punchin’ up the fire in anticipation of your comin’. The horn of Gabriele will soon proclaim the judgmen jays Your ears.” The old ranger’s words seemed strangely prophetic, for Searcely had they died upon the clear, vibrant air, ere the shri!! clangor of a hern came thrilling down from amid “upon ‘which the outlaw and maiden stand—and then, n0 124 RED ROB, the gray mist of morning clouds, gathering volume as if advanced—bounding and rebounding from mountain side 1 side, and rushing away through the shadowy gorges, awakiDg a thousand slumbering echoes. Our friends started with amazement; the outlaw’s face wa aghast with terror. All lifted their eyes upward. A cry burst from every lip, now pale and trembling. Down from amid the clouds, along the mountain side wheré it seemed impossible for the foot of man to have picked its way with safety, came a horseman at a wild, breakneck speed. His head was bare, his hair flying in the wind. Neithet saddle nor bridle hampered the chamois like movement of the gallant steed, from whose nostrils the hot breath poured in almost fiery currents, and whose smoking flanks were cove!” ed with frosty foam. The ring of the iron-shod hoofs could be distinctly heard upon the stony mountain side, and with every footstroke fire seemed to burst in jets from the rocks. “My God!” exclaimed St. Kenelm, ‘‘ who is it?—what madman thus riding into eternity?” No one answered, for no one knew. Still on comes the mad, reckless rider, straight down the dangerous mountain side. He will soon reach the table rock power on eartlrcan save him from plunging over the cliff into the valley, hundreds of feet below.. The movements of the fabled steed Pegasus could not have been more swift, his footsteps more unerring among the clouds, than that of the animal now flying down the mountain side; nor his rider Jes3 daring than the gallant young Bellerophon as he dashed oD to the conquest of the dread Chimera. There was akind of a horrible fascination in the awful scene, and the three men in the valley, and the outlaw on the cliff forgot all else and watched the wild horseman galloping down into the awful abyss. - As he drew nearer and nearer the ledge, the flushed face ider began to assume a look of familiarity. ed Rob!” exclaimed St. Kenelm. ‘* Red Rob!” repeated Boswell. ~ ‘*Red Rob, the Boy Road-Agent!” added Dakota Dan, with a nervous start. d THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 125 le as it Side to waking CHAPTER XXV. ice was RED ROB IN BONDS. WHEN they recognized the face of Red Rob rushing on * where Into a fearful death, Dakota Dan and his two companions d its turned aside to shut out the horrible sight so soon to come. peed. eThen their hearts almost ceased to beat—their very souls ither Sickened with horror in anticipation of hearing that awful we crushing sound. ara Aside from the ring of the horse’s hoofs a pistol-shot rung Out from the cliff above; an awful cry of human agony fol- suld lowed. Our friends lifted their eyes upward, and a cry of aston- vith : i ishment burst from their lips. hat They saw Missouri Moll stagger backward and fall. They Saw Red Rob check the speed of his animal and come to a Sudden halt at Maggie’s side on the very brink of destruc- he tion. They saw the young outlaw lift the terrified girl to a Seat before him, and then go bounding away up the moun- horrible suspense. Dakota Dan raised his rifle to fire, but St. Kenelm pre vented his deadly purpose. “Do not fire on him, Dan,” the young man said; ‘ rub ber though he be, he is too brave—too noble to die—but look yonder! There are Missouri Moll’s friends!” True enough, the sudden turn of affairs had brought the Outlaw’s friends from their concealment, and with all their speed scaled the mountain side in pursuit of the reckless boy outlaw. The form of Missouri Moll could be seen hanging half-over the edge of the cliff, his life-blood trickling from a wound in the heart. 