Cents ive -89 Seventh Ave. NV. Y. ice, F Pr STREET & SMITH, 79 DEVOTED 10 BORDER HISTORY by Post Office, 1906 9 NOVEMBER 3 Bas class Matter at the 9 1 ro Gre the head of the masked mystery. ~— fee ca P= o> Zz x & Ss 3 nH a 8 BS} YS x = g Lat Lar. 5O PEF Ye Seen a he declared oracu- But when he reached the hotel where the woman was said to be staying, he found that she was not there, She had been there only a few hours at furthest, and had left—that is, had given notice of’ her departure and paid her bills—before going into the street that evening. Buffalo Bill was nonplused. The woman had disappeared. He looked the town: over, without finding a trace of Or: She had simply ceased to sell in the street shortly aiter passing him that warning, and then had vanished, “A queer thing!” was his thought. “And why did she give me that warning? : : He saw a mounted man ride by, sitting his horse wae .*a certain swing and recklessness that arrested cue } As the scout stared at this figure, in the rath i apparently drawn from the Bone by accident as he _ lifted out a handkerchief. _ Buffalo Bill picked up the paper, that fluttered along » and _ fell at his feet. a é He saw at a glance that it was one of the small, square @/ =papers that had been round a cube of the soap ‘sold by - the faker. A ‘feeling that here perhaps was another message ™ caused him to look the paper over carefully. | But it held no writing. He looked at the horseman galloping down the street and on toward the border of the town. There was something familiar in that figure, and a certain feeling, which can hardly be called a presentiment, caused him to think that it might be wise to follow this horseman. Then he saw poate else which quickened this feeling. _. The horseman drew rein, turned in the saddle, and _- looked back, as if to see if he was being fol lowed. i _. Buffalo Bill turned about now, and, getting his own horse, he was soon galloping along the same street, pur- suing the man who had so strangely attracted him. Tt begins to look as if he feared that I would follow him; and when a man fears to have me follow him | — is just the time that I may be expected to do so.’ Nevertheless, he could not throw off the feeling that in all this he was acting too much on impulse and not enough on evidence and sound judgment. The young horseman had disappeared beyond the _ town, but the scout rode so rapidly that shortly after leaving the houses behind he heard the clatter of hoofs ahead of him. Fearing that, inasmuch as he himself heard the sounds of hoofs, the horseman would be warned, the scout dis- mounted, and hastily wrapped the hoofs of his horse in cloth, thus making mufflers, which so killed the noise that the advance of his animal was almost soundless. Then he rode on again; soon once more hearing that clatter of hoofs on ahead. He observed that now and then the horseman drew } tein, stopping as if to listen, apparently still fearing that Phe had been, or would be, followed. At such times the scout stopped, also. : Gradually the feeling grew in the ngind of Buffalo ® Bill that all this was premeditated on the part of the | man he was following; that the dropping of the paper had been done to attract his attention and cause him to make this pursuit. Naturally, this suggested treachery ane ambush, ae he grew even more cautious. He had ridden on for more than a mile in this way, when he became aware that the sounds of hoofs ahead _ of him had ceased. He drew rein to listen, thinking the man had once ‘more stopped, ‘Then he soon heard hoofbeats coming toward him from the direction of Rocket City. He crowded his horse into some bushes by the trail, and sat there in silence and semidarkness, seeing a man quickly ride by him. This was followed soon by the report of a revolver, the sound breaking on the quiet air with startling sud- denness and distinctness. Buffalo Bill rode out of the concealing bushes and dashed along a toad, yet almost in silence, owing to ey ” a mee EN a aN A ot he VAN THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. Uy cian ritatine peerrar RI) ae ee a the muffled hoofs of his horse, and soon beheld a man - bending over another who lay directly in the trail. ‘The man thus bending over the other immediately leaped up, sprang on the back of his animal, and gal- loped madly away. The second man, who had been lying on the ground, apparently dead or seriously wounded, half-rose to his feet, as Buffalo Bill drew near, and, leveling his revolver, fired straight at the scout. Only the: darkness and his uncertain aim kept him from shooting the scout. The bullet whistled through the air close by the latter’s head. “Hold, there!” Buffalo Bill shouted. The revolver went up again and spouted its flame, and the ball cut through Buffalo Bill’s coat. The scout shouted another warning, and fired his re- volver, striking the earth near the fellow’s feet to em- phasize that warning. The man fell back spasmodically, as if he had been killed. When the scout gained his side and leaped down, the seemingly wounded man again tried to shoot him, pull- ing up his revolver and pointing it at the scout’s heart. Buffalo Bill knocked the weapon down, and caught the man by the hands. “See ere hie, cried. 7) b thimk | dont care. to) eat any of your-lead pills; so you will please stop shooting them at) me,” The man sat up, gasping and staring. “Who do you think I am?” the scout demanded. “Why, the man who attacked and robbed me!” “Well, you’re mistaken.” The man dropped back as if he had been wounded and was weak. Buffalo Bill released his hands and struck a match, flashing its light in the fellow’s face. VATE you the man who rode out of Rocket City a lit- tle while ago?” he asked. ie “Who are you? I think you’re the man who robbed me! I had two thousand dollars in my pocket, and now not a cent of it is there. Somebody rode upon me and shot at me, and I think you’re the man.” He hitched along the ground and stared at the scout. The match flickered and went out. But it had givey Buffalo Bill time to see that this was, or seemed to be, the horseman he had followed out of the town. Some queer thoughts flitted through his mind. If this was that horseman, apparently the horseman had first laid in ambush for him, and, that failing, had tried to shoot him while pretending to believe him a robber and enemy. Another horseman, from the town or elsewhere, had chanced to ride along at a time to interfere with this effort against the life of the scout. “T think you’re not just what you pretend to be,” said Buffalo Bill, startling the man by the suddenness and boldness of the accusation. “But that will not prevent me from helping you all I can. Let me see where you are hurt.” He had thought, from a certain movement, that the man was wounded in the shoulder; and now, catching his wrist, he was about to strip the shirt and coat back from the arm. With a cry and a violent wrench the man jerked the arm away. a SST TI HSE HR AHA a rl er dO anh SZ to Sah YA Ra mY lay sc i i SoS Seth ay ahaa Ayame Herel some eer K v4 . Fine See laine: Seeraata iy Say tsgpeae ewe . ~~ ¥ Te aoe away a SSSA IT Ce ee aa \ 4 : | THE BUFFALO But even in the semidarkness—for there was some moonlight—the scout had seen—as he slipped up the sleeves of the coat and shirt—a strange white-line along the man’s arm. The man jerked the sleeves hastily into place and rose to his feet. “Vm not hurt,” he sad: your hands off me!” “Just as you say!’ Buffalo Bill also arose: then at the man’s face. “Who are your” he demanded. “T don’t know that it is any of your bude are yous” “Tam called Buffalo Bill, My name is Cody.” “What? Not William F. Cody, the scout 2” rT he same. The man’s manner underwent a (“Then Um glad and proud to meet you, and know you; and please forgive me for my abruptness. Of course, | was mistaken, and my suspicions without justi- fication. But; Mr. Cody I was positive when you rode up to.me a minute ago “that you were the man who at- tacked me here and robbed me; I thought you were returning to finish the job by putting me out of the way, so ‘that I might never be a possible witness against you, It was an absurd idea, of course, but J held it.” The voice had changed, as well as the fellow’s man- ner, and there was something in it which made the scout think he had heard it before. He recalled how, when he saw the horseman riding out of Rocket City, something in the horseman’s manner and the swing of his body had reminded him of some one else. The voice now, though having that sort of suggestion, was elusive. For the life of him, the scout could not remember where he had heard the voice; and so could not be sure he had ever really heard it. But the change in it from a moment or two before was marked. “You did not ride out from Rocket City?’ he asked. The man seemed to hesitate, walking toward his horse, which had not been frightened away, but grazed near. “T think I said I did not; but even if that were un- true and I did come from that town?’’| “Only that I followed a man who ,came from there; and, unless you deny it positively, I shall feel called to believe you are that man.’ “Then Ill deny it; for I don’t know what that rascal had been doing to cause you to pursue him. You see, Pye got to deny it now!” He laughed again, recklessly, and once more that strange suggestion of a voice heard somewhere else came to the scout. It seemed strange and unnatural, too, that this man should be in a laughing mood, if hie story were true, that he had been attacked, shot at, and robbed of a large an.ount of money so short a time before. Hence, the scout still regarded him with suspicion. The man secured his horse and came back to where the scout stood in the trail attentively regarding him. “Mr. Cody,” he said, “I can convince myself, at least, that | was wholly wrong in supposing you were the man who attacked me, if you'll turn back the bosom of your shirt a moment.” “What? How?’ “Well, it’s a foolish idea, of course—that you can be ‘and Til fee you to keep He looked at the arm and Who quick change. - he struck me—and robbed. me. BILL STORIES. that man! But when he stooped over me sd took that roll of money, his shirt-bosom fell open, and on his breast I saw the tracing of skeleton ribs, in what looked to be white paint or powder. li you're willing, I should like to satisfy myself” “Satisfy yourself,’ said Buffalo Bill, He threw open the bosom of his shirt, “Again | beg your pardon, Cody! 1 was mistaken, and wronged you by having even an instant’s suspicion against you, But you've heard of the skeleton horse- cae? “Some rumors only, before coming here, and ‘they seemed rather wild,” “1 think I struck that man to-night, or, rather, that Two thousand dollars of good greenbacks, Mr. Cody, went from me to him; and, of course, [li neve 2 get one of them back.” He set a foot in his stirrup, but, instead of mounting, ' stood in that sy tude, again apparently hesitating, The scout secured his own horse and remounted: “T sup pose its useless to try to follow the man who attacked you?” said Buffalo Bull. “That's for you to judge; Vodyi now aie, such a sum of money about with me.’ The scout sat still in his saddle, listening. “Il dont hear a thing! he announced. “Gone into hiding, or af enough away by this time. Lucky he didn’t kill me a “And lucky you a kill mel’ “We've both much cause to be thankful, Cody.” “It will be useless to try to pursue him in the night, He may have followed the trail, but more likely he Teft it, seeking safety in the wilder parts of the country. Which way do you gor “Toward the town, of course; I was going Het way, when the thing happened. I believe you were headed: in the other direction 2” “But I shall go toward the town, too, now. I fol- lowed that horseman, or some horseman, and lost him. So I’ve no further call to proceed. If you don’t object, Vl accompany you.” "Object? That's @ joke! Delighted to. uae the privilege of talking with a man so famed as Buffalo Bill!” He swung into his saddle and turned the head of his horse toward the town.. “You spoke of skeleton markings, as of ribs,” said the scout. “Permit me to say, that “when I slipped your sleeve up, thinking to help you, I saw a queer white line on your arm.’ He bent forward, looking the horseman oe in the face. The latter started violently, but regained self-control in an instant. : “Just the mark of a scar on my arm!’. he said, with singular calmness. ‘‘Shall I show it to you?” He slipped up the sleeve, and there the white line of a heavy scar showed. The wrist was fine and slender, and the hand small. “It’s my turn to ask your pardon, ” said the scout. “But -will you tell me why you drew your arm away so — suddenly, when J tried to lift. that sleeve?” “Perhaps before we get into the town I'll ‘tell you : thatc Vm a i greenhorn in these parts, of course, or I'd never carried” : Then he benay to talk ‘ef the man who had attacked stolen from me. ~ pened to be on this bit of paper. the paper, though, and I’d like to see if the party I got Gr BUPEALO him, seeming to want to get away from ne other sub- ject. As the town was approached he grew confidential in manner and in words. _ ‘Mr.'Cody,” he said, “I’ve been thinking.” “A good exercise for the mind,” said the scout, laughing. eVerye «It he so strengthened mine that I have con- cluded to make a confession to you. Youve seen me be- fore. PL hades feeling that was so.’ “And you've heard my voice Rion? ~“T thought so.’ ‘ ~ “Your perceptions are keen, Mr, Cody. “Perhaps so—I hope so; but I’m unable to say when and where we met. It must have been some time ago.” “It was to-night.” *To-night ?” “Yes, in the main street of Rocket City. a piece of soap!” The scout again bent toward this strange rider. He was amazed beyond words. ae Wiha tr! : q a The rider laughed lightly. “It’s not easy to recall a woman when she has turned herself into a man, and has removed the rouge and false hair,” was the statement, made in that same light tone. “You saw that box of greenbacks that I had gained this evening. That was the two thousand dollars that was T sold you ing of a man.’ “Then you deceived, in your statement that you had > ae been in Rocket City to-night ?” eh) of course. To tell white lies is a privilege of the sex,’ The scout was snes too much astonished to formu- late the questions that tumbled through his mind. “Why did you write that warning on the wrapper of the soap you sold mer” he asked. Cbudtwarning. 0. 6 “On the wrapper of the cake of soap | bought of you? me Wityb don't. know anything about any warning— I wrote none.’ “You didn’t intend to send me a warning?” “Certainly not.’ “Lets have an understanding about this!” Buffalo Bill stopped his horse, and produced the cake of soap and the square of paper in which it had’ been folded. He drew a match and lighted it. The other horse had stopped; and by the light of the match the scout held up the paper so that the writing could be seen. The tee who had just confessed to strange mas- querading stared with a gasp of surprise. “Let me see that!’ The scout held it out. The other read it again, by the flame of the dying match. “Tf you don’t object Ul keep this; ee it!” You never saw it before?” Buffalo Bill asked. hMever ho i: 7 Yet the voice trembled, as if knowing it told a lie. “I never saw this before, Mr’ Cody. It just hap- I know where I got though I didn’t it of can explain ‘this strange thing. It seems to have i UE eee ees _ ered again—“‘it is just a practical joke, or may have been I am the soap-seller, now in the cloth-~ BILL STORIES. oS | a been intended to warn some one of danger. Perhaps it was meant for me. And, perhaps’—the voice quav- merely written without any meaning, or in fun, or idle- ness. ’ The scout studied the voice, and tried to study the face. He was ready to believe that this person, mas- querading in this peculiar way, was the girl faker who had sold soap on the street. The change was great; as if rouge had been applied heavily by the girl, and re- moved when she put on men’s clothing. The hair was short, showing that as a girl faker she had worn a. wig, or other hair disguise; and, besides, the mere change of clothing made, of itself, a tremendous change in the general appearance. “You'll understand now,’ she was saying, before But- falo Bill could speak, “the reason | had for not wishing you. to search for that supposed wound, at the time when you beheld the white scar on my arm; | wasn’t ready then that you should discover that 1 am not what my clothing makes me seem. She th rust the paper away into a pocket, whee waiting to get. the scout’s permission. “Your name?? said Buffalo Bill. strange! is “Tema. Rand.” “And will you pardon me for asking what x07 are doing. here?’ “Vou saw what I was doing, in the street getting money away from fools too eager to part with it. This is the ‘easiest’ country I was ever in. “Have you followed this occupation long?” “No; only to night.” “Only to-night?” “And | had a. reason. I think the time has come now for me to give that reason’ They were riding on again. “My reason is just this, Mr. Cody; and you are the man for me to tell this to, for you are the man who can help me. I have a brother lost somewhere in this wild land. We don’t know if he is living or dead. I came on here to find him. I needed money, to hire help, and for my expenses. I didn’t know how to-get it, when I hit on the plan by which you saw me raising money. “T was afraid that when the fools came to their more 39 “This is. very sober senses they would come round to my hotel and. make me disgorge, and | didn’t want to do that. I needed the money. So I got my horse, disguised myself by putting on men’s clothing, and secretly left the town. Then out there in the trail | was held up and robbed of every dollar | had made.” She seemed about to weep, taking out a handkerchief - and wi iping her eyes. The action of removing the handkerchief from that pocket was so like the motion made by that rider when he took out a handkerchief and the piece of paper flut- tered down, that it did not escape the scout’s notice. “IT saw you as you rode out of the place,” he said.. “You pulled out your handkerchief, and with it a square of the soap paper. The paper fell at my feet; and that, with the fact that I had received a warning on a bit of paper of the same kind, and a certain familiat something in your face and bearing, caused me to follow you.’ “Your eyes are keen, ® was the acknowledgment. “That was indeed your’ Mas a a sn en eo Boa a ae = SS a a They were on the border of the town. “Now, Mr. Cody, I haven’t any. money, because all I had was taken from'‘me. But I have heard of your gen- erosity and willingness to help those in need. “Tm afraid my “friends flatter me.’ “I’m sure they do not. Won't you help me to fnd my brother, even if I can’t pay you?” wt should be glad to aid you, if I had time.’ iad tine i “T am here on a mission which will occupy me; but if, while pursuing that, I can aid you, I shall be happy to do so.’ “You can’t give me your whole time?” “It would be quite impossible, much as [—— Buffalo Bill did not finish the sentence. He had ridden slightly in advance, an incautious act which now seemed about to cost him dear. Like a flash the small right hand of the other rider went up, and the sentence. of the scout was broken with “Then, youll not help anybody. else!” The revolver the strange rider’ had lifted spoke at the instant, and the scout pitched forward on the neck of his horse and rolled heavily to the ground. The treacherous rider stared down at the fallen form, as the scout’s frightened horse reared and darted ahead ; and again the revolver was lifted., “You followed me once, Buffalo Bill, but you'll never follow me a second time!” The revolver flashed and roared again. 39, CHAP THR IT. WHITE BEAVER. Another horseman rode along that lonely trail and into the outskirts of the town. He was a somewhat shorter and thicker man than the noted scout, yet his general appearance was much the same; for his hair was long, his mustache and beard of the same cut, and he sat his horse with that elegant ease so attractive to the beholder, and which makes man and beast seem one. + This horseman was the noted White Beaver.* He drew rein suddenly, seeing a horse feeding at the side of the trail, and a man lying in the trail in a dou- bled-up heap. In another moment he had jumped to the ground and was running up to the man. “Heavens! it’s Cody!” he cried, as soon as he saw closely the familiar figure. Buffalo Bill stirred as if he had some knowledge that his old friend and pard, Doctor Frank Powell, was near. White Beaver caught up the scout’s arm and pressed a finger on the pulse at his wrist, and bent over at the same time, pressing his ear against the scout’s chest, to note the heart-beats. Having done this, he struck a match and made a hasty examination, to determine the nature of Buffalo Bill’s injuries. : *Doctor Frank Powell, skilled as a physician, as well as famous as a border scout and Indian fighter, known to the Winnebagoes and other Indian tribes as “White Beaver,” mayor at one time of a Western city, died during the winter of 1905. He was for many years the “nard” and friend of Buffalo Bill) He has appeared as a character in a number of these stories. THE BUBPALO BIE SPORIES. He found a contusion on the top ‘of the scout’s head, and in his hat a bullet-hole, showing that a bullet had furrowed its way through the hat, scraping the top of the head. There seemed to be no other wound, and White Beaver began energetic efforts to restore the scout to conscious- ness, by pouring some whisky down his throat, and chafing his hands and limbs. Buffalo Bill sighed, and the movements of his lungs became more regular. Within ten minutes he opened his eyes, became con- scious of his surroundings, and tried to sit up, though somewhat dazed. “Hello! It’s Powell!” he cried, when he recognized his friend. - “And arrived in time to find you laid out in the trail here! Somebody shot you!’ | Buffalo Bill passed a hand across his forehead, as if to clear away the cobwebs that fogged his brain. “Yes,” he said, as recollection returned more fully. a was shot, I guess. The young fellow did it.” “What young fellow?’ “T mean the young lady.” “T guess youre raving, Cody! Have a little more of » this whisky.” The scout took a swallow, when the flask was held to his lips. “No, Um not raving, Powell. It was a young ‘woman, dressed as a man, 1 thought at first she was a man. Tl tell you about it, as soon as my head gets a little clearer. Just now there seems to be a Sioux war-drum_ beating in the top of my head, and it makes me dizzy : to ioe te) “No hurry about it, Cody. Take it easy.” He stepped to his horse and took his medicine-case from the saddle-pouch. When he came back he had some white powder in a paper. “Just put that Jin your mouth, Cody, and oe it. 3 Tt will help you.” Buffalo Bill obeyed. He had great ie in the heal. ing powers of his friend’s medicine, as the doctor’s Sil was well known. He did feel better in a little while; so much peter that he told Doctor Powell his strange adventures, and a singular story it seemed. “The young woman must have done some tall lying, was White Beaver’s comment. “It looks it; I don’t know just where the truth began and her lies ended. But I’m sure now of one thing. When, in following her, and her horse seemed to stop, and I waited to catch the sound of its hoofbeats again, she was lying in ambush for me. No doubt she dropped that second paper out of her pocket for the purpose of ee me to follow her. That other horseman came riding along, and she shot him, thinking him me; and then when I rode up, and she ‘had discovered her mis- take, she tried to shoot me, and only her bad marksman- ship saved me.’ “And it saved you here, Cody; for she pulled for your. head. Her bullet cut through your hat and creased you on top of the head. You must have gone down like a bullock falling in the shambles. killed you, and rode away.” “Hello !) said: Buttalo (Bill, in the leg!” “TI believe I’m wounded ee ee She thought she had SS RE SS es “sca SaaS aS lately,” said Buffalo Bill. THE BUFFALO Powell made another examination, finding the spot indicated by the scout. “A bullet-hole through ‘your trousers, Cody, and the ball burned you as it passed over your leg. It barely touched the skin.” — “Ty think I’m not to be killed ie bullets ! said the scout humorous! ly, “She certainly needs to take some time for practise in “Marksmanship. She shot at you twice, and neither shot went where she aimed it.” “And that other fellow she shot at out in the trail, a mile or more from here, rode away, as | told you.” He tried to get on his feet, Powell supporting him. “Just sit down awhile; I'll get your horse.” . Buffalo Bill dropped down again. The wound on the head made him weak. “Dowell, she lied, of course, when she said she had been robbed of the money she took in by her soap sales on the street. She must have lied about that.” “No doubt of it, I think, Cody.” “T wonder who she is? “Well try to Bet on the trail of that information in ‘the town.” “Tt will be hard to do. She was marvelously clever. But.I wonder why she wanted to kill me?” “You don’t think now that when she gave you that soap with the written warning she really meant the warning for your” Buffalo Bill "sat'a moment in thought before answer-. — ing this. “Tt doesn’t seem so, Powell. That warning must have been intended for her. By some mistake she wrapped it round that soap, and it came to me. She certainly » didnt intend to hand that Cll. it would seem not.’ ine thing puzzles mer “T wish we knew which direction she took, aiter shoot- ing you?” yt y ‘ : Back along the trail, probably.” pie : “And it’s just as probable she went on into the town. sits queer no one heard those shots, and came out here 2 you. Buffalo Bill got on - his feet again and found his sctren ath growing. - “I suppose there’s so much shooting by the bad ele- ment of Rocket City that the crack of a revolver ‘has about ceased to draw any attention. ” “That must be the reason.’ He secured and brought up the scout S hone and then his own. “Do you think you can ride into the town?” df | can get into the saddle, 1 can.’ “Oh, i can put you in the saddle—lift you in, if nec- essary.” But Buffalo Bill needed only a little assistance an mounting his horse. Once in the saddle, he was so habituated to it that he could hardly have fallen qut of it unless he became unconscious. White Beaver mounted now, and the two feude rode slowly on into the town together, discussing the singular cireumstances surrounding. Buffalo Bill's adventure, and talking over some plans which had drawn both to that place. “There has been a daring rider, holding up the stages “You recall what [ said about, chim could be this young’ outlaw. BILL q ‘the skeleton rider, and of the white scar on that girl's arnt “Vou don’t think she can be that skeleton rider?’ “It hardly seems possible. I’m puzzled. Vm glad you’re here to help me.” CHAPTER IV. POKER PETE. Buffalo Bill had so far recovered by the next morn- ing, under the skilful treatment of the surgeon-scout, that he was able to leave his room and walle about the town. Powell had come on to Rocket City at the request of | Buffalo Bill, where they were to begin together a man- hunt. Prairie Boh a young ‘man who had been noted over in. Nebraska tor some criminal affair, had shot and killed a sheriff, and then had fled. This sheriff was a friend of Buffalo Bill, and the scout had taken Prairie Bob’s trail. He had lost it, and the young murderer had made good his escape. That had been more than six months before. Then Buffalo Bill had heard of a young outlaw who seemed to answer to Prairie Bob’s description. This outlaw was operating on the stage-trail that ran between Bene City and Deadwood, a branch line of the famous Deadwood trail. Certain things Had made the scout suspect that ie “road-agent”’ was the man he was seeking. : But there were reports, also, of other road-agents on that trail: and then a peculiar report, which declared that the young road-agent suspected by the been doing a sensational “skeleton rider’ act. These reports were in the scout’s mind. They did not fit into any suspicion he might have had that the girl who had sold soap on the street and afcerward had shot Prairie Bob was said to be a ‘“‘dead shot.” Certainly the young woman, in this instance, covld not claim that distinction. ; Both Buffalo Bill and Doctor Brank Powell ade a search through Rocket. City, to ascertain, if possible, if if the girl had returned into the town. They questioned the proprietor and servants of the hotel where she had lodged, They discovered nothing to bolster Powell's belief | : that she had ridden on into the town alter shooting Buf- falo Bill. The town was wildly hilarious that day, owing to a new gambling-houses were full to overflowi ne. Most prominent among the men who were -yubilating”’ was a young gambler called by his friends Poker Pete. Buffalo Bill met him in the “Gilt Edge,” a saloon and gaming-house. where the so-called better class of the gambling. population was wont to congrevate. This young man was drinking., His face was flushed and his ne were bright. He had, apparently, an un- binaited supply of money. His loud voice, and the airy manner in which he threw greenbacks down on the bar when he called for drinks, could but attract attention. The scout had come up to the bar, and, turning round by, it, while he leaned carelessly against it, smo oking a cigar, he was taking in the place witlr his searching eyes. STORIES. ae 7 = So ee SET scout had ) gold strike in the near-by hills, and the saloons and ee SSS will.” @ 8 THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. Tt was then that he observed Poker Pete, and that the latter became aware of the scout’s presenice. Poker Pete stopped, in hesitation, while his face grew a shade paler; and then he walked with a swagger past the scout, with the friends who were with him, and with a wave of his hand threw some bills on the bar. One of them, a five-dollar bill, fell near the scout. ° He reached out his hand and took it, and looked at it intently. Poker Pete turned on him like a flash. _Dhat's my money!’ he snarled. “T suppose you wouldn’t mind telling me just where you got this bill?” said the scout calmly, eying the young fellow. Is that your business?” “Just now I’m making it my business,’ smiling and unruffled. “What's it to you?” “T’ve a reason for asking.” “Well, then, I stole it!” ~The young man laughed harshly. “Barkeeper, set ‘em up!” he called; the whole house. I’m standing treat to-day. Drive the crowd in from the street, and well all drink. I’m in luck. Poker Pete's hole in the ground out there, that they made so much sport of, has turned out a winner. it’s got the shining, goldore in it. Setvem up! He put out his hand and pushed the bills toward the barkeeper, while behind him came the sound of many feet, of men pressing toward the bar to accept this lav- ish invitation. But Buffalo Bill retained possession of the green- back. “Would you mind telling me where you got this?” he insisted. “Tell me why you want to:know, and then maybe I said the scout, - Set em. up 10r “Tl do that. I paid it out last night for a cake of soap, to the girl who sold soap on the streets.’ “And she gave it to me, because she loved me!” The young man laughed recklessly. The scout flushed slightly.. He released the bill and stepped back from the bar. “It’s my treat!” said the young man. “TI don’t care to drink now,” the scout answered. “You refuse to drink with me?” “No; 1 don’t care to drink just now.” There might have grown an altercation out of this, but those who were anxious to drink pressed forward, and it was avoided. Retreating toward the door, ‘to Bet Out Of te Crush, where he stood looking with seeming carelessness over the crowd, Buffalo Bill watched the reckless young gam- bler. f Once more he had a mixed and puzzled feeling. In the face of this young fellow there seemed to be some- thing to suggest another face, and in the voice a some- thing to suggest another voice. “Can that be the girl, who posed as a horseman, and shot me?” It was a startling question, yet a question the scout asked himself, and was unable to answer. “The resemblance is marked. ” The whole sur- mise is ridiculous,” was his thought. “And as to that If that is the girl, and the girl ts Poker Pete; or if he is really Poker Pete, and — - only masqueraded as a girl; then greenback, the girl probably paid it to some “one, ane it came into this fellow’s hands. There’s, of course, no way of tracing it. If she was robbed out on the trail, as she claimed, the one ae robbed her may have passed it, and Again he stopped. - “By George! this man the robber?’ Again he studied the face. When he returned to the hotel, and Powell came in, he told Powell of Poker Pete and the greenback. “The bill was marked, and I recognized ity but, of course, that doesn’t really signify anything.” Powell looked at him anxiously. — “You're feverish, Cody, and you ought to- he in bed. It’s the result of that wound. Let me look at it. then Vil go out and ee some about this Poker Pete. ie CHAPTER V. TETON JOHN, THE HAEF-BLOOD, In spite of White Beaver’s admonition, Buffalo Bill was soon drawn to the window of his room by sounds of confusion and a fight out in the street. Powell had scented the coming of this fight shortly after leaving the hotel and while he was asking some questions of an acquaintance. “Poker Pete,” said this acquaintance, likes: gun- trouble, and some day he’s goin’ down wi’ a aullet i him.’ Hidas ae ever beer suspected of doing anything worse a 9 than gambling?” was Powell’s next question. ““Name out all the mean things ye can think of, and a Poker Pete’s done ‘em.’ “Not robbery?” Could che tay oe really robbed, wa And | "is a man who Well, 1 wouldn't say that; yit I wwattei'e t put it a him.” “He has a rather good face, for all of that.” “The feller’s reckless, Powell; that’s the secrit; and he’s reckless because he’s got some kind of memories that troubles him. It’s the way of some fellers. go wild, thinking it’s a good way to fergit.” “A very poor way, I should say.” “Some thinks different.” “Does he stay close in Rocket OG. Dee “He’s gone for days and weeks at a time.” “He owns a gold-mine! He’s been celebrating he discovery, or the opening of, a vein in it. Likely ‘when he is out of town he is at that mine.” ee os “That's where he says he is.’ They Poker Pete had been treating with remarkable liber- — ality, and he had not forgotten to take a drink himself every time he “set ’em up.’ The result was that by this time he was pretty well intoxicated. His eyes had a shiny stare, his tongue was ee and his gait was unsteady. He reeled out of the saloon where Buffalo Bill had met him, and the crowd that fol- lowed him reeled out at his heels. / He was rapidly dissipating his money, and some ‘of the satellites following in his train did not hesitate to snatch away from him a bill now and then, whenever the opportunity offered. He was so intoxicated that when he beheld Frank oe Se Ira 2a ee see eae es Powell, standing just outside the hotel main entrance, he mistook him for Buffalo Bill. “You insulted me while ago,” he howled, “and I ain’t ‘settled with you yet for it. Git ready fer me, when I make my run fer ye!’ He tried to draw a revolver, but one of his friends ~~ seized him and kept him from doing it. -_ The crowd swarmed round him and swept him on up the street. At the next corner he broke away from them. A man had come out of one of the many saloons. This man was a rather well-known figure in Rocket . City, and also a remarkable one; for he was none other _ than Teton John, the half-blood. His mother was said to be a full-blood Sioux, and his father a white gam- bler. oa Teton John seemed much more of a white man than an Indian. His features were those of a white man, ~ in most respects. Yet his face was dark and beardless, like the face of an Indian, though not nearly’so. dark. He dressed better than an Indian or a half-blood would be expected to dress, and his command of Eng- lish was reasonably good. At times, it was reported, he talked as well as any educated white man, and without a trace of Indian accent. ~ Teton John was a gambler, who lived two lives. For months he would be seen in Rocket City and other towns of the border, wheré he played poker interminably. Then he would mysteriously disappear. Some said that at such times he went to the village of the Teton Sioux, which was not distant from Rocket City; and ‘there were queer reports, of how there he lapsed into ee savagery, took off the white man’s clothing, donned the blanket, and paint, and feathers, and even took part in the wild dances and the Indian orgies. -. Yet he was not always at the Teton village when he was absent from the border towns, and then his ac- quaintances could not account for his whereabouts. _ But it had been noticed by some that at such times the _ hold-ups on the stage-trails increased in numbers and frequency, as well as in daring, and that the most of the hold-ups were made by a single horseman who was well mounted, well armed, daring and bold, and always masked his face. Coe Occasionally this mysterious horseman, or another, appeared as a skeleton rider, terrifying in appearance, and frightening the women and children of the stages half out of their wits. ye Sas - When Poker Pete saw Teton John issue from the doorway of the saloon and start across the street, h gave a wild yell, and fired at him. The crowd scattered as Teton John wheeled round in the street and brought up his revolver for an answer- ing shot. ; a ~ _ “So ye’re back, are you!” cried Poker Peter wolfishly. “Well, I knowed you wouldn’t stay out of this camp more’n a month. And now I’m coming for ye!’ _ He fired again. > Teton. John turned. to rin. = He feared to shoot at the gambler, lest he should hit some one else; and he knew that a half-breed Indian would receive little consideration if by mistake he killed a white man who was innocent of any intention of ~~ -wronging him. . As Teton John thus turned in flight Poker Peter yelled aaa oie seat Ric wb line uct eM mam ice MLSE Rees n THe BUERALO BILL STORIES. ee 9 again, and sent a third bullet after him, cutting the dirt close by his feet. o Staggering in pursuit, and yelling like a maniac, Poker Pete sent every shot out of his revolver after the fleeing half-blood. The last shot apparently took effect, for Teton John rolled in the dust of the street. Poker Pete yelled triumphantly when he saw his foe fall, and ran on toward him at a staggering gait. Then he beheld what seemed a singular sight, and something that angered him. Powell also saw it, as well as Buffalo Bill, who had been drawn to the window of his room by the shots and: the noise. An old borderman had been coming down the street on a shaggy-headed, raw-boned beast. He carried a rifle as long as himself, and squinted his eyes and puck- ered his mouth into queer wrinkles as he glanced about him. . He sat in his saddle humped up like a ball, and seemed to roll along rather than to be riding. _ The shaggy-headed horse was sleepy-eyed and seem- ingly lazy. It stopped now and then to kick at a fly, and, forgetting to put its foot dewn, after a second lifted the foot higher and scratched with it along the shaggy hide. At such times the old borderman objurgated it with - his tongue. : “Nebuchadnezzar, you ole fool, git erlong wi’ ye! You're gittin’ so consarned lazy that ther buzzards will come down some time and pick yer ole bones clean, while you're stoppin’ and dreamin’; fer they'll think ye’re dead. Git along hyar, and quit yer foolin’!” Teton John fell just in front of this strange figure, rolling over.as if killed, in the dust of the street. The old borderman stared when he saw the man fall. Then with a spryness that appeared surprising, he leaped to the ground and ran forward to assist the fallen man. : It was this act of humanity that offended Poker Pete. | The old borderman knelt at the side of Teton John, lifting the head of the fallen man. As he did so, and stared into the man’s face, and at his bosom, where his shirt and coat had fallen open, he whistled in surprise. “Waal, may I be durned!” he exclaimed. He began an examination, to ascertain the man’s con- dition, still muttering, apparently forgetful of the crowd that was looking at him, and of Poker Pete, who, with howls of anger, was advancing toward him. He was lifting Teton John, when with a quick wriggle and jump the half-breed shot out of his arms, and with two quick steps had crossed to where the shaggy-headed beast stood. In another instant he was in the saddle and had turned the horse about, and was urging it along the street. The old horse seemed so much astonished by all this, and by the stranger who kicked at his leathery sides, that he burst into a gait that bore him along in a way that was wonderful to behold. The sleepy-headed brute had been transformed all at once into a race-horse of no mean speed. The crowd yelled, some good-humoredly, seeing in this a joke, while others were astonished and angry. a ' The old borderman stared and whistled, and seemed unable to believe his eyes. “Waal, may’ 1 be durned!” he cried. ee oo Ne THE BUFBALO Then it seemed to come to him that his horse was _~being taken off by this half- breed whom he had tried 2 t0 help. He lifted his old rifle instinctively, and then dropped it, resting its butt in the dust of the street and leaning on the muzzle, “Waal, may I be durned!” Then he woke to the truth that his horse was $ actually going and would soon be out of sight. He put his fingers to his lips, and blew a blast that shrilled along the street like the whistle of a steam- - engine. When the shaggy-headed horse heard that his big ears lifted, and he re oeiaed to double up; and, as he did so, he stopped, with a suddenness that shot Teton John sprawling out of the saddle, landing him again in the dust, where he rolled over just as ‘when the bullet of Poker Pete had brought him down. But he did not lie there. He sprang up, stared at the horse, and at the crowd that was again moving toward him, shook his fist at the crowd, 2 and then set ee toward the end of the street, run- ning with something of a HD yet with 'a speed we was very creditable, It was much better speed than Poker Pete could “bet out of his own staggering legs, or any of his friends could get out of theirs. “Waal, may I be durned!” It was again the voice of the ‘bor derman expressing his oh CHAPTER VL OLD NICK. NOMAD, The old borderman was that whimsical character, old Nick Nomad, and his shaggy-headed horse was the trained trick beast, Nebuchadnezzar. “Whoa, Nebby, consarn ye!” the old fellow bellowed, as the horse came galloping a k to bin, Waal, ‘ve kited: him some, I reckon. He hit terry firmy Pad ernough to knock a hole-in it.’ A crowd was gathering round ie A number of m were running after Teton John, with small chance of coming up with him, for he. had increased his: gait, and ey disappearing at the end of the street in a ‘cloud of ust. Poker Pete and his followers had advanced, howling at the old frontiersman. “What is it ye want o’ me?’ said Nomad, puckering | his face and looking at Poker Pete mildly. “You interfered in my gun play,’ cried Boker Pete. “I shoot men fer that.” “Oh; ye do?. Waal, I’d advise ye, when ye start in ter shootin’ of this ole customer, that you do yer shootin’ good and proper, er when it comes my turn Ill fix ye so's ‘t yer friends will be ‘bleeged ter plant ye. Ye don’t know me, | reckon?” “You're an old fool!” “You're a perlite gentleman—and thet’s another lie!” He swung his ne rifle forward, with a ee gesture. Nebuchadnezzar, seeing that the youth was a foe of his master, had bared his greenish teeth. The next moment would ane witnessed further trou-: ble i in the street there, if Nomad had not at the instant: Ce ts ee beheld iaae Powell pushing through ti the erowd to oS to him. Powell, as a pard of Buffalo Bill, was one of Nomad’ S warmest friends, and for him the old man had a a great admiration. Apparently he forgot, or ignored, fue: Pete, as he bellowed, in his creaking, high keyed voice: 4 “White Beaver, by ther Etarnal! Nebby, thar’s White Beaver!” He clutched the rein of the bridle, une Neiys head up with a jerk, and, waving the nile he began to urge the beast toward Powell. Nomad’s withered face seemed to aye oe wide. open in a huge grin of delight, His big mouth was spread from ear to. ear. “Waal, of all ther sights 1 never expected ter see, ie S- ther White Beaver on this hyar trail! Put her thar, Powell!” The shaggy- headed beast ee ey the come scattering if, and in another moment White Beaver was shaking hands with the old trapper. : “Rep ther last two nights I been dreamin’ er angels! Says I ter Nebby, says i, ‘It’s a sign that ther ole man is” nearin’ ther end of his airthly trail? Now L sees thet it meant I was ter meet you. Whar’s Buffler?’ “In the hotel here.” The old man caught sight of Buffalo Bill's Cotnige face at the hotel window. His ancient and disreputable cap came off and was swung with a whoop of delight. “Waugh! Thar he is! Whoo-ee- oop! Nebby, thar, he is!” It was a pull on the bit, no doubt, which made the ugly — horse open his mouth, but it seemed that Nebuchadnezzar _ was smiling, also, with joy at beholding Buffalo Bill, “Bufiler, he rec’ernizes ye!” said Nomad. “How are you, Nomad?” him, waving his hand. “By fer, fine as_silk! Every year thet I gi older. a ’ grows jes’ two years younger.’ Poker Pete had trailed along. “But, see here,” he was. saying, game !’’ Nomad took notice of him. a tied “Waugh! Hyar you air agin, and Dur durn aa. didn’ think it war a muskeeteer buzzin’ round my. coor What air ye wantin’ now?” : “You put in where you had no call t “Bubby, don’t let yer head swell so’s cn 1h bu’st. yer — I don’t know ye, and I don’t want no trouble wi’ Lemme “lone. I’m talkin’. wi’ gentlemen.” hat! ye. Shoo! But he. swung his rifle for rward again, ae . Kittle gray eyes began. to glitter. Seeing that in his intowleated state Poker Pete ceed his friends: again ee bine start further trouble, away. Buffalo Bill came down fom the room, and he. and Powell continued their greetings to the old ‘man. “Poker Pete is spoiling for a fight,” said Buffalo Bill. “That was, | am told, Teton John, the half blood, that. He ea was scared good, when he ae to bolt on the back ol you tried to help out there in the street, Nomad. Nebuchadnezzar.” A queer and meaning smile came to Nomad’s 5 Wealer beaten face. “Butner,: ‘the scout called down to “you-cut into myo. : he said;.and he bent forward sO. that the statement could not be heard beyond the group, “I gota _ os funny look at that feller’ s anatomy, and I know who he is, You won't believe it, likely; but thet thar critter is ther road- -agent that’s called round hyar ther Skeleton Horseman.” _ What? You don’t mean it!” “Never meant anything more’n I do thet, Buffler. Ye see | had a good chanst. When he lay thar on his back in the dust, his coat and shirt had fell open, and thar on his breast war painted white ribs, jes’ like ther ribs ~ of a skeleton.” Frank Powell was a much astonished as Buffalo Bill. “Have. your horse put away, Nomad, and come into” the hotel, and we'll talk this over. It’s of the utmost _ importance.” A little later they were in Buffalo Bill’s room up- shairs. 5 “Tf that’s true, Nomad, it upsets some of the conclu- sions that were being reached by Powell and myself.” “IT knows what I sees, Buffler,’ Nomad insisted. “I had a good look.” “The skeleton ribs were painted on him?” “Tt looked so, Buffler; I didn’t have, as ye know, much time fer a close examination ; but I scen ther white stripes representin’ ribs.” “This is truly. surprising “You see, Nomad,” ,’ White Beaver admitted. the scout explained, ‘“‘certain _ things had led us to believe that another person was the skeleton horseman. And we were almost reaching the conclusion that that person and Poker Pete were one and the same individual.” a The old man stared. Poker Pete:’ he gasped, Out “There was a yottng woman selling soap on the street “How dyer make thet _ last evening, who sold me a cake of soap, on the wrap- - per of which was a warning. like her; Later in the evening I followed a young fellow out on the trail, and that young fellow, after shooting at another: person, tried to kill me, pretending it a mistake. That young fellow con- fessed that ‘he’ was the girl who had sold me the cake of soap, but denied knowing anything about the warning. While riding back to town with him, or her, he, or she, shot. me.”’ : - “Shot ye?” Nomad gasped. _ Buffalo Bill showed the wound on the top of his head. “Powell found me unconscious in the trail, and brought ~ me round.” “War that feller Poker Pete?” asked Nomad.” “To-day, Poker Pete passed a greenback, which was the very one | handed over to that girl for the cake ‘of soap. He looks, in his general appearance, very much with the changes which could be made, and ~ the change of clothing, he could look just like her. So we had about reached the conclusion that Poker Pete was the girl, or that the girl is Eoker Pete, whichever Way you may put 1G “Bul, ef “Tust so! If Teton John is the skeleton horseman, Poker Pete can’t be, and that girl can’t be.”’ “Ef she’s really a gal; she'd be considdable gritty ter play that skeleton bizness, Buffer.” “True enough: But we figured that Poker Pete had masqueraded as a girl—as that girl,” “Waugh! I guess ye’re plum off ther trail, Buffler. I seen ther ribs of ther skeleton horseman, and my ole eyes don’t deceive me often.” SR SRS Go sh s)he ited Sherncinen rie ates cheat Hime aR ZINN He ER THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. wea, renee center bal Yage ene a ite te ip et a Seitenende pts Ah eee ich preteen tah eh olepae hoeadtrs rahe ES Se BS Rumer tae ey BOEAGY FA So Sy pe age OE NE nana 2 wer im “T’ve told you of the white stripe I thought T saw on the arm of that ‘girl’?” said the scout. “An’ arterwards ye seen it war a witite scar!’ “But ve thought since that | might have been fooled by her. If ‘he,’ or ‘she’ wore a black, skin-tight suit of clothing, with white markings of a skeleton on it, and ‘she’ slipped the sleeve of that up and showed me only the scar on the bare arm I’d not have been able to sée those white markings. My recollection of the first glimpse of it. is that it seemed a white stripe on black, rather than a white scar on flesh.” “Waugh! Buffler, you’re gittin’ yer head tangled, I’m certain. Ther skeleton horseman is thet half-breed that they calls Teton John.” _ And from this conclusion the old man could not be moved, CHAPTER VIL ON THE TRAIL OF POKER PETE. In order to find some thread that might unravel this mystery, Doctor Frank Powell spent much of the re- mainder of the day in shadowing Poker Pete, while Buffalo Bill and old Nomad remained in the scout’s room, talking of old times and old experiences together. Poker Pete disappeared during the afternoon, appar- ently because he was unable to’ continue his hilarious round of the saloons and gaming-hells. But. shortly after dark he reappeared, in a stealthy manner, mounted a horse, and took ee trail out of town that led toward Deadwood. White Beaver invaded Buffalo Bill’s room immedi- ately, “T think we’d better follow him,” he said. ‘The horses are ready—lI’ve seen to that, and we can overtake him in a few minutes, if we try. Id like to see where he’s going. The mine he claims to own doesn’t lie in that direction.” he scout had gained a cont rest, and was once more almost himself, physically, the wound on the head having been of so slight a character that it now inconvenienced him very little. E led hadn't been shadowing him, I’d never know of his departure,” said Powell. “Fle was sly as a fox about ity and ‘he did not leave’ by the principal: street. He sneaked out. by the back door, as you may say; but struck that main trail as soon as he felt secure: [ ob- served that he looked back carefully when he entered it, as if to make sure that he had not been noticed or fol- lowed.” “Which looks kinder peculiar, anyhow,” Nomad ad- mitted. The three friends hastened now from the hotel, and to the stable where their horses were kept;.and shortly rode out of the town on the trail taken by Poker Pete. They soon came in sight of him, observing which he trotted ahead at a faster pace. However, they hung in his rear in a persistent man- ner, and for awhile he was out of their sight seldom more than a minute or two at a time. Some miles out of the town they saw him ride into. a scrubby timber belt by the trail. “Ah! he thinks he’s clever!” said Buffalo Bill. TEle’s gone in there, thinking we didn’t notice it, and that we'll ride on past him.” So et i Foam apna a ees Spite ig Seem ak ANE AH vie THE BUFFALO Poker Pete had been sly in making this maneuver, reminding Powell of his slyness when leaving the town. He had gained a screen of some bushes, which hid the trail for a number of yards, and there, where it might be expected he would ride ahead, he had turned "aside quickly, and so had vanished, in the cover of the trees. “Shall we ride straight ahead?” said Powell. “We could fool him, and get a better look at him by also ‘going. into the timber “beyond this point.” They rode ahead, in accordance with this plan, and when they had passed the timber belt they themselves went into hiding. It seemed a queer game of hide-and-seek. “Best way ter fool him in ther world is this,” Nomad. He gave Nebuchadnezzar a crack on the legs and sent him clattering on down the trail. “He'll overtake Nebby and see that no one is on him” said Powell. Nomad ae gleefully “Which shows ‘t yer dont know Nebby. ther cute critter.” Old Nebuchadnezzar clattered along the trail with noisy gait for some distance, and then he vanished. “See thet! cried Nomad. “He’s gone inter ther bushes, too, and thar thet clever beast is layin’, jes’ fer all ther world like an ambushin’ Injun.” Scarcely had Nebby’s hoofs céased to sound, and it seemed that the three horsemen had gone on, when, near the point where Poker Pete had gone into hiding, the bushes were seen to wave in the dim moonlight. But when the horseman who was there cate out into sight the three watchers stared. They beheld the skeleton horseman, his face masked, and thé skeleton lines showing with a distinctness that was-startling. He seemed in reality a skeleton sitting on the back of his horse, at that distance. “Waugh |” gurgled Nomad, almost too much aston- ished too speak. He lifted his old rifle. “Shall I take a.ctack at ‘im?’ “No; hell come this way, and we’ll get a closer look,” said Buffalo Bill, But, instead of following the trail, the skeleton horse- man struck out into the open country, and swung round their hiding-place in a big semicircle that took him again into the trail far beyond ‘them, and beyond Nebby’s hid- ing-place., The old man jumped out of the bushes and ran down the trail in the moonlight, while his companions rode at his side, until they came to the point where the shagegy- headed horse had disappeared. “He’s levanted and leit you,’ morously. It did seem that Nebuchadnezzar was nowhere near. “Ther cute devil is layin’ down,’ said Nomad. “That’s why we can't see him, and no hidin’ Injun kin keep stiller’n thet creeter kin when he knows he ort to.” In proof of it he whistled, and the knowing old beast came up out of the bushes only a few yards from them. “Waugh! Buffler, thar aint no end ter the tricks I’ve teached this hyar brute.” That’s one of ‘em; and thar air others that reely make him seem a’most human.” . “Now, to follow the skeleton ne said Powell. “He's got a good start of us.’ Truly he had, for he was out: of sight, said said Buffalo Bill hu- Now watch BILL STORIES. ’ “What do you think of Telpw/ falo Bill, “Buffler, when I seen thet, r stopped think batirely, When ther hole in ther ladder ain't big ernough, tain’t no use ter try ter peek through it, Ther hole” in this hyar ladder is plum closed up.” The old man said this in his whimsical way, but in truth he was worried by the spectacular overthrow of his pet theory concerning the identity of the skeleton horseman. CHAPTER. Viil. THE STAGE, HOLD-UP, An hour later, at the point where the Rocket City trail _ to Deadwood crosses the trail that leads from Crescent — Butte to the gold camps on the Pryingpaw River, the three friends heard shots, a number in quick succession, and a wild scream. They had been following the trail watchfully, hoping : to come again in sight of the skeleton horseman, and also trying to keep so close a watch of side trails that . they were not likely to miss him. “Suthin’s broke, Buffler!” cried Nomad, jerking up his rifle, while old Nebuchadnezzar shot his long ears forward. - “An attack on the stage-trail from the Fryingpan ¢ wold: mines, is my guess!” said the scout. Then the three horsemen flew along the trail. When they came to the scene of the hold-up—for it _ was really one—they saw the stage before them, with the horses snarled in their harness, the driver dead on the ground, and a number of frightened men and women standing in a huddled group. The scared passengers apparently thought that more terrifying and shooting road-agents were upon them, for the women began to scream when they saw the three horsemen, and some of the men put up their hands. “Don’t shoot!’ ' begged a fat man, who stood, shaking with fear, by the side of his fat wife, Buffalo Bill and his companions drew rein before this startled group. “We're friends,” agents!” "“Thank Heaven for that!” cried the fat man. the scout announced, ‘not road- He waddled heavily forward, becoming spokesman — for the party. “Gentlemen, we were attacked a little while ago, by a 92 man rit wasn ta: man!” women. “By a man, gentlemen, who seemed to be a skele-_ ton! But he was a man, for he swore some terrible oaths, and then he shot the driver, and made us all line up here and put up our hands, after which he robbed us,’ “He took my diamond necklace !” wailed a pretty girl, whose white face and disheveled hair could not hide her beauty even under the poor light of the moon. “My diamond necklace, that my—-my father gave me!” Buffalo Bill began to ask questions, and the answers came fast; but the story had been already told—the skele- ton horseman had held up and robbed the stage, after killing the driver. “The driver tried to make a ficht ?”’ said the scout. “T don’t think he meant to fight, sir,’ N yy screeched one of the scared 2 ‘ the fat man an- ‘swered: speaking up, pt pease tants Sadr : town you name, } aS you've no valuables. |. hasnt anything. You couldn’t be safer than you are now. And we want to follow this road-agent, while the - trail is hot. fat man anxiously. this rascal b a the stage had rattled on out of sight. obit the horses were scared by the shooting and became snarled, and I think he meant to try to straighten them out,’ He lowered his hands. - Probably the road- agent thought he meant to get a Weapes for he in- stantly shot him dead.” “And threatened to shoot all of ‘us! !’ wailed a woman. “You may be thankful that you're alive,” said the scout. “Now, can you tell me how this skeleton horse- man looked—his size and general appearance?’ But they could not do that—they had been too badly 8cared to take note of his appearance. “All we can tell you, sir,” said the fat man, again “is that he rode out of those bushes richt ahead there. He looked to be literally a skeleton sit- ting on a horse, only that he wore a mask that hid his etace. [saw him as soon as he appeared, and so did my wite. I acknowledge, gentlemen, that I was startled.” “T was frightened to death!” his wile admitted, still - trembling, "And then he held up the ie us to hold up our hands, and then shooting the driver for his ap- parent disobedience. And he fired several shots, to. scare i us, I suppose; and lined us up here, as I told you.’ Buffalo Bill and his friends dismounted and straight- ened out the tangle among the horses, putting them in the trail again. “ls there a man here who can drive?” the scout asked. “We want to try to round up this skeleton rascal. It’s no more than five miles to the little camp of Ophir, and as it's on this trail you can’t miss it.” One of the passengers, a young fellow who had said little, volunteered now to try to drive the stage on to Ophir. So the body of the dead stage-driver was placed on top of the stage, and strapped there to keep it from roll- ing about, and the young man mounted to the box and took the reins, under Buffalo Bill's instructions. “Gentlemen, said the tat man, burrowing into a pocket’ and bringing up a fat pocketbook, “Ill give you each a hundred dollars if you'll escort us safely to that My wife is badly scared, of I——” “You'll be perfectly safe,’ said the scout, “so long Nobody. ever robs a man who We'd like to please you, but this is really more important.” : “VIL give you two hundred dollars apiece,” said the But even this offer, somewhat to the iat man’s as- tonishment, was declined. “He overlooked this pocketbook, and I’ve got a thou- sand dollars in it. He may come back for it. I’d rather give it to no gentlemen, to giiarantee our safety into that town,” the fat man persisted. Y You te ee ecty safe, and we must go in search of before he gets too big a start,” said the scout, again declining for himself and his friends, So the stage rolled away, the young man driving, the _ body of the driver lying on top, and the passengers as badly ‘scared a set of people as Buffalo Bill had ever - seen. “Now, to follow thet bellow | !” said the scout, when ' of a boy, in spite of his years. THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES, og “He went in that direction, they said,” srematked Powell, waving his hand in the direction indicated. “But we'll have to be ate for he'll leave the trail, no doubt. f CHAPTER Ux. THE MYSTERY AT DAKOTA DAN’S CABIN. Following the skeleton horseman was no easy task, even though there was now a bright moonlight. Buffalo Bill and his companions were compelled to trust to their common sense and judgment as much as to their eyesight. Old Nick Nomad was now in his element. He loved a difficult trail, with possible danger at the end of it, quite as much as he did a hunting-trip through the mountains. One of the bravest of men, he had many of the qualities He had a.boy’s enthusi- asm and sense of fun, and nothing delighted him more than some of the “tricks” of his old horse, Nebuchad- nezzar. : _ But at such a time as this, when a shot from ambush might be expected at any moment, he assumed the Si- lence and the peering attitude of an Indian, and care- fully inspected, as well as he could, every prominence © and every bush that might hide a foe. At length the old man swung out of his saddle, at a point where a faint path led from the larger trail. “Buffler,’ he said, when he had knelt and made a close examination of the ground there, “this hyar crit- ter has gore this way, I'm purty shore. Hyar’s whar thar’s fresh cuttin’ of the ground made by hoofs, and that proves it, ter my mind.” % He stood erect, ficure in the moonlight, country. “And in thet direction lays ther village of ther Teton Sioux. Buffler, it seems ter go ter prove my ‘riginal be- lief, thet ther skeleton is Teton John.” leaning on his long rifle, a quaint and stared over the level “But you saw him come out of those bushes, and when he went into them he was the young chap we'd followed from Rocket City,” said Powell. “Mebbe ther feller thet come outer them bushes warn’t jes’ ther same feller thet went inter ‘em,’ gued. “We hain’t no way o knowin’ thet it war ther same. An’ I can’t fergit thet | seen them skeleton ribs on Teton John.” “We'll follow this trail,’ said the scout, who had swung down and was oe inspecting it. “I think the road-agent went this way.’ “He certin did, Buffler.” They continued on now. The country was familiar to Nomad, more so than to -- either of the others, Nomad ar- — r4 : THE BUFFALO By and by they found another small divergent trail, which they inspected. ~Nomad was puzzled, for here, when examined closely by the light of a match, were found again the hoof-prints they had seen at the entrance to the other path. “Over thar lays ther cabin o’ my old friend, Dakoty | Dan,” said Nomad. “He’s a square man, Nomad: P said the scout sus- piciously. “He used ter be, Buffler, so fur as ever | knowed, and I’m figgerin’ thet he is yit. I ain’t been ter his place in more’n five years, and it’s been nighabout thet many sense I’ve seen him; but he war counted square.” “Many a supposed good man has gone to the bad in less than five years.’ “That’s so, too, Buffer. But I’m dead shore thet ole Dan warn’t the feller we trailed outer Rocket City.” Following this trail, they came.at length in sight of a light that gleamed from a cabin window. “I think we'd better go careful here,” again dismounting. said the scout, The horses were left behind, concealed, and the three men went on toward the house on foot. As they approached the window, seeing that the cabin was large and roomy, they beheld, in the room lighted by the lamp, a young woman, or girl, seated in close talk with the youth they had followed from Rocket City. "Poker, Pete!” said the scout. Old Nomad rubbed his eyes and looked again. “I furgot ter tell ye thet old Dakoty had a gal. But she war a leetle thing when I seed her last, and that sorter made me fergit her, I reckon. Ef thet’s her, she’s shore growed Sout of my recomembrance. But I reckon Is her? a He stared stupidly. “But thet she could be ee up ter Poker Pete is - what amazes me, Buffler.”’ “IT think we're justified in usin’ a bit of eavesdropping here,” said the scout. “We've trailed the man we thought was the skeleton horseman to this point, and we see be- fore us Poker Pete. Poker Pete we followed from Rocket City until he disappeared. At the place where he disappeared out came the skeleton horseman. Now the skeleton horseman seems to have changed back into Poker Pete. So your theory that the skeleton horseman was Teton John seems to begin to limp and go lame, _ Nomad.” “Ye're right, Buffler; ye're right,’ Nomad admitted. “Tm shore plum up a stump.” “Shall we slip up to the window?” asked Powell. Vd like to hear what that fellow is ae tO the: girl.” “Mushy love talk, Buffler, frum ther looks of it,” said S Tes Nomad, with something like a snort of disgust. csi Nidan Kags He BE a tea eee U2 Pe UTE a ak AOC ay saa ee i ia eae uae alnepny % ‘plum ham-strung, and can’t walk a step furder. oe STORIES. what all the gals like, and hae ther fellers hands out ter ’em good and plenty.” f Nevertheless, they advanced toward the dow. Then their astonishment was increased, for they saw the young fellow put a hand into his pocket and take out a diamond necklace, which he put round the girl’s neck, . 5 “Ther diamond necklace that ther stage woman said was took from her by ther skeleton horseman!” said Nomad, with another gurgle of astonishment. “My theery, as yer calls it, Buffler, is not only lame, but it's I goes under. Poker Pete is sure ther critter thet held up ther stage.” “We've got to capture him,” said the scout. “Yas.” “Step right up to the door and knock, ” said Powell. “Nomad and I will see that he doesn't get away, if he makes a break.” Buffalo Bill stepped to the door and hammered on it peremptorily. : The lamp went out instantly, plunging the room into darkness, the girl oe and there was a scuffling of feet in the house. : The scout jumped back from the door, dewine his revolver, and Powell and Nomad stood ready, with weapons in hand, to stop the expected rush of Poker Pete from the place. But after that scream and the rush of feet, nothin more was heard. The lamp was not relighted, and utter silence reigned. “Hello, in there!” called the scout. There was no. answer. Nomad lifted his voice. “Dakoty, i old pard’s out hyar, wantin’ ter take yer by ther fin ag’in. Open up ther door, fer ther latch- string seems ter be missin’.” There was a movement in the house now, and then the light of the lamp showed again, and the young “woman came to the door, holding the lamp. ae When she opened the door she looked pale, but com- posed. “What is it?” she said. to-night.” Nomad stepped forward. “T’m-ole Nick Nomad,’ he explained. “Yer dont recomember me, mebbe, but I reck’lects of seein’ you when you warn’t more’n knee-high ter a grasshopper.” , Shielding the light with her hand, she now saw Buffalo Bill and Frank Powell behind Nomad. “T don’t remember you,” she said, “and my a isn't at home to-night:” ) The scout advanced, lifting his hat, an act nihil revealed the white cloth on the top of his head, giving his head a queer, bald look. oe “My father isn’t at home . house,” chairs, a trunk, some boxes, and other things. TON Nt Serna The time for stemner methods had arrived, “Miss,” he said, ‘we saw in that room a moment ago, _ before the lamp went out, a young man we should like to have a few words with, If you'll permit us to enter well be obliged to you, or i you will send him out here.’ She did not . nor did her voice change. “That's a singular statement!’ she declared. | has been no. young man here to-night!” Buffalo. Bill and those with him were considerably taken aback by this bragen falsehood. “Vou ‘don't: mean to. insist that we saw no one—that “There ' no One was with you in that room a moment or so ago?” “Ll ‘certainly. don’t know what you're talking about,” she asserted. “I’m alone here. Father is away, and if if you are gentlemen you'll not trouble a lonely girl.” “We hope that we're gentlemen,” the scout answered, “but we saw Poker Pete in that room with you a eet Of so ago, and we want him.” _ She stepped back from the door. “You're at perfect liberty to search the house, if you ll go away peaceably when you're through. ‘There’s been no man here, and you insult me when you say there has been.” Stay outside and watch for him,” said the scout to Hise triends, °°. : He put his foot across the threshold, still with hat in hand. - - ‘We accept your aneeon to ok through the he said to her. . She moved back from the door, carrying the lamp, tad placed it on the table where they had first seen it.’ “This is an outrage!’ she panted, eying him fiercely. __ He saw that-she was pale and agitated, yet not ter- tified, She was a girl of courage and spirit, and besides, a haridsome girl, and something in her face startled’ him. The scout could not marvel that Poker Pete had thought it worth his while to ride out to this distant spot ‘ to pay court to so handsome a woman. “It's unpleasant to have to do this,’ he ae “but I shall have to make an examination of this room.’ __ “Look where you please,”’ she said icily. The room contained a bed and a stove, and some The fur- niture was of the simplest character. The scout had observed that the dress she wore was identical with the.dress. worn by “Irma Rand,” the girl who had sold soap in the streets of Rocket City. He looked at it critically and with a boldness that angered her. He had observed, too, that the features of this girl resembled in'a remarkable degree those of “Irma Rand,’ as” he recalled them. He had seen “Trma Rane one be Ue THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. Poker Pete’s features, he had also remarked; were, in their general outline, like those of “Irma Rand.” It was as if this girl and Poker Pete had been sister and brother, and “Irma Rand” a near relative. . The family likeness was so strong as to be startling. Yet if this girl had played the part of “Irma Rand,” _ there had been a good deal of paint and “make- up” used. And that was true, also, _ Poker Pete had played the part of “Irma Rand.” You re insulting ” the gic ‘said, as the scout thus stared at her. “I beg your pardon. But, really, you look so like Irma Rand that I stared at you without intention of offending.” Then he asked the question direct : “You are not Irma Rand?” “Tam Maud Robinson, the daughter of Dakota: Dan Robinson.” “You were not in Rocket City last night?” “No!” she snapped, with a sharp and vinegary tongue. “You came in here to look for some one, as you refused to believe my word. Why don’t you look for him?” “Very true. 1 will look for him.” The scout began the search. It did not take long to look into every corner of the room, and under and behind every afticle of its fur- niture. The girl seated herself and tatched him with an mterest that was marked and significant. “T didn’t know,” she said sarcastically, “that a man had a right to go into a house and do as you're doing, even out in this wild country. My father will take pleasure in shooting you for this, when he comes home.” Buffalo Bill displayed his badge as an officer. “There is another room, I think?” he said. She rose and opened the door leading into the other room, “Look in there, too, and perhaps you'd better look on the roof!” She was spicily sarcastic. _ . _ The other room was much like the, first, and the scout soon covered it. He was sure that Poker Pete was in the house, yet Poker Pete was not to be found. Finally the scout returned to the other room, The girl had been. watching him from the connecting doorway. She retreated before him, and saw him look at the walls. “Miss Robinson,” he said, “you'll pardon me for plain speaking. I know, that Poker Pete is in tis house.” “Then why don’t you find him?” “There’s some hidden door which I haven't been able to locate. But he can’t escape us. down here until hunger drives him out.” We'll: simply fue ; THE BUFFALO a ‘My father will pitch you out, as soon as he comes home. And that hidden-door idea is silly. Where is there a place for a hidden door?” “Under the floor, probably.” “There isn’t even a cellar under the house.” “Rut Poker Pete was in here, and he has had no chance to get away.” ‘And I say no one was here but me! Buffalo Bill sat down and looked at cos again study- ing her face. 7? “Pardon me for saying it, Miss Robinson, but you're an extraordinary young woman.” “Thanks!” she replied curtly. compliment, if one is meant.” Poker Pete “T don’t appreciate the “You resemble in a singlar manner, and < “Perhaps I am Poker Pete!” she said with a toss of her head. “The idea is no more silly than that other 2) One. “Perhaps not. Yet you resemble him. And you fe- semble the girl—if it was a girl—who me her name was Irma Rand.” “I think you must be a bit crazy. And let me say to you that I don’t even know who you are. are robbers, and are looking for my father’s money?” She smiled bitterly on him, and her face was pale. “There is a bit of treasure that I and my friends saw in here, Miss Robinson, that I should like to see again. I speak of the diamond necklace.” She showed renewed agitation, and tried to conceal it. “The diamond necklace!’ she cried. “The one that Poker Pete put round your neck.” “Tf I am Poker Pete, as you seem to hint, how could he put a diamond necklace round my neck? I begin to feel sure you are crazy.” “I didn’t think you were Poker Pete. I only remarked on the striking resemblance. We saw him place a diamond necklace round your neck. And, Miss Rob- inson, that diamond necklace was taken by the road- _agent known as thé skeleton horseman from a lady on the stage not two hours ago. So you'll see why I said I’d like to get a look at it again.” - She laughed, but there was no mirth in the laughter ; it sounded rather hysterical. “Vou’re a fool, if not crazy, Mr. “Cody is my name! I’m called Buffalo Bill.” ie She opened her eyes a trifle wider. “Mr. Buffalo Bill, you’re on a wild-goose chase here, let me tell you. This talk about Poker Pete and a dia- mond necklace is too silly for anything.” “Vou intend to persist in that?” he said, rising. “Certainly; 1 don’t know what you're talking about.” He again began to search the room, but kept a close watch on her, for he felt that a woman who could lie in 9 BILL Perhaps you STORIES. that extraordinary manner woul be equal to ‘shooting him in the back. As before, his search was without success. He thumped the floor, and was convinced that there was a cellar under it, but could find no door. The walls seemed solid, yet had in places a hollow sound. _ Frank Powell had come to the outer door and was looking in, interested beyond measure in this singular situation, for he had heard a good deal of the talk be- tween Buffalo Bill and the girl. As he stood thus looking inte; the room where the a5 sat and the scott was proceeding with his futile search, a _ yell came from ae ae eS oe mee and his ee rifle roared. Se “The skeleton !’’ he ae . > Powell jumped back from the door, and oe a run Buffalo Bill leaped out of the house after him, Nomad was ramming a bullet down his long rifle, while his lips were working. _ eo / Vhae Me goes fhe shouted. a whistle.” _ . Some yards away, ingisuincily seen in the moonlight, _ and half-concealed by the whipping bushes through which he was speeding, they beheld a running form. If oe to be a skeleton oe away in the moon- light. o Buftalo Bill drew his revolver and shot at it, os Powell did the same. It seemed to drop to the earth. They. ran toward the spot where it had oe to fall, a but when they got there they discovered nothing. Some bushes were broken, these being small twigs, which appeared ‘to have been smashed and torn in the “skeleton’s” flight. “T missed him slick as They ran on for some distance, but saw nothing more, — S ql mor did they hear anything, when they stopped to listen, except the puffing and excited advance of Nomad, who- had reloaded his rifle and was running to jointhem. ‘Got away, did he?” roared the old man. Fust time I ever missed anything | Mates me beats ther Jews! Shot at; when it war thet: close ter, ie: think ‘t ther: thing war shore enough a skeleton. By — jacks, it come so suddent thet it -—” “Where did it come from?” asked the scout. “Thet’s what I don’t know, Buffer. Fust I seen of it ther thing war close up by the walls. I jumped toward it, for it war runnin’ when. my eyes lit on it, and then I yelled and shot at it. An’ then ther thing fa’rly flew. I never seen a deer run faster. Skeletons air flyers, when it comes ter runnin’,” He tried to laugh, but there was no hilarity. in the effort. “He was in the cellar,’ said the scout, Poker Pete. Well, he got away this time.” “Waugh!” Me “and | it was “Waal,thet — | sa pts ase MR See etsetrai pee ae S RR rR Hs RPE ITE VRB AE TOI Na SN re He et TE er rap I THE BUFF ALO Angier call rose from the old man’s lips. The skeleton had reappeared in sight, some distance away, yet to be seen in the moonlight, and was now mounted, thus being again the Skeleton Horseman. “Waugh! Thar he goes ag’in!” Again the old rifle roared its contents, but the skeleton horseman dashed on, and was soon out of sight. Nomad was nonplused and chagrined. -“Buffler,” he said, ‘it’s about time fer ther ole man ter hunt up some graveyard an’ crawl inter it, when he gets so’s he can’t do no better shootin’ than thet.” “You were excited, and that made your hand shaky.” “And this moonlight is very deceptive,” added Powell. “It would haye been a miracle if you had hit him.” CHAPTER X. FOLLOWING THE SKELETON HORSEMAN. They returned to the cabin of Dakota Dan, when it was seen that the skeleton horseman had escaped. There they found Dakota Dan’s daughter. She stood in the door, looking out. During their absence she had changed her clothing, _. being dressed now in a sort of border costume that was very becoming. It argued for her coolness that she had been able to do that during this time of excite- ment. - “Well, did you catch him?” she asked. _ She seemed to be laughing in their faces. “We expect to catch him now that we know who he - is,” said Buffalo Bill. “I didn’t get to see him,” “so [ll ask who he is?” “Ther skeleton horseman!” burst out Nomad. Eindeeds she cried.’ lhats strange.” “Not so strange as you claim,” remarked Buffalo Bill. “But we'll not argue the matter.” “I should like to have you,” she said, smiling. “This _ is a mystery, and mysteties are interesting. The skel- eton horseman came from this house, you say i That’s almost too strange to be believed.” They did not go‘into the cabin again. Nothing that Dakota Dan’s daughter might say could be believed, and Buffalo Bill had oS made a ee examination of the interior. But they inspected the outer walls of the cabin, trying to find the place where they were sure Poker Pete had she remarked carelessly ; emerged after changing back into the skeleton horseman. ' They were baffled, as before. : The door, if there was one, could not be found. The girl stood in the cabin door, tages at them, as they gave up their search and retreated: “You've been very SS v@ome again, some time. “Bufiler, ” remarked Nomad, when they were beyond she said mockingly. 0’ ponies and a canoe-load 0’ beaver pelts. Bill, STORIES: her hearing, “ef thet’s Dakoty Dan’s daughter she’s hed an eddication sense last time 1 seen him. I reck’lects, though, thet he said he war goin’ ter send her off ter school some’eres, I disremember whar. But she’s shore "got a peppery tongue, and knows how ter sling words. But, then, Dakota was hisself allus a handsome talker. He could make ye see white when you war dead shore it war black thet you ware lookin’ at. Mebbe it’s his daugh- ter aiter aia” He shook his puzzled old head. “Nebby,” he said, “we’re up against a whole lot of mysterious doin’s. But I reckons thet they’re too much even fertyou.”’ The three friends did not. go far; only far enough to be beyond sight of the girl at the cabin. ~“We know where that horseman struck out on “horse- back,” refnarked the scout, “and there we'll strike his trail as soon as it’s light enough, and follow it. In my opinion, it will lead straight back to Rocket City.” “Female women allus air cur’us critters ter me,” said old Nomad, unable to get away from the mystery at the cabin, “and this hyar one hain’t no exception. I remem- ber how puzzled I war onct by an Injun squaw. She war a Shoshone, and as handsome as a picter. I was a gay young buck of a trapper then, wearin’ a lot of fine togs, and I ‘lowed I war dead in love with her and would like ter marry her. So I made eyes at her, and ast her would she; and she said she would, fer a couple She wanted ’em fer her father, who war a sort o’ chief o’ thet branch o' ther Shoshone tribe.” He dropped down into the grass, drew his legs under him, and cackled at the memory. “Waal, I had the ponies and the pelts, and I said as how I would doit. And I brung ’em, and put ’em in the chief's lodge. And I war supposin’ thet when I done it me an’ ther gal would be hitched instanter. 1 couldn’t talk ther lingo good, then. But 1 know we all stood up in ther lodge, arter ’d give over ther things. Thar war a lodge full o’ Injuns, and me ther only white man thar. And then I discovered that ther gal was bein’ married to a greasy young buck thet had been grinnin’ at me ther minute before, and thet ther talk which ther gal and her dad and ther rest of ’em had been slingin’ at me war jes’ a lot o’ thanks fer ther handsome weddin’-presents I war supposed to have given ter her.” He cackled again. “Ther Shoshone gal got my weddin’-presents, and ther greasy buck got ther handsome gal, and what I got war a lot o thanks in a lingo I couldn’t well understand, and a chanst ter help eat up the yaller dog thet had been made inter soup fer ther weddin-feast. Sense then, women has allus seemed might cur’us critters ter me.” They camped there, not far from Dakota Dan’s cabin, hoping that old Dokata Dan would return by morning. 8 But when day came Dakota Dan still absented himself. They beheld a curl of Ly ever the cabin, showing that the girl had started a fire, \ a ‘She was as fearless, out in those wilds, as she was " spicy and sharp of tongues Nomad felt that he was well ° within the truth in denominating her a ‘‘cur’us critter.” As soon as it was light enough to do good trailing, the three friends made a search for the trail of the skeleton horseman, at the point where he had appeared in the moonlight. As the ground was not hard there, and covered with grass, the locating of the trail was not especially difficult for men so skilled. : . They located it, and they set out on it, finding that it . led at first in long leaps straight away from, the cabin. But it did not turn back toward the trail which would lead the rider in the direction of Rocket City, “By ther jempin’ horned frogs o'. Texas, I’m comin’ pe t’ said old Nomad at length. fust, yer reck lect, thet ther skeleton horseman wat Tata John; LG yar, unless I’m too bug-eyed ter see straight, this bral is feadin’ toward ther Teton village, on ther Squirrel Fork o ther Fryingpan River. Ef it in't, you fellers tell me whar it air leadin’.”’ "the others had already noticed that the trail held i that general direction, ‘ ‘Ti a “Now, if ther skeleton air goin’ ter thet village, ain't Poker. Pete.” "But Poker Pete robbed the stage, mond necklace,” argued Powell. cabin; he was in the cabin, for we.saw him, and he had the necklace, for we saw that.” for he had that dia- “Jes’ because argiments kin be skeered up ter make it seem thet on certain occasions two and two makes five, ain’t no shore reason that two an’ two ever did make five, is it?’ was the old man’s answer. “This hyar trail is headin’ fer thet Teton village, and I’m bettin’ gold dollars aginst bullets thet Poker Pete wouldn’t never hike in thet direction.” . “We'll not accept your bet,” said Buffalo Bill; “we'll simply follow this trail and see,’ Tt was not so easy to follow, farther on, where iets was much rough ledey country and a slope of flinty hills. Yet they clung to it, losing a great deal of ‘valuable time. the distance was not great enough to justify the amount of time spent in» traversing it, darkness. came as they approached the village on the Squirrel Fork of the river which bore the name of that cooking utensil dear to the heart of a borderman, the Fryingpan. Yet the trail, once it had been picked up after one the flinty hills, had continued straight to the Teton village. THE BUFFALO 4 “He escaped from that For that reason, though they had held to the trail, ‘and. ‘BILL STORIES. Tey had argued over. the ween — it were ee oible that the skeleton horseman’s trail had been lost in those hills and another trail picked up instead; yet that argu- ment impugned their ability as trailers. They could not believe that the trail which led to the village was not the one they had followed away from Dakota Dan’s cabin. CHAPTER XI. IN THE TETON VILLAGE, They did not try to enter the village immediately. Instead, they camped on the stream some distance he low, concealing themselves in the willows, and there : they cooked their-supper,, using dry twigs and screening — their fire, and discussed the be stery in ae they seemed | to have become entangled. 8 There was a booming of drums in the village before Buffalo Bill set out alone to enter it. | He did not know what sort of reception he would get ~ if he went in boldly. a If Teton John was the skeleton horseman, and he was in the village, the appearance of Buffalo Bill there would indicate to him his probable arrest, and trouble for the ‘bold scout could be expected at the hands of aeeD John’ Si ae [he first question to be settled was whether Teton John was in the villag The booming ak ee was an ominous thine, it seemed to the experienced scout and his friends, for it indicated the “mixing” of “war medicine.’ ‘In other words, it showed that something had occurred to arouse the anger of the Teton Sioux and incline them to break out on the war-trail. The drum-booming helped the scott in a way, for, it pointed out to him the council-lodge, where, it was pretty certain, the chiefs and pe Warns were now as- sembled. , The village was full of snarling dogs, ad that made his advance difficult. Few men could have invaded the village without discovery. | Yet the scout made his way up to the ‘rear of the eouncil- lodge, and stood there listening. : The moon had not yet risen, but would be up soon, and he was anxious to ee what he could and be away before the moonlight came to expose him. A. group of sone ae came close up to the lodge. ’ = He heard them speak the name of “Squirrel Killer,” which, he had learned; was the Indian name. of Teton John. A. little later, co the ie and the Han betae ceased, some one began to speak, and the scout knew from what. was said that he was hearing the voice of Teton — John, for the ied SPO of pinoat as “Squirrel Killer?’ Day eee alae fe CRAG AE ara sSeph tayeas dines eni eye we try pnts arene THE BUPFALO “In the village of the white men I was shot at yester- day,” said Teton John, in a tone of anger. “The white men sought my life; they tried to shoot me down in the street. They are swearing that they will kill all the Teton dogs, and they are getting ready to move on the Teton village. I was followed to this place, for I am sure I. saw white men riding after me across the prairies.” __ His voice rose, and his excitement seemed to increase. He appealed to the Tetons for protection, and begged them to be prepared for the assaulting white men, proph- _esying that if they did not rise and strike first the white _ men would come like a destroying whirlwind and scatter -the Teton Sioux, slaying them and their wives and children. “The fellow is drunk,” thought the scout. ' He was not so considered, apparently by the Sioux; yet they were not disposed to accept all his statements without some questioning. One chief rose and began to query him, “Is not the Squirrel Killer himself almost a white man?” said this chief. “Does he not stay with the white - men more than he does with the.people of his mother, ‘the Teton Sioux? Does he not, when with the white men, wear the white men’s clothing, and talk only the white man’s tongue? And was he not sent away to the white man’s school, where they take Indian children and put false hearts into them and make them no better than squaws? Is not the Squirrel Killer afraid of his shadow?” | _ The answer of Teton John to this was hardly begun, when a wolfish dog made a snarling dash on the scout, assaulting him so viciously that he was prevented from running, for he had to stand and defend himself. ~The dog was joined by others; and then the lodge skin seemed to break open in front of him, and he reeled backward, fighting the dogs, with the lodgeful of war- riors dashing at him, | Escape was impossible. The scout was unwilling to slay any of the Indians, for that would have made his position a serious one if captured; and, because he thus would not lay about him in deadly fight, he was caught and hurled to the ground, a number of braves surrounding him and falling on him. A wild whoop announced his capture and the discov- ery of his identity. He was dragged into the council-lodge, and the fire in the center of the lodge was stirred up, so that its light flamed in his face. Then he saw Teton John, wearing a blanket and with paint on his face, and the other Indians also painted. More than that, and the thing which particularly drew his attentron now, Teton John's body and limbs were striped with white oe in the representation ot a skeleton. The arms and teas had a black background under the tied ee Sete tes cle seat ele noe al etarce a aed cr aici sath y cctn cla went nna fae haz Ugh anette ra now stood erect, eee erie se Racers ROR LOH EST ESE Bil STORIES. 