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Show dale looked very sober, Lottie Carl understood nothing. It waa merely so much noise to her. This is Kittys place. Looks better Inside, said San Juan, halting before y a long building made of rough boards, and having an annex In the form of a big tent. A passage-waof canvas joined the tent to the house. Calling a boy to hold their horses, the gambler dismounted and helped the girl from her horse. Dinsdale moved more slowly, revolving something in his mind. As San jUa started to. lead them to a side door of the house Dinsdale touched his arm and In a low voice said: I sabe now. She's Kitty the Schemer. Theres only one Kitty, and she certainly Is a master schemer," saj,j San Juan with a laugh. I dont like It, persisted Dinsdale. "I warn you I probably shall kick over the traces. Not after youve looked into s two-stor- y By Hugh Pendexter LOTTIE CARL SYNOPSIS. In the late summer of 187, Peter Dinsdale, on his way to the Black hills to loin the throng of makes the acquaintance of the keeper of a Deadwood gambling house, San Juan Joe, who is retheir turning to Deadwood. On Dins-dalo way through Red canyon and Joe hear shots, apparently far ahead of them. Riding carefully, they meet a young woman running from a party of Indians. Dinsdale takes her on his horse and the two men ride through her pusuers, killing three. gold-seeker- s, t CHAPTER I ' II 2 . 1 Continued. For a moment they listened, astound- Then Dinsdale and the gambler were upon them, both hands of each spitting Are. The first flushes of Dins-daleheavy guns revealed the position of the Indians; then It was over before the. red men had had time to realize It had commenced. With the crashing boom of the big Colts and the murderous bark of the 'derringers three of the five bucks dropped on the canyon, floor and went to talk with the ghosts. The other two managed to crawl to one side, bleeding profusely. Fifty rods up the canyon Dinsdale checked the mad rush of his horse. Those ahead must have heard our guns. Theyll be laying for us," he warned. From behind them rose the ululating cry of a wolf, a signal of discovery. The cry quavered and abruptly ceased ns a wounded warrior reached the maximum of effort. That tells the others the whole story. We must be out of tills befdre Hi, daylight and no turning back. girl, how many were there of them? The girl moaned hysterically and clutched the speakers waist more tightly. Dinsdale reached hack and pinched her ear, and commanded: Stop that noise, llow many Jumped ed. 's you ?" They fired from the sky. They killed Belinan and his wife. They killed the Stacey brothers, l'oung Dawley fired back. They dropped Oil ! from the sky and used clubs. Oil I Oh! With clubs! Young Dawley. A dozen, like pictures of devils. Out of the black sky almost into our fire. "Call it thirteen, said Dinsdale to his companion. "Five or six out of it already. Six or seven left! Not enough for breakfast! Load up and get going, rete, snarled the gambler. A moment. I'm loaded. Stop your noise, girl, or they'll have your scalp. On swept the horses at a gallop They plunged recklessly down a steep grade, and their riders were blind men because of the velvet darkness. Then appeared a slight suggestion of light ahead, and this when readied became an abrupt turn in the canyon wall. Hounding it, they beheld the source of the faint illuminations a rosy bed of coals, with flames licking through the charred embers of two wagons. The ground was strewn with boxes and bales, and the horses had been butchered ! But what constituted a Jfiore horrible litter were the mutilated forms within the zone of light, The girl lmd named four dead men and one woman. ITer rescuers counted nine stark figures, which meant the Belman outfit had been wiped out with the exception of one tiie girl. Watch sharp! yelled San Juan, galloping into the lead with the reins In his teeth nnd his derringers ready. There was no sign of the enemy on the canyon floor, and the riders devoted their attention to the walls of broken rock now faintly illumined by the fire. Thirty feet up and on the right-hanside something moved and dislodged pebbles. Instantly Dinsdale threw up. a gun and began firing. With the third bullet a savage rolled down the uneven slope and sprawled grotesquely across a boulder. He wore three feathers of the golden, or war, eagle in his long black hair. The red paint along the median line of the hair was conspicuous. To count coup Dinsdale bent low to one side, and the girl screamed for him not to drag her from the horse. He snatched away the feathers, only to drop them as several bullets whistled about his head. San Juan Joe was firing at the wall. Rifles bellowed an answer, filling the canyon with crashing echoes. A dead warrior, his head smashed by a heavy derringer bullet, hung over n rock, his hands hanging down as if he were trying to reach the rifle just below him. Then in a few mighty springs the frightened horses turned a bend in the road and leaped into the darkness. Dinsdale felt the girls arms relaxing. Replacing his belt guns, he reached around and caught her Just as she began to topple Into the road. He pulled her around in front of him and placed a hand over her heart She still lived. After a mile of reckless traveling the men drew rein and listened. There was no sound of pursuit. Then the gambler said : "It's near here. Cun you hear it? Itunn'ng water on the right. The d left-han- spring where flie Metz family was wiped out. Five men and two women. The girl gave a little shiver and began to weep. Shes come