7 tain side, his Pegasean steed bounding from terrace to terrace a With all the swiftness and accuracy of footstep of the moun- j tain goat ‘ The three men witnessed the whole with a sort of a vague, 126 RED ROB, Prophetic indeed had been Dakota Dan’s words. In less than a minute from the time of their utterance, the spirit of ce the desperado had gone to the judgment. doze ‘“Now what, Dan?” asked St. Kenelm. tlem ‘* Ay! what indeed?” replied the ranger, in a tone of deep thar perplexity, as he watched Red Rob disappear from view amid y clouds that still hung like a pall around the crest of the pas * mountains. ‘I never war so helpless in all my life. Neither : man, hoof nor howler can put @ a lick, kick or tooth. to But the question now arises: is the gal out of the fryin’- pan into the fire? What’ll that wild young dare-devil dos re: with her?” Re “‘ Yes, these are the questions, indeed,” said young Bos- well. ‘I felt in hopes we were out of the reach of that W outlaw, albeit we are under many obligations to him.” ‘And Vl bet we'll be under another one,” said Dan. :. t ‘‘He’s already been a pestilence to that Missouri Moll, and—” z ( “You think, then, he will take sister Maggie to her friends, do you?” interrupted Boswell. ‘** He’s capable of other good acts, I dare say. That boy is an outlaw and robber for nothing but the wild fun and adventure in it, I dare say. We hear of his doin’ more good acts than bad ones, and that’s sumthin’ you can’t say of two outen every three of mankind, be they saints or sin- ners; and yit the latter go onpunished, but are simply called ‘doubtful,’ ‘scaly,’ or—to put it a little stronger—‘ rascals.’ But Red Rob! Oh, Lord! he’s a monster—a boy outlaw! a murderer, and all sich, beca’se he gallops down once and awhile and relieves some ole ‘don’ of his ill-gotten gains and fast hosses, and raises a general rompus all over the ranchoes—scares the peons to death, and then gallops back to the mountains to hear the thunder roar, and laff in his { sleeve. I don’t approve of sich things, boys; but then that Red Robert is a prince of a robber, and may turn out to sumthin’ good afore he dies. Thar’s no tellin’.” ‘‘T hope, Dan, that your words will prove true in this case,” declared St. Kenelm, as his mind reverted to Octavia’s love for the young outlaw. ‘‘ But, boys, time is precious. Neither of the girls is rescued.” In less irit of deep amid f the ither oth. rin’. do« Os- lat THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 127 “True,” responded Dan, as if suddenly started from a doze; ‘‘let us at once hasten back to the Hidden Home set- tlement. If that young scamp takes Maggie home, she’ll be thar afore us.” Without further delay they turned their faces down the Pass and moved with dispatch. They soon passed the three dead outlaws and emerged in- to the open valley. Crossing the San Juan, they hurried rapidly forward and Teached home just as a band of masked horsemen, with Red Rob at their head, came in sight of the camp. ; On a pony at the young outlaw’s side rode Maggie Bos- well. Dakota Dan’s words had again proven prophetic; Red Rob had restored the maiden to her friends unharmed. On the outskirts of the settlement the main body halted. Only Red Rob rode into camp with Maggie. . a THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. 179 tell you all about the man In the first place, he and I had a little dispute, years ago, in the State of Arkansas. War wick got the advantage of me at first, but I finally beat him out. Istole his child—a little girl. Nothing will reach a man’s heart quicker than to steal a petted child. It has been my way of doing revenge Well, I took Warwick’s child and exchanged it for another—that of Aaron St. Kenelm, a gentleman who had done me a grievous wrong. This last child 1 have now—a beautiful woman. But War- wick, I presume, thought I had his child yet, and hunted me down—followed me here. But I got the best of him again—well, to make a long story short, if you have ever seen a creature around here with the body of a deer and the head of a man, you have seen that much of your friend Warwick. The deer is a tame one, and we arranged y: ur friend’s head upon it as a ghastly warning to others. And now comes Basil Walraymond—-the father of the last girl I adopted,’ and the villain smiled like a demon. ‘In a few days his venerable face will go stalking through the valley of the San Juan,’ and this, Asa, is the history of the Cén- taur. I