9 white lines, thus tiene the skeleton stripes out with startling distinctness. “This is one of the men who followed me from the village of the white men,” said Teton John, “and it shows that others are near. It proves my words—that the whites are ready to march on the Teton village. You would not believe me. There is the proof!” He spoke in the Teton tongue, with dramatic Indian gestures, but the scout understood him. i “Tt is false,’ said Buffalo Bill, speaking to the excited Tetons. “What he says is false. The white men are not ready to march against the Teton Sioux. They are at peace"with the Tetons.” “TS not the tongue of the Long Hair always pled: C said Teton John, with attempted Indian scorn. ‘His cowardly heart.is full of lies!” The scout flashed him a keen look. “A friend of mine sought to help you, when you were in danger, Teton John.” “And followed me here!’ Teton John retorted. “He is out there now; and behind him, coming from the town, are the white men who are to attack this village before © morning.” He spoke so that the chiefs and warriors would under- stand him. “Hear me, ,chiefs and warriors of the Teton Sioux!” | said Buffalo Bill. He had thrust aside the hands that had held him, and facing the startled and angry war- riors, many of whom had weapons in their hands. “There stands the man who must be known by repu- tation, even to you, as the Skeleton Horseman! Last night he attacked the stage on the Fryingpan trail, killed the driver, and_robbéd the people in the stage!” Teton John drew a knife and sprang at him, but a chief caught the half-blood and threw him back. . “Tt is a lie!” yelled the half-blood. “I will cut out his white heart for this lie!’ “Listen to me,” said the scout. “That man is as much white man as he is Teton. It is his cowardly white blood © that has turned him into a robber of the stages, not the noble blood of the Sioux people, who are not murder- ers and robbers. When the Tetons fight, they fight boldly, not cowardly; and, when they take anything, it is something taken from their foes as the spoils of bat- tle. See the skeleton stripes which he wears on his body even here. Striped to look in the darkness like a skele- ton, he attacks the lonely stages, and disgraces the In- dian blood he bears in his veins. I came here with two friends, following his trail. We did not know but his cowardice had made him pass on round the village, lest you should see the deceit and the murder in his heart; and, to know if this were so or not, I came up to this lodge, where I heard the drums booming. Then I heard the crooked tongue of Teton John, whom you call the Seen ae edt orate Squirrel Killer. I might have made myself known to you then, but the dogs attacked me.” Buffalo Bill’s bold accusation against Teton John had created a tremendous sensation. Yet the stealthy manner in which he had crept into the village, with his startling capture and sudden intro- duction into the council-lodge, weakened his case. Teton John saw this. He saw the doubtful, scowling faces of the Teton Sioux, and that, while some of the Indians were dis- ‘posed to think well of the statements of Long Hair, others believed the scout to be lying. : Besides, though Teton John had enemies in*the vil-. lage, or at least cettain braves were there who distiked him because he was half-white, his accuser, Buffalo Bill, was entirely white, and that was against him. It was a saying of the Teton Sioux that the white man’s tongue is as crooked as the hind leg of a dog. So Teton John began a vicious tongue assault on Buffalo Bill, denying his story, and declaring that the scout was but a spy of the white men, who were advan- cing from the town to the attack of the place, and that he ought to be slain instantly, and “without mercy. Your untamed North American savage loves blood- shed, and the Sioux are true Indians in this respect. Though for some time they had “buried the hatchet,” and were at peace with the whites, and had even sent a peace delegation of braves to visit the Great Father at Washington, their fingers itched now to clutch the scalp- ing-knife and run it through the hair of the white man who stood before them. Buffalo Bill saw that he had put himself in of imminent danger, as he heard the railing words of a position Teton John, and saw the black looks cast on him by . the Teton chiefs and wafriors. CHAPTER XII. WHITE BEAVERS STRATEGY The wild Indian yell which announced the capture of - . Buffalo Bill was heard clearly by his two friends, Frank Powell and old Nick Nomad. They had heard, likewise, the loud barking of dogs, followed now by the noisy out- cry of squaws and children, the whole making an un- pleasantly suggestive outcry. | “Powell and the old borderman started to their feet, clutching their weapons. “Cody’ s in trouble!” “Captered, by ginger! It’s Samson, hands o' ther Philistines; and, if thar ie t anoth © hair-cut right quick, I ain't no Jeremiar, ther prophet!” He drew his lone rifle forward, and oe about to run in the direction of the noise. Prank Powell’s voice stayed. him. “If you'll remain here with the horses, Nomad, eee in ther er case ag in, A THE BUFFALO orange, and also took some extra revolver cartridges. ,us in their hands. BILL STORIES. ae | A . have them ay for use, Tn ia to a into the vil- lage, and see just how matters stand.” a a “And git captered yerself!” the old man protested. _ 7 Powell stepped to his saddle, and. took from it two small, round objects, each about half the size of an “I’ve told you about these,” he said, coming back, “and I’m sure I can stop any rush they may make with one of them. I think I’d better try to get in. Cody doubtless needs help, and, if I can get out of there with him, there'll be a lively call for our horses.” - bits oie iY Yes. a “If ye give ther cry of ther wildcat, Powell, I'll teste 7 I’m ter come, too, and Ill come bilin—me an’ ole Nebuchadnezzar. Nebby’s art ways o’ skeerin’ reds that a you wouldn't believe, I reckon! ae ue “All right,’ Powell assented. “But, if you do come [ in, be careful. It will do no good if we get all three ‘Ot ae There isn’t any help nearer than the = Spee a town.” 2g “Er Dakoty Dan’s cabin. Ef Dakoty war at home, I © know he could be relied on, in spite of ther cussed queer- ae ness of ther gal thet said she was his daughter.’ a Powell was already vanishing in the darkness toward the village, and was soon swallowed from sight. The moon had not yet risen, though faint harbingers of its ascent were visible on the horizon. Co ue would soon be flooding the landscape. ns When Powell got close up to the lodges, he found a that progress was not easy. - A number of braves had stationed ee at vari- ce ous points on the village borders, as guards. But the thing that m th ade White Beaver the most fear — ful was that the snarling Indian dogs were racing, here = and there through the village. s To get through without being seen or scented by them would, he knew, be difficult. The guard closest to. him was. staring it seemed to. Powell. To avoid this guard, he lay flat on the erolads and =. began a sidéwise crawling movement, thus entering the village on his stomach, like a lizard. ‘straight at him, Once inside, he took concealment behind one. of the lodges. ‘Fortunate for him it was that the moon had not ‘yet risen. The shadow of the lodge made the darkness in- tense, and he stood there in safety, hearing talk within the lodge, and also hearing the babble of braves in and Co around the council-lodge, some distance farther on. : The excitement at the council-house caused the int dians—they were women and children—-to vacate the lodge behind which Powell had taken shelter. He heard them leave: the lodge, and heard them as they hastened on, “THE BUFFALO He dropped again to the ground, lifted the edge of the lodge-tent, and, crawling inside, searched about until his hands fell on an Indian blanket. He got out of the lodge with this, and, with it wrapped about him and hooded over his head, giving ‘him the appearance of an Indian, he began again his courageous and perilous advance. One of the dogs came sniffing toward him; but, de- ceived by that Indian blanket, he went on past, without making a further investigation. | Thus Frank Powell reached the rear of the council- oe lodge. ‘e _ Standing there a few moments, he was able to hoe enough of what was said—for he understood the Teton , ‘dialect—to give him a fair idea of the condition of 4 _things. : | Buffalo Bill was inside the lodge, and was being ac- cused by Teton John, who had resumed his railing ac- cusations, and was begging the braves to strike Buffalo Bill down. ~ “What has the Long Hatt to say?” Powell heard a chief demand. "That it isa lie! That the Squirrel Killer speaks with a tongue so crooked that the wriggling serpent crawling on the ground is straight compared with it!” | There was a,sudden movement, and a cry of rage, as Teton John drew a knife, and would have leaped on Buffalo Bill if a chief had not again interposed. Powell stepped quickly round the lodge, until he came to the entrance. Nothing but the utmost boldness could suffice here, he saw. ‘Therefore, he ea swept the lodge-flap aside, and stepped_ boldly within, seen and clamored at by the women who were hovering at the opening, or near it. he beheld this figure in the entrance, and the chiefs and braves stared angrily at the intruder. . In had been the hope of White Beaver that he might, by persuasion, secure the release of Buffalo Bill. It required but a glance into the fire-lighted faces of _ the Tetons grouped in that council-lodge to tell him that _ by attempting persuasion he jeopardized not only Buffalo _ Bill, but himself. Plt was) coly surprise and: fear thee cow prevented - Teton John from dashing on Powell with the knife. | Teton John knew the ways of white men well enough | to know that Powell was heavily armed, or he would not i «men were things not to be despised. | So while Teton John hesitated, and the other Indians hesitated with him, White Beaver took in the situation. | He lifted his hand. | at held one of the small, round objects already re- | ferred to as having been taken from his saddle-pouch. Teton John stepped back, with knife clutched, when. | i f have appeared there, and the shooting abilities of white | = = 5 2 x = ae : : ma tia iesleanens eas Bilt STORRS. 21 “Jump!” he shouted. Buffalo Bill, still unbound, understood, even before ° the command came, what his friend meant to attempt. He leaped for the lodge entrance. As he did so, the round object shot from White Bea- ver’s hand, striking the ground behind Buffalo Bill with considerable force. | : | Instantly there was a blinding explosion, the Indians falling back before it, some of them in a panic hurling themselves against the lodge skins, while others rolled over in excitement and terror on the floor. As soon as he hurled the bomb—for, in effect, the thing was a bomb, though not deadly—Frank Powell turned about, and ran with his friend as fast as he could, dodging in behind the nearest lodges. The bomb had not scattered deadly missiles in the council-lodge, but with that flash and roar it had emitted sickening and stifling fumes, which so filled the tent that existence in it seemed to be unbearable. : The smarting and choking fumes filled throat, eyes, and mouth, and burned the lips, and caused the Indians . to indulge in violent sneezings and coughings. Those who had fallen to the ground near the lodge walls crawled with wild haste under ue ae and so burrowed to the outside. } _ Those near the entrance almost i backward out of it. Some of the others, blinded and screeching, lost their coolness, and danced rng, howling and terrified. The women and children hovering near the council- lodge had also been thrown into a panic of fear. They had heard the explosion, and caught sight of the blinding flash; they saw the warriors scrambling out, and they saw the smoke issuing on the lodge in stifling folds. It was “bad medicine,’ and they did not nse but it would kill them, as, apparently, it was killing the chiefs and the warriors, and, with yells and screams of fear, they turned and fled in every direction. Some of the dogs had even been frightened. But others were still as vicious and troublesome as it | was their wolfish nature to be, and these started in pur- suit of the running white men. The foremost of the dogs sprang at the legs of Buffalo Bill, : He turned, kicked the brute away, and, when it came at him again, he shot it dead with his revolver. The other dogs fell back, not daring to dash on the white men, but they did not give up the chase; and, as their number increased, and they followed persistently, they formed a snarling pack that informed the Indians of the direction of the flight of our friends. “Curses on the dogs!” said Powell. The dogs were again getting too close to feel com- DC Reet os aeRO TT - ee a A a pei crane ra dine Len eg ae eS ee ee 22 fortable to him, and he shot into the snarling pack, tum- bling one over. The pack broke apart, ‘seater: but the dogs still hung round the men, baying wolfishly. It did not take the scout and Powell long to reach the edge of the village. The moon was rising, and its light began to touch the tops of the teepees, as already it had lighted the tops _ of the near-by hills. Then they heard a bellowing voice, and in the faint light they saw before them Nick Nomad, mounted on Nebuchadnezzar, and leading the two other horses. Never was sight more welcome, for the incensed Te- tons were getting their courage again, were rallying, and some of the boldest had already begun a pursuit, led by Teton John, who felt that it would not do to let these white men escape from the place. Buffalo Bill had boldly charged him with peng 0 the skeleton horseman. | He knew what such a charge, made tg such a man, meant for him. If the scout got away now, he would return with a force strong enough to arrest him on the charges of be- ing the road-agent who had masqueraded as the skeleton rider; and that would mean, if the charge could be sus- tained against him, that Teton John would be sent to the penitentiary or hanged. ' Incensed and driven by fear, Teton John used his utmost eloquence and all his persuasive powers to con- vince the Tetons that pursuit must be begun and pushed at once. The entrance of Buffalo Bill with stealth into the village, and the explosion of that bomb in the very council-lodge itself, were things the Tetons could not forgive nor overlook. They believed that the bomb, though it had slain no one, had been of a deadly character, reasoning that it was sheer luck which had saved them from death when it exploded. “There they go! let them escape!’ So howled Teton John, in the Teton tongue, as he led the chase and urged other warriors to bring up the Indian ponies that were corraled by the stream. As for our friends, when they saw Nomad with the horses, they shouted to him, and ran at top speed. “Hyar we air!” said Nomad, riding to meet them. He turned the horses about, and, as the fugitives came up, the horses being, as it were, broadsides on, they sprang straight into the saddles. “Waugh! Nomad bellowed. “Ef we wants ter keep our topknots in position and good and healthy, I reckons we're elected ter make about the liveliest ue on record!” 