to her senses, Dinsdale announced. Get some water and perhaps shell feel better. Are And whats your you hurt, girl? name? "I aint hurt Wish I was dead. I'm Lottie Carl, she moaned. They dropped down out of the sky and began shooting. The Stacey boys were mending a broken wheel by the fire. "Any of your folks with them?" gently asked Dinsdale. .None of my folks. I aint got any. But they was good to me. Only friends I had. Then they dropped out of the sky like big black birds. They fell almost into our fire. The Staceys and the Belmuns was killed in a jiffy. d Oh 1 Can you ride behind me now?" asked Dinsdale. Here in front. Im frald of the dark when I ride behind you. Id feel them clawing at me. In tills fashion they came to the upper end of the canyon and into the dawn. Both stared curiously at the one survivor of the massacre. She was slight of physique, thin of face from horror and probably privations. She looked undernourished, Ad her coarse gown and man's boots did not make for attractiveness. San Juan Joe, however, something of an expert in feminine appraisals, mentally decided that her large gray eyes and wealth of chestnut hair would some day trans1 form her into a beauty. How old are you, girl? he asked. "Seventeen, she answered, studying them with great frankness. Dinsdale mumbled: Thought you w'as a mite of a child, not more than thirteen by the heft of you." I aint very hefty," she admitted. We was Ohio folks. Now theyre all dead. Wish I was with them! , Thats no way to talk, said Dinsdale. Troubles are nil ended. Teli us how you managed to get away from them. Her lips trembled, but this time she fought down the hysteria nnd managed to explain : "They were so sure of, me. I was crazy from it all. They got to dancing. They began hurting the poor, dead bodies. Oh, but that was awful ! She ceased speaking and bit ber lips. Again conquering her weakness, she went on: It was while they were busy that I started to walk away. I was hoping theyd kill me quick. Before I knew It I was at the turn in the road. Beyond that the light didnt shine. I began running. I guess you know the rest. I couldn't run very fast in these, nnd she thrust forward a boot. Seems as if they didnt want to catch me at first. They was hooting and laughing as they come after pie. Thats about all. Now I know what trouble the cards meant and who had to cut the remarked the gambler. deuce, trail They took to an old lodge-pol- e and followed it to Pleasant valley. Beside a spring the men baited and produced bacon, bread and coffee. The gambler started to cook the breakfast, but the girl insisted on taking charge of the coffee pot and frying pan, and gravely informed him: Its for the Woman to get the Copyright by The Bobbs-hlerrl- Go. would rifles. Let him brushed hair, fine ns spun silk. She glanced shyly at them and said: I aint thanked you for what youve . done for me." Never mention It," said San Juan, bowing gallantly. Now well eaL" He ushered them into the dining room, pulled out a chair for Lottie Carl and seated her with quite the grand manner. The fare was bountiful, and Lottie Carl found that tbe tragedy bad not killed ber appetite. They had finished and tiie gambler was cutting the end from a cigar when a man rushed Into the room and hoarsely cried out: Wild Bills been shot ! Done to death from beiiind by that dirty snake of a Jack McCall ! D n him I If Deadwood City aint stretched his misrable wcasan before now It oughter be busted flatter than this town even is. But Wild Bill Hlckock! Some one got the drop on Wild Bill? lncredu-ousl- y gasped Dinsdale. Got tbe drop, h 1! howled the newsbearer. "McCall took grubstakes from him. Made off to be everlastingly obliged to him. Then stood behind him while Bill was playing a few cards and shot him through the back of the head. Spose that skunk would a dared make a move if Wild Bill had had half a eye on him? An at that Bill had a gun pulled clear of the holster an cocked when they picked him up from the table where he fell, face down. San Juan sorrowfully lamented. Wild- Bill was white. Too bad. Too bad. They left the dining room and found that the hotel and town was alive with the news. From the hotel proprietor San Juan bought a roll of blankets for tiie girl and some cooked food, and hired a horse. When they struck on the corduroy road that led to Dead-wooCity San Juan was keen to make fast time.; but the girl, wearied by her terrible experiences and unused to horseback riding, made haste an Impossibility. Dinsdale detected his companions impatience and suggested that lie ride on ahead, adding: Ill fetch Loitie Carl along. No; Ill stick along with you two. Theres probably some excitement In town over Wild Bills death, and Id like to be there. Tiie traveler.: passed through fair valleys, richly grassed, that would have delighted the heart of the husbandman. According to Dinsdnles count they crossed Spring creek thirty-ontimes in traveling a dozen miles. d e go, range of their eh? mused San Juan. Juan stepped back and stared whimsically at Dinsdale. Like an old She Insisted on Attending Cooking. to the made their camp on the head waters of this stream, and built a lean-td or camp, for the girl. She Insisted on attending to the They half-face- cooking. Early in the morning, while the valley was still swathed in white fog, they were up and eating nnd soon on their way. A short ride brought them to Hill City, which interested D'ns-dal- e hugely. There were two hundred log houses, many of them uncompleted, and not a solitary inhabitant. Deadwood City again was tbe answer for this wholesale