thought I recognized the face the first time it came to our camp. Two days after this visit, I dug out of my prison and escaped, and have been hiding around the ruins ever since in hopes of being able to liberate you and Walraymond.” ‘* Walraymond escaped the night we were first captured,” replied Asa, ‘so did I, but 1 was recaptured again, and God and I only know what I have suffered.” Nathan Wolfe’s escape had led to one discovery that proved a source of pleasure to the St. Kenelms. Octavia—— the child left by Hamallado—was not the villain’s child, but the child of the dead man Warwick, who hai been slain, while in search of his child. Wolfe took possession of the ghastly remains of his friend, and interred it in the grave that had been hollowed out for Red Rob’s remains; and thus ended the mystery of the Cen- taur. CHAPTER XXXVII. CLOSING EVENTS. BerorE night had fully set in Red Rob, as his friends continued to call him, and his men, accompanied by Dakota Dan, Asa Sheridan and Basil Walraymond, besides a number of soldiers, set out for the den of the outlaws. When about a mile from the place a halt was ordered, when Dakota Dan and Basil Walraymond crept forward to reconnoiter the ruins. They found a great commotion among the outlaws, and from observation they soon guessed what was going on. They were preparing to evacuate the ruins. The scouts hurried back and reported, when the whole party swept down upon the outlaws. A short conflict en- sued, but the robbers being cut off from the ruins by a flank movement, every man of them was captured or killed. Among the latter was Leopold Hamallado, whose death saved Judge Lynch a case. Zella was found prepared for the flight from the ruins. Asa Sheridan sought for her the moment the fight began. He found her in the room where she had been kept a pri- soner, and the reunion of the lovers was one of unbounded love and joy. When Zella learned, from the lips of her lover, that Basil ; Walraymond, the old man whose life she had saved by throwing him a knife that memorable night when he stood in the tiger-pit, was her father, she fell upon her knees and between sobs of joy thanked God for having sent her a father, ay! and a brother, too, for both were soon in her presence, showering kisses of love and joy upon the pretty, pale face. The ruins were searched anda vast amount of booty found stowed away. Upon the person of Hamallado was found the heavy gold watch which Don Raviso swore Red Rob’s band had taken from him. This, along with many other things, went to corroborate Captain Conrad’s story— that Raviso had been robbed by a band of outlaws whose ~~ ee THE. BOY ROAD-AGENT. 181 haunts were west of the mountains, and, as the young ran- ger believed, in the valley of the San Juan. Securing all that they could find, the rangers returned to Hidden Home. The old negress, Huldah, and Slyly, the Weasel, were taken along. Aaron St. Kenelm, uo longer Basil Walraymond, led Zella into O-.tavia’s tent, and made known their relationship to each other. Octavia wept bitterly, and Zella wept, too. Nathan Wolfe had already held an interview with Octavia,” and had broken to her the sad news of her father’s death; but Nathan spared from her sensitive heart the story of the shocking mutilation of her father’s remains, and that it was his lifeless face that stared from the head of the Centaur. _Octavia received much comfort from the assurance that she should always be considered as one of the St. Kenelm family. Each one of the girls was to bear the name she then bore— Zella St. Kenelm and Octavia Warwick. While the St. Kenelms were rejoicing over their providen- tial reunion, a scream outside suddenly startled them. Albert rushed out of the tent, and was not a little surprised to see old Aunt Shady with the boy Slyly hugged up to her breast so tight that the boy’s eyes fairly protruded from his head, while she was pouring kisses and words of endearment upon the little fellow. The boy was kicking, squirming and struggling for liberty, threatening the old negress with the vengeance of “ Missus Zella” if she did not release him. But Aunt Shady held on, and a rauger was about to intercede in the boy’s behalf when the