7 © And this “lively hustle” they began at once to make. Get ponies! Get ponies! THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. Do. not— CHAPTER XIII. CORRALED BY REDSKINS. : In order to throw the Tetons off the scent, Buffalo Bill and his companions did not head straight back to- ward the cabin of Dakota Dan, but journeyed in a big semicircle, coming, finally, back to the trail that would take them in the course desired, which was the general course toward Rocket City. But the Tetons, led by Teton John, had shrewdly guessed that this was the very thing the ce would do. Hence, when the scout and his friends swung in to-. ward the trail, they came near falling into an ambus- | cade, and would have done so, probably, but for the sagacity of old Nebuchadnezzar. ae One of the things Nebuchadnezzar fenced was an Indian. ae That was, doubtless, because his master had fought Indians and been chased by them on him so often. As the trail was approached, Nebuchadnezzar scented. the Indians lying in ambush, and showed uneasiness.. “Whoa, ye ole fool!” Nomad grumbled at first. “What in the tarnation’s got inter ye?” me Then Nomad sensed the reason for the ee actions. aa | of his old horse. He drew rein. “Buffer,” he said, almost in a whisper, ahead of us, shore as shootin’! never cuts up sich didoes ‘less he smells the greasy hides (22 of Injuns! All stopped. Nebuchadnezzar cocked his ears forward, and stared, as if trying to look across the intervening distance. The wind was straight from the ambuscading Indians to him, so that their scent came to him hot and strong. He trembled. “When ole Nebby talks English as ae as that, Buf- fler, this ole coon takes a back track!” whispered Nomad. “We cert’in walks plum inter a trap ef we goes erhead !” Buffalo Bill was acquainted with the “sense” of the old horse. He had campaigned and hunted Indians with Nomad more than onee, and had watched the peculiar actions of Nebuchadnezzar at such times. “Yes, Indians,” he said. But he was surprised. . He had not thought the Tetons would be there. “They cut across the country, instead of following us.” “Which shows how cute they air, Buffler!” “It shows that Teton John, who is leading them, is using the white man’s half of his brains, instead of merely Indian cunning. We'll back track, and again cucle,< “thar’s Injuns) ) This hyar ole beast 4 , i They ned to do this, but some of the Indians, who had been stationed’ out in advance of the ambuscade, _ gave warning of this by wolf-cries, and the whole Teton - body came eee on Horas for the purpose of cutting them off. — A lively race followed. : : ‘Buffalo Bill and his companions succeeded in ‘getting into the trail heading toward Rocket City, but in doing so they were hard pressed; and, when they struck the trail, and had a straight course before them, the Indian pursuers were nce at their heels, and not far in ie rear. ‘As the chase One the Tetons became strung out, the poorer ponies falling behind. But there was a crowd of nearly twenty, led by Teton _ John himself, who were mounted on the best of the _ Teton ponies, and these crowded the fugitives hard. Buffalo Bill and his companions did not want to stop and fight these Tetons. Some of the Tetons would be killed, and they might have losses or wounds themselves ; and the scout did not wish to do. anything 4o foment trouble between the whites and the Teton Sioux, which certainly would follow if any of the Tetons were slain. ‘He wanted to remain on the side of law and order, and let others start trouble, if it had to be started. Hence he led the flight, urging his well-trained horse © to its best gait. EE was interesting to watch old Nebuchadnezzar, Ordinarily, the old beast seemed to be half asleep, and mm lic was at all times apparently a rack of bones, and dg without speed. But one of the peculiar things about old Nebuchadnez- | zar was that, when his master called on him to his best, #® there were not many horses in the Western country that an » could beat him, and this double burden began to tell on it. His speed and wind had more than once saved the life of his master in a) face with In- dians, Frank Poel s horse proved the slowest and poorest. ‘The distance to the vicinity of Dakota Dan’s cabin, : which it had taken the scout and his friends a whole day ' to cover by slow trailin g, they passed over now in less than three hours, with the pursuing Tetons right behind them, yelling now and then, and firing their rifles. ‘The bright ey made the Prairies ance as light as day. : It was, indeed, a rare race. : But now Powell's horse, that hd some Hae ek - showed signs of failing, was panting heavily, and going tame. Tt was abandoned, and Powell mound behind Buf- falo Bill. The scout’s horse bore the oe burden ee ey ' for a time. Wet at ek and the Jength a the race Even: old ‘THE BUFFALO BILL ‘Dan, er I’m a grasshopper eatin’ Pinte!” STORIES. 23 Nebuchadnezzar, hardened beast that he was, began to, show signs of distress. “We'll have to make a stand,” said Buffalo Bill. “Otherwise, we'll find ourselves afoot, and not able to. pick our ground. Here’s a rocky slope, with good fight- ing ground. We'll stop here.” | They dismounted hurriedly, driving the panting horses back behind them down another slope, and then choosing a standing-place sheltered by rocks, with a big, wide: spreading tree at their backs, they fired into the Tetons, to let them know they were at bay, and ce to pelt | now to the finish. When they discovered this, the Bolan: fell back, and, dismounting, advanced on foot, and ringed the white men in. Yet they kept well out of sight, but fired peciaeatie at the rocks where the white men had sought refuge. “They're waiting for daylight,” said Powell, “and then they'll try to get our hair. [ wonder if one of us couldn’t slip through and go for help?” at CHAPTER XIV. DAKOTA DAN TO THE RESCUE. Scarcely were the words out of Powell’s mouth when there sounded a queer tapping behind them, apparently coming from the heart, of the tree. Nomad and the others stared at the tree. _ “By all ther birds thet ever flew, it sounds like a big woodpecker !”’ said Nomad. Then, to their astonishment, a man’s head appeared in a hole in the tree not far above them, the head distinctly visible in the moonlight. “Waugh!” cried Nomad, in a shrill whisper. “Dakoty Tt was Dakota Dan, Nomad’s old friend and trapping acuainiance. “Up. here!” witspered the head. “Here’s a hole in ther tree, whar all o’ ye kin hide. Scratch up hyar, an’ fall inter it quick’s ye kin, fer ther durn reds air slippin’ round behint ther ridge, and will be atop o’ ye ‘most ‘fore ye know it!” A hand appeared, and was ied to add psec to the words. “Dakoty,”. said Nomad, how in thunderation did you git in thar oy Ye been hidin’ in thar all this while ?” The owner of the head grinned, as he said: “Nick, that ain’t neither hyar ner. thar; but, ef you don’t stir yér stumps lively, you'll quit stirrin’ “em fer- evermore on this hyar earth! I’m tellin’ ye!’ “But ther hosses?” aS “The Injuns is shore ter git °em. You can’t help it. Slide up hyar, same as if you war a b’ar hustlin’ fer a hole and safety. I’m warnin’ ye!” LJ : Sek wi Eee s See OO eee te ————— ee" aie a a | a TESTS. sage So : THE BUFFAL Buffalo Bill knew something of Dakota Dan, and knew this warning would not be given if it was not needed; and he was ready to act on it at once, while Nomad, in his great surprise, was still endeavoring to ask questions. “Fling up yer rifle!” commanded Dakota Daa The: scout thrust up the muzzle of his; and then Da- kota Dan began to pull on it, to hoist him. “Now, up wi’ ye, and quick erbout it!” Buffalo Bill began to climb the tree. When he gained the hole, he found it large enough to admit his body. It was a dark hole—so dark that. he could see only that speaking head and the waving arm. “Drap down inside,’ whispered the head, ‘‘and take yer weepin’ with ye. Let all holts.go, and tumble; you'll fetch up, all right.” The scout obeyed, falling a distance of six or eight feet, as much as the distance from the hole to the ground, and found himself on a heap of rotten wood that made a soft bed. “Stand back outer the way!’ him. Powell had thrust up his gun, and was being assisted to scale the tree by Dakota Dan. came the voice above He came tumbling down by Buffalo Bill, who had burrowed back to give him room. A rifle cracked not far off, and Nomad was heard to give a grunt of surprise. Then he came tumbling down inside of the tree: “Waugh!” he sputtered, digging rotten wood. out of his hair and beard, for he had fallen awkwardly. “Some Injun skunk shot at me jes’ as I reached ther hole, and ther bullet went slam inter ther wood at ther side o’ my head. My ear’s ringing yit frum the sound of it. I reckon he seen me, 7G tried to git me, same as if : war a climbin’ ole he b’ar.’ Then, outside, were heard wild yells, and the’ tram- pling of moccasined feet on the rocks. The Tetons had made their circle. round the ridge, and when they began to close their net they had discov- ered that the birds had flown. “Furder down,” said Dakota Dan. ter try it). Youll find a. sidin: slide, and it wilf take ye to whar you'll be safe as musk- rats in winter-time.” “Don’t be afeared To show that this was so, he squirmed past the puz- zied and huddled group, and led the way, in the dense darkness, guiding by his voice alone. The hollow, which seemed the hollow of the tree, went on soon in almost a horizontal direction several feet underground. Then Dakota Dan scratched a flint on a piece of Bel and struck sparks into some punky wood, and soon had a little fire going, which he fed to a greased wick. incline, like a beaver-— BILL STORIES. The light of a candle flamed forth. “Why didn’t you ask for a match?” said the scout. He looked about. Here was a sandstone cave, ap- parently, of such small size that it seemed but an en- largement of the hole they had come through. This hole continued on, into the darkness. The cave was damp, and had an earthy smell, and some of the rotten wood from the hollow tree had found “its way down into it. Dakota Dan had ES to a seat on a slab of sand- stone. He held the candle, and flashed its light on the damp walls. ~ Nick,” he said, “and Buffer, and es this aye is a find thet’s helped me twict; once when wolves rounded me up hyar, and another time when Injuns chased me. He never did come out by ther way he went in; and, when I investergated, this hyar is what I found. I’ve ‘kept it a secret, ter be used only in case 0’ need. 1 cal’- lated this hyar was a clear case 0’ need.” Nomad was now wringing the hand of his old trap- ping friend. “Dakoty, how’d yer eit in a yerself: » he asked. The Tetons were howling on the rocks above, a e could be heard plainly, and now was heard another a sound—wood was being piled against the tree. Dakota Dan smiled ina queer way. “I war afeared o’ it; they're goin’ ter burn ther ole tree down, thinkin’ that you fellers air in it, and they'll git ye. When Injuns gits wild, they’re wilder’n wild- cats; and they’re good and wild ter-night. Some time, Nick, ye kin tell me what started up ‘em so suddent, huntin’ fer yer ha’r. We ain’t got time now, And now Til answer ver question by oye all O OG jes’ ae f got'in hyar/ He led the way through the narrow, ienelitke pee that led on from this enlargement. oe It was damp, and at times too contracted for com- fort. “Tt warn’t a big b’ar I chased that time, er he’d never got through,’ Dakota Dan explained; “and hyar’s whar he went out at. But I’ve stopped that up, and it’s greased over now, so can’t be seen frum ther outside.” He flashed the light of the candle on some stones, which had originally been held in position by branches of © trees heaped against them, but were now held by the com- pacted earth. . “Then I opened ther tunnel through thar by a little — blastin’, ” he continued. “Jes’ foller along.” They followed, and in a little while they: came ‘to an- ghee enlargement, and a solid stone wall. I diskivered ther hole in ther tree by acci- _ dent, and this cave ther same way, by chasin’ a b’ar inter it, and watchin’ outside fer ther critter ter come out. © Sgt este pb SS act yee Se Ok Th Gs Se FE Se See ee In this wall was a door; and, when Dakota Dan had opened it, they found themselves in a small space, like a large closet-room; and in there, with a lamp burning, sat Dakota: Dan’ s pretty daughter. eyed /GHAPTER XV. MYSTERIES MIX UP. The daughter of Dakota Dan smiled enigmatically upon Buffalo Bill and his friends. “7 think T’ll go out and look round a bit,” speaking to Dakota Dan. . “I'd advise ag’inst it,” he urged. oe Pe But she went out, slipping softly through a door, which, to the surprise of the newcomers, opened through what seemed the wall. _ She had vanished, apparently, into a room. _ “A part o’ ther wall of my cabin,” said Dakota Dan, |.explaining. “I fixed it back o’ ther cabin hyar, in case o need, connectin’ it, fer ther same reason, wi’ ther tun- nel runnin’ ter the holler tree. It’s sometimes wise ter have a secret back way ter git outer yer house in a coun- try like this.” Buffalo Bill fancied that he cn now where Poker Pete had been when the cabin was being searched for him, | : , The room through which the girl had passed had closed softly behind her. “Makes me narvous ter have her take sech resks,” said Dakota Dan uneasily. “Why did she go?” asked the scout. “Ter see about her hoss. She’s got a handsome young mare in ther shed behind ther cabin. Thar’s a door goes ter ther shed frum the main room o’ ther cabin, but it’s takin’ resks. Better let ther reds git ther mare than ter run needless resk.” she said, ae They thanked Dakota Dan now for what he had done for them; and, naturally, asked him questions concern~ ing some of the secrets he had opened up for their benefit. : GAL been hyar a a many years,” he explained, “and in danger frum reds and outlaws. And, when a man lives whar ther is danger, he ginerally manages to pre- “pate fer if, And ‘thats all there is o’ this. I fixed up ‘this house so’s I could git inter hidin’ quick when thar war need of it. cor at ole tree which we come frum war, yer might _ say, my furdest back door. Too bad that ther pesky Tetons air oe it! I'l have ter change my back en- trance now.’ ae e\V e Can go into your cabin from here?” asked Powell. “Yes; but I thought mebhe we'd best wart a bit. Maud will be comin’ back d’reckly.” 2H BUPEALO BILE STORIES. Maud did not return as soon as her father expected. For this reason, Dakota Dan opened the door through which she had disappeared from the closet space, and all entered the main room of the cabin, hearkening lest In- dians should be outside. Buffalo Bill and his companions were anxious to ques- tion Dakota Dan concerning the mysteries they had noted in the actions and words of his daughter, yet they hesi- tated, and postponed it. At first the yells of the Indians who were surrounding the burning tree came to them quite plainly. They sat alone in the darkness of the cabin, listening to these sounds. ee | “It will be a good thing, if they thinks that all o’ ye war burnt up in that tree,” said Dakota Dan. “If they thinks that, they won’t look no furder.” ne Moccasins were heard on the grass by the door, fol- lowed by a knock, and then the voice of Teton John. “Maud!” he called. The only answer was a smothered curse from Dakota Dan. “Maud!” Teton John repeated. “Don’t be scared, and don’t be silly. The Tetons have gone. I have sent them away. They did not intend to trouble the cabin, any- way. I wouldn’t have let them: do that. And they wouldn’t trouble you.” Still no answer came from within. “I think you're in there!” / Teton John’s voice grew angry now, and he kicked on the door with his moccasined foot. “Where is that door leading to the stable?” Buffalo Bill whispered to Dakota Dan. Dakota Dan rose, caught the scout by the hand, and, with stealthy steps, led him to a corner of the roonr. “Right hyar. I s’pose you're goin’ ter try ter ketch him? Only way ter do is ter shoot him, likely, and I sha’n’t hold it agin’ ye if ye do. When ther likes of all sech as him air underground, the better fer everybody.” He pressed against the wall in a peculiar way, and a door swung open, a hidden door, which the scout’s search of the cabin had failed to reveal. “Look out fer yerself, and look round fer Maud. [I’m follerin’ ye in jes’ a minute. I'll parley with ther devil at ther front door, and that will let ye up behind him as he’s listenin’ ter me. Look out fer Maud!’ Buffalo Bill did not have time to digest the oe of that final warning. To his surprise and delight, when he had passed turough a short tunnel and opened there a door, he found himself in a stable, where a handsome horse stood, bri- dled and saddled. It was the girl’s riding animal, yet it bore a man’s saddle, and at ae saddle-bow was coiled a lasso. : But the girl was not there. Pe ie a Me Se © THE BUFFALO The light was not good, and the scout did not stop to inspect this horse. He wanted to capture Teton John while Dakota Dan held the rascal in fr ont of the door by talk. lowed by running feet, and then, before he could get round the house, an angry command to stop came, in the voice of Teton John, followed by a scream, a shot, and the heavy fall of a body. Then Buffalo Bill saw Maud Robinson running wildly away from the house, pursued by a skeleton- striped figure. This skeleton figure caught up the screaming gitl, and, climbing with her in his arms to a saddled horse, he rode away with her, the girl falling a in his arms as he thus rode off, The scout’s evolve had been lifted more than once in the few moments it had taken to enact this, but always it was lowered again, for he could not take the risk of shooting the girl, But Buffalo Bill was not alone i in seeing this etanile tragedy. Dakota Dan, together with Powell and ae had come leaping out of the cabin by the front door, drawn by. the girl’s scream and the shot. If this had really been a trick of Teton John and the Sioux to draw forth the occupants of the cabin, it would have worked like a charm. A more clever trick could not have been devised for the purpose. trick. Buffalo Bill by this time had turned back to the stable. “He reappeared almost instantly on the back of the horse he had seen tied there; and he set out in a wild gallop in pursuit of the skeleton rider. In a little while the skeleton rider came into view, holding the girl, who lay in his arms in a limp heap. : He seemed to be hesitating and uncertain as to the cour se he ought to take, and Buffalo Bill became aware of the fact that off on the tight two Indians were run- ning, as if to intercept the mysterious horseman. They fired at him now, the flashes of their guns reveal- ing their head-feathers and painted faces, Showing oe ‘they were Teton Sioux. The scout paid scant attention to these fadians. tae merely wondered if the remainder of the Teton force that had followed Teton John was over there. Then he settled down in a stern pursuit of the skeleton horseman. The girl was apparently pare carried away against her will, iC This was the time, the scout hoped, that he would i able to learn who was this skeleton rider. He removed the lasso from its coil and held it in his hand for a cast, when he saw that he was ee the Strange rider. vee But, as the scout left the stable, he heard a seats, fol- But it was not a. BILL STORIES. The latter glanced back, and then ce to greater speed. But his horse was not as fast as the mare the scout rode, and it was carrying double. The scout drew nearer and nearer. The man turned, and, as his skeleton arm swung up, a revolver flashed. The