old woman burst forth: ‘“Oh, Hankie Clay, darling! don’t you know yoah poor, broken-hearted ole mudder? Speak, chile ob my heart— speak out, or I’il jist done gone und die, honey!” “Don’t know you from ole Huldah,” gasped the boy. “ Jist you let me go, or I call de missus or Massa Shear-a- ding.” Shady released her constrictor grasp upon the youth’s form, but still clung to his arm, and continued her hold, too, until sue had convinced all around her, if not the boy, that she was the little fellow’s mother. RED ROB, THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. And Aunt Shady was happy, too, and laughed and cried by turns until she forgot her joys and pleasures of that night in sleep. The following morning the soldiers and excursionists left Hidden Home for Fort Wingate, taking with them the out- laws captured at the ruins. : Red Rob and his men remained in the valley of the del los Pinos several days, and in the mean time succeeded in con- Vincing the settlers tliat the dangers surrounding them would not admit of a successful settlement being made. And so the little party pulled up and moved up into Colorado, where in as lovely a fertile valley as the sun ever shone upon tliey once more “‘ pitched their tents;” and where they still reside, enjoying all the blessings and rewards that follow in the wake of happiness, industry and enterprise. That same year Major St. Kenelm and Maggie Boswell and Asa Sheridan and Zella St. Kenelm were married; and if their courtship days have been dark and cloudy, those that followed have been bright with the joys and sunshine of mar- ried bliss. Aaron St. Kenelm, that brave and noble old Basil Wal- raymond, makes his home with his son Albert, and is still in possession of vigorous health and manhood. Slyly is a servant in Zella’s family, and his mother in that of the St. Kenelms, where she vows she will remain until she “dies dead.” Captain Robert Conrad is still at the head of his rangers, now inthe service.of his country. Rumor has it that, dur- ing tue Coming winter, he is to lead to the altar the bright- eyed Octavia, and there consummate the vows made years before in the valley of the Rio del los Pinos. May joy be with them all, Dakota Dan left our friends after he had seen them per- manently located in the moré congenial climate of Colorado. But, as regular as the autumn comes, the ‘‘ Triangle” visits the St. Kenelms and their friends, and no one on earth is more welcome.to their humble homes than the noble-hearted old ranger, THE END. BEADLE & ADAMS? ~ * New Twenty Cent Novels! The TWENTY CENT NOVELS’ series will embrace None but NorED WORKS @F NOTED.AUTHORS, chiefly in tlre Held of a purely Anicvican romance, of marked originality and high Interest—price, size and literary character all adapting them to the widest circulation. "Tiose seeking for Tur BEST AMERICAN NOVELS will find them in this series, Those already issued and in press embrace: 1—Overland Kit, By Albert W. Aiken. 2—Reocky Mountain Rob. By Albert W. Aiken. 3—Kentuck, the Sport, By Albert W. Aiken. 4 Injan Dick, By Albert W. Aiken. 5—The Scalp Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 6--The Prairie Mazeppa. By Albert W. Aiken, 7-—The Silent Hunter, . By Perey B. St. John. 8—The Man from Texas, !y Albert Ww: Aikem 5--The Red Rajah, By Frederick Whittaker. 40--The Winged Whale.” By Albert W. Aiken 1i—Idaho Tom, the Outlaw. Ly Oil Coonies, 12-The White Squaw. By Capt. Mayne Reid, 13-—The California Detective, By Alvert W. Aiken i14-—Maum Guinea, By Mrs. M. V. Victor. 15—Mad Dan. By ‘“M. Quad,” of the Detroit Free Press, 16-The Wolf Demon. By A\Jbert Wy Aiken. ie 17—Turkey Dan. By Mrs.-M. Y. Victor a 18—Pacific Pete, the Prince of the nevely BS By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. nah 19—Simon Girty; or, The Queen of the Woods By author of ‘The Silent Hunter.” : 90—Dakota Dan. By Ol) Coomes. 21—Red Rob, the Boy Road-agent. By Coomes. Ready 22—Old Dan Rackback, the Great Extarmin- . ator, By Oll Goomes. Ready February 5th. F Sold by all newsdealers; or sent, post-paid, to any address, on re ceipt of price—Tw mL ants each—by se # BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William ees N. Xo