bullet sang past the scout’s ee He did not draw rein, nor stop, but merely bent for- ward in the saddle, with the lasso held in readiness. ~ ahead, The scout decreased the distance. The country was now oe and the pace of the pores : was tremendous. When he was close enough for a cast, the whisling: noose shot from the hand of Buffalo Bill like a bolt of lightning and settled over the head of the masked a tery, saddle, and imperil by that the life of the girl. But, as the noose settled down round the man’s neck, the horse he rode stumbled, so that the effect was the satne as if the scout’s animal had stopped suddenly and” pulled the man out of his saddle. He was jerked to the ground, and went rolling over te and over heavily, the girl sliding out of his arms and striking the ground, with a scream. Buffalo Bill drew rein, and jumped | down, running first to the girl’s assistance. As he did so, a revolver-shot tore through his coat, and he found that the shot had been fired by the skele- : ton rider, who had risen and was pulling on him again. A. sidewise jump. saved the scout from the second bullet, and then he was on the skeleton horseman, ue choking him savagely. He. did not desist until he had. choked the dello into insensibility. ‘By that time Powell, Dakota Dan, and Nick Newnd had appeared, running wildly. ee The girl had staggered dizzily to her feet, and en about to fall, but was catght wae eee in the arms -of her father. “Waal, ther devil’s dead!” said Nick None : “No; I only choked him until he doesn’t know any- thing,” corrected the scout, referring to the man he had captured. “And now we'll see who the rascal is.” “T didn’t mean him!’ said Nomad. “I meant Teton John. That shot we heard at ther cabin killed him deader’n a door- nail. a sett him a thar. And thats why this——” ae ' Buffalo Bill tore. the ae from the face of-the Sele ton. rider, who lay unconscious on the ground before As if in terror, the skeleton aa drove now ete It was the scout’s intention to keep his horse going, so. 4 that the man should not be jerked violently out of the . gf SS hoping to meet her. John at that time. ' The white bright moonlight shone down into the face of : | Poker Peie! CHAPTER XV CONCLUSION. It was daylight, and our friends were in the cabin of = Dakota Dan again. Poker Pete had been desperately wounded by Dakota Dan, as he tried to escape, and had but a short while to live.” He lay on a bieakee by the window that gave the most light, for he had begged for more light. The girl stood by the window, weeping. . There had been explanations, many of them, yet all |. things were still not clear. The body of Teton John, who had been killed by Poker Pete, lay on the grass outside, by the door. 90 far, it was known that Teton John and Poker Pete © E had each sought the hand of Maud Robinson in mar- riage. Teton John had been scorned by the girl, because he was a half-blood, while Poker Pete had been forbid- den the house by Dakota Dan, because he was a gam- ‘bler, and, as Dakota Dan believed, a “bad man” gen- erally. But Poker Doe was handsome and debonair; he was a a good talker, and he had fascinated the girl, who, though she had been sent away by her father to be edu- cated, still had the untaught heart of a child in matters of this kind. Poker Pete had been paying her visits by stealth in the absence of her father. This was why, it may be explained here, she had put out the light so quickly when that knock had been heard by her and by Poker Pete on the cabin door, for at first she had thought the one who knocked was her father, and that he had surprised me in a meeting with the for- bidden lover. Her after actions at that time had been to screen Poker Pete from the men who had really appeared at the cabin searching for him. Poker Pete had been hidden by her in the secret closet, and while he was in there, and the three comrades were making their search, Teton John had appeared for an in- terview with her, not knowing any one was there, yet He had been fired on close by the cabin walls by Nomad, and the chase which led to the _ Teton village was then begun. It was this “jealousy” existing between the two men which had caused Poker Pete to attack Teton John in the village. None of Poker Pete’s bullets had struck Teton He had merely stumbled and fallen, knocking himself senseless for an instant, and slightly and temporarily laming him, and that was all. THE BUFFALO CS PTT TTT ST Saat eT Bilis oe 27 It was clear now that both Teton John and Poker Pete had been playing “skeleton horseman.” Teton John had begun it, striping himself with Indian paints, the suggestion having come to him at first from the skeleton lines he had several times drawn on himself for use in the Teton village dances. Then Poker Pete had taken it up, using a siiiicnt black suit, on which skeleton lines in white were painted. It had been an excellent device with which to frighten the timid people who rode in the stages, and it made his own danger in the “hold ups” less. Another thing Buffalo Bilt knew now was that Poker Pete was the “Prairie Bob” who had killed a sheriff and fled to this wild region. But only pity was in the heart of the great scout, as he stood watching the girl sobbing by the window, and the young gambler and outlaw, whose life was ebbing away. As he thus looked and pitied, a auicstion from Dakota Dan brought a startling disclosure. “What was yer name fore ye took up these hyar nihiee names?” the old man was saying. “A queer name—Anderson Sanderson. I never heard another like it, and that’s why I dropped it; it was too easy to remember and too hard to forget.” Dakota Dan gave a convulsive start; the girl stared at Poker Pete, and then screamed. “What!” said Dakota Dan. “Anderson Sanderson?’ “A queer name!” commented Poker Pete. Dakota Dan’s voice softened. “Young feller, I fergives ye everything, and I hopes you forgives me. This hyar girl, which ye wanted ter marry, ain't my own daughter at all. I adopted her when her folks was dead. And she had a brother. Her name war then Violet Sanderson, and ther brother, which we didn’t know what had become of him, war named Anderson Sanderson. But I hopes ye fer- gives me! [’m-glad that you two didn’t marry, fer *twould have been a sin! I understands now yy you two looks so much alike.” The girl had thrown herself, sobbing, on the ioe of the dying man. Later still, the other mysterious things and circum- stances which had troubled Buffalo Bill and his friends were all cleared away. Poker Pete had been the “ima Rand” who had sold soap in the street. The “warning” contained on that soap-wrapper had not been intended by him for the scout, but had been written by Maud Robinson, and intended by her for Poker Pete. Yet Poker Pete, recognizing the scout, had delib- erately set about to draw the scout out of the town on ‘that lonely trail, and then had tried to ambush and assas- sinate him. In selling soap on the street as a onal street faker, | bj ahs Piste Seti sic a\ SING Cee RAR ne Wert mM E RTM Die Mn Ni ar BUFFALO Poker Pete was simply making good a wager with Maud Robinson, Dakota Dan’s daughter, who had declared that he could not carry a thing like that through without de- She had loaned him certain of her clothing in No doubt, too, Poker Pete had tection. which to make the trial. been very willing to try it, for success meant a good deal of money with a small outlay, A scar, long and white, was found on Poker Pete's arm, after his death; but over this scar was the white- striped sleeve of the “skeleton’’ skin-tight suit. He had explained, in his dying moments, that he had not intended to come to the cabin that night, but had been out in his skeleton clothing to hold up a stage, when he had heard the Indian yells, and had ridden to investi. gate, co Believing the girl in danger from the Tetons, he had come up to the cabin, and then, encountering her, he had sought to carry her off to safety, forgetting, in his anx: iety, his skeleton clothing. She had screamed at sight of him, and- then had fainted, for she did not know he was the “skeleton horse- man,’ or one of them. BILL STORIES, She had been scouting round to see what the Tetons were doing, and at the time was returning to the house. _ Finally, it may be said that the diamond necklace given to Dakota Dan’s adopted daughter by Poker Pete was _ returned to the young lady from whom it had been taken. Teton John was buried, with funeral rites, by the Te- ton Sioux. - | as But by that time their rage against Buffalo Bill and the white men had somewhat abated, for they had learned a good deal about Teton John’s secret history and crimes. ; i i a For a long time afterward the singular story of the “Masked Mystery” was one of the wonder-tales of that region. : : . & THE END. Next week there will appear a thrilling story, full of bright, snappy dialogue and exciting situations, entitled: -— “Buffalo Bill and the Brazos Terror: or, The Lone Star Outlaws.” Do not fail to get No. 287, and read this wonderful narrative of Buffalo Bill’s adventures. _ ag ABOUT THE EARLY NUMBERS OF THE ‘print. MEDAL LIBRARY No, 150—Frank Merriwell’s Schooldays. mE receive hundreds of letters every week from readers asking if we can supply the early numbers of Tip ‘Top containing Frank’s adventures. Im every case we are obliged to reply that numbers 1 to 300 are entirely out of We would liketo call the attention of our readers to the fact that the Frank Merriwell Stories now being published in book form in the Medal Library are inclusive of these early numbers. The first book to appear was No, 150 entitled ‘““Frank Merriwell’s Schooldays.”? We give herewith a complete list of all stories that have been published in book form up to the time of writing. We will be glad to send a fine colored catalogue of the Medal _ Library which is just filled with good things for boys, upon receipt of a one-cent stamp to cover postage. vs I \ MEDAL, LIBRARY No ei 271—Frank Merriwell’s Chase. 276—Frank Merriwell in Maine. 167——Frank Merriwell’s Chums. 178—Frank Merriwell’s Foes. 184—Frank Merriwell’s Trip West. 189—Frank Merriwell Down South. 193—Frank Merriwell’s Bravery. 197—Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour. zoi—Frank Merriwell in Europe. 205—Frank Merriwell at Yale. 209—Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield. 213—Frank Merriwell’s Races. -217—Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour. 225—Frank Merriwell’s Courage. 2290—Frank Merriwell’s Daring. 233—Hrank ‘Merriwell’s Athletes. - 237—Frank Merriwell’s Skill. 240—Frank Merriwell’s Champions. 244—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale. 247—Frank Merriwell’s. Secret. 251—Frank Merriwell’s Danger. 280—Frank -Merriwell’s Struggle. 284—Frank Merriwell’s First Job. 288—Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity. 292—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck. 206—Frank Merriwell’s Protégé. 300—Frank Merriwell on the Road. 304—Frank Merriwell’s Own Company. 308—Frank Merriwell’s Fame. 312—Frank Merriwell’s College Chums. 316—Frank Merriwell’s Problem. 320—Frank Merriwell’s Fortune. 324—Frank Merriwell’s New Comedian. 328—Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity. 2320-—Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit. 336—Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme, 340—Frank Merriwell in England. 344—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards. 348—Frank Merriwell’s Duel. 352—Frank Merriwell’s Double Shot. 254—Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty. 356—Frank Merriwell’s Baseball Victories, 258—Frank Merriwell in Camp. 262—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation. 267—Frank Merriwell’s Cruise. The Price of the Merriwell Books is Ten Cents per Copy. Ai all Newsdealers 359—Frank Merriwell’s Confidence. 362—Frank Merriwell’s Auto. 365-—-Frank Merriwell’s Fun. ISSUED EVERY TUESDAY. BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS © F uttalo E Bill wins his way into the heart of every ‘one who reads these strong stories of stirring adventure on the wide prairies of the We Boys, if you want tales of drawn ¢ true to Aas do not pass these E CENTS ers, or tek by the publishers to any address ten rece "| For sale by all newsdeal the West that are by. 7 COPY int of price in money or postage stamps - 1 HERE ARE THE 259-—Buiffalo Bill's Daring Rescue; or, Hunted by a Wolves. 260—Bufialo Bill at the Torture Stake; or, A Close Call E Among the Utes. 261 Bufialo Bill’s Treasure Train; or, The Doom of the False Guide. 262—Buffalo Bill Among the ioc face: or, The Wizard ~ of the Wind River Mountains. 263—-Buffalo Bill’s Border Beagles; or, The Trail of Gold and Death. 264—Buffalo Bill and the Bandits in Black: or, The Wild ~ Riders of the Wilderness. . 265-—Buffalo Bill and the Indian Tiger; or, The Leap for Lite. 266-—Buffalo Bill’ on the Deadwood Trail; or, Cat-Eye, the Sioux Renegade. 267——Buffale Bill in the Cafion of Death; or, Ringed: In by Navajos. 208—Butfalo Bill and Billy the Kid: or, The Desperadoes of Apache Land. #057 Butialo Bill and the Robber Ranch Kine: or, The White Tarantula: of Texas. 270-—Buffalo Bill in the Land of Wonders; or, The Mad oo Chief of the Madocs; 271—Buffalo Bill and the Traitor Soldier; or, Fair Inez, the Pearl of the Post. ee Bill’s Dusky Trailers; or, The Bandits at ay. oe TITLES: 273Bufialo Bill’s Diamond Mine; or, The Bedouins of the Plains. 274-—Buffalo Bill and the Pawnee Serpent; or, The Ven- detta of Death. 278—Buffalo Bill’s Scarlet Blood Stain. 276-—Butfalo Bill Running the Gantlet; or, of the Emigrant ie read 277-—Butfalo Bill's Leap in the Dark; or, The Outcast of Santibell. 276—B suffalo Bill’s of Mahoe. 279-—Bufialo Bill’s Desperate Mission; or, The Round- up in Hidden Valley. 280—Buffalo Bill’s Ghost R aid; or, Hot Times at Bubble Pricking. 281—Buffalo Bill’s Traitor Guide; or, The Vengeance of Alkali Fete. 262—-Bufialo. Bill’s 3 Camp-fires ; Snake River Crossi sing, Hand; or, The Aecusing The Wolves Jating Plunge; or, The Grisly Ghost or, The Bad Man of 283+-Buffal lo Bill Up. a Stump ; or, The Pawnee Paker of the Bitter Root. 284—Buffalo Bill’s Secret Foe; or, The Wizard of Windy Gulch. 285—Buffalo Bill’s Master-stroke; or, The Specter of Death Valley. 286—Buffalo Bill and the Masked } Mystery ; or, Teton John, the Hali-breed, if YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our libraries and cpnaot procure them from newsdealers, they can be obtained we this office direct. Cut out and fill in the following order blank and send it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them to you by return mail, POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City. EE OSC ST an ny 190 Cres copies of BUPPALO BILL Nose « «BRAVE AND BOLD’ Nos Fie eee me NTA Alot he ee Vises AMR NEY RINT RRP AN CESS Se cialis eis mie bm mo pe wh Mele mie mls wee en bie elle a te Gentlemen :—Enclosed find..........2. -cents for which please send me ; ---..-.-copies of TIP TOP NOSbee vae van Ee Naeeneo eee pea eumenU won doe NICK CARTER NOS), 255 eniaey es esa ae Rou ate... 8 DIAMOND DICK: Neer ee Baas pene ye Generous Nome.. ee np mm nin nam ann Papasan enna tn cneenn arena: weet and No... .. pean an cenan an Se ara ek Sr ee eee Ue ee enna nena mae aes eget & ROUGH RIDER DTOS UU Ue ame ecu ae Punae nna eS 4: AER PAD ISSUED EVERY MONDAY. HANDSOME COLORED COVER SEED Ted Strong wants to make your acquaintance, boys, at we are convinced that you will be proud to have him as a friend, ‘The tales of his adventures among the cowboys are full of fascinating interest. and he upholds the title. PRICE FIVE CENTS PER He is known to every one as “King of the Wild. West” COPY For sale by all newsdealers, er sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt ef price in money or postage stamps HERE ARE THE 108—King of the Wild West’s Campaign ; or, How Stella Won the Victory. too—King of the Wild West’s Booty; or, Stella Finds the Pirate Loot. 110—King of the Wild West’s Success; Marked Bill. 111—King of the Wild West’s Daring; or, Stella’s Great Lariat Throw. 1i2—King of the Wild West’s Key; or, Stella in the Hidden Vault. 113——King of the Wild West’s “Hassayamper’”’; or, Stella : in the Death Cavern. 114—King of the Wild West’s Strength; or, Stella on the Cattle Ranch. 115—-King of the Wild West’s Danger; or, Stella among the Hopis. 116—King of the Wild West’s Gulch Diggings; or, Stella’s Star Role. 117—King of the Wild West’s Motor-Car; Fosdick’s Peril. 118—King of the Wild West’s Duty; or, Stella Cast Away in the Wilderness. -119—King of the Wild West’s Wild-Goose Band; or, Stella’s Long Flight. 120—-King of the Wild West’s Galleon; or, Stella’s - Spanish Treasure. - or, Stella and the or, Stella LATEST TITLES: 121—King of the Wild West’s Fire Fight; or, Srila in, the Burning Forest. 122—King of the Wild West’s Bluff; or, How Stella Saved the Day. - 123—King of the Wild West’ Ss Nerve; or, Stella in the Saddle. 124——King of the Wild West’ S Hieiing Hand; or, Stella, the Girl Range-rider. 125—King of the Wild West’s Buckskin Guide; or, . Stelfa at the Grand Round-up. 126—King of the Wild West's Strategy 5 or, ‘Stella’s Trick Pony. 127--King of the Wild West’s Tangled ite or, The Disappearance of Stella. 128—King of the Wild West’s Long Ride; or, Stella Lost on the Red Mesa. 129—King of the Wild West’s Phantom ; or, Stella in Danger. 130—King of the Wild West’s Broncho-busters; or, Stella’s Fort in the Coulée. 131—King of the Wild West’s Corral; or, How Stella Brought the Warning. 132—King of the Wild West’s Tenderfoot Pard ; OF, Stella’s Surprise Party. © 133—King of the Wild West’s Night Wrangler ; or, What Happened to Stella. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our libraries and cannot procure them from newadealers, they ean be obtained from this office direct. Cut out ard fill in the rad erder blank and os it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them to you by return mail. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City. 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