abandonment. Once the citizens heard of tbe poor mans diggings in tiie northern gulch they bad stampeded us one. That noon they rode into Rapid City on the creek of the same name. This town and its Immediate environs were bustling with mining activities, the first the travelers had witnessed since leaving Red canyon. It was at Rapid City that the gambler and Dinsdale learned how McCall, slayer of Wild Bill, had been arraigned the night before by a citizens or minors committee, bad been acquitted and furnished with a good horse and allowed to try his luck In escaping from the hills. And there were those who had watched the stage road ever since the word was received, hoping that the murderer been acquitted and allowed to leave the town. s On that August day of the Black bills population, or some seven thousand people, were in the town. And it was estimated that seven out of every ten lacked employseven-eighth- hind It? "Looks as If he might be able to tell want things that some one doesnt ment and were living from hand to told, commented Dinsdale savagely. mouth. While justly called the poor before Fourteen miles were covered mans digging there was scant opnext the selected camping Juan San for late arrivals to go prosportunity In Spring valley. place, a restful spot so long as the fear of the Tiie night passed quietly, and an- pecting Sioux held the people close to the other ride into the fog was com- town. overmenced. A few miles out they The talk of the milling crowds was took a man leading a diminutive burnot of gold but of Indians. Even the concealed was all but ro. The animal blankets. Chinese laundrymen abandoned their by camping gear, tent and a Henry work In the Centennial wash house was load of the on Lashed top to pick up and loiteredoutdoors Winchester. rifle, forerunner of the of information concerning the : scraps saluted nnd hand his waved Juan warriors of Crazy Horse. How now, Pyrites? Another rich San Juan Joe wns one of the strike? men in the gulch. Decent men, at blinked and up halted man The as well as the refuse of the worlds weather-wor- n face a them, revealing quarters, passed through his big that was traversed by a network of tent. When he was recoggambling of corner his the From tiny wrinkles. nized was a. general crowding there : Dinsdale mouth San Juan informed forward to greet him and learn the Old Iron Pyrites, best sample of The best-know- n perpetual prospector you ever saw. ned quit millions In a sure thing to pan out new gravel. I grubstake him. Howdy, Joey! joyously cried Pyrites, now finding his tongue. Aint struck anything but rich prospects this trip, but Ill uncover tbe real article on the next. Found some mighty rich indications. Whos your friends?-Thgambler made Lottie Carl and Dinsdale known, nnd briefly told of the massacre in the canyon. Pyrites stared sympathetically at the girl. he said But Too bad, younker, this is a mighty fine country to forget things in. Youve heard about Bill, Joey? San Juan nodded gloomily, then exclaimed in deep disgust: And to think of letting that McCall go free! This was news to Pyrites, for he fairly yelled: Go free? Why, Joey, they just couldnt. They had to hang him ! You cant mean that they didnt hang him on the spot! The gambler repeated what had been told him at Rapid City. Once Pyrites was convinced that tiie murderers Innocence already had been proclaimed by a mob tribunal be swore vehemently. The girl showed alarm, and Dinsdale signaled for a change of tbe conversation. Pyrites was not ready to return to Deadwood. I want to go a bit slow along here," be explained. Two or three likely looking spots I want to look at. But Ill be In town as soon as you are, I reckon. Progress was slow, little better than a walk, because of Lottie Carl; and night found them a' good ride from Deadwood City. San Juan Joe, however, accepted the delay philosophically. The nervous haste to get back to the gulch, so obvious in the morning, was entirely lacking, and he entered upon the work of preparing their last camp with the zest of a schoolboy released for the holidays. CHAPTER III meals, Siin housewife, weighted with responsibilities, the girl fried the bacon and made the coffee, then fried the bread in the bacon fat. She had been used to hard work. After they had eateu and while she was washing the utensils at the spring San Juan murmured : Whats to be done with her? Dinsdale frowned and rubbed his jaw, then gave It up. Time enough to decide that when we get to Deadwood, he said, Kitty will take care of her, mused the gambler. Kitty? repented Dinsdale. "Friend of mine. Good friend, too, but it won't do to stick here any longer. We're too near the canyon. The Injuns may be sneaking round these parts. We must be going. They followed the road toward Cus ter and frequently pnss'ed old prospect holes, dug the year before, and not a few deserted cabins. At midday they rounded a low bill and came in sight of the town, the first to be laid out in the Black bills, and now an excel-- , lent example of a busted boom. In 1S73, when white men were taboo in the hills, it hnd been a magic town, with a main street half a mile long nnd crowded with business houses and disreputable resorts. Now its merchants and gamblers and Its painted women were hunting their profits in 'Deadwood City. There were some hundred and fifty Inhabitants, mostly men, in' the town, with row after row of dwellings left to the ravages of squirrels and kindred mischief workers. San Juan took his companions to a hotel, where the girl was given a room while the men ordered dinner. When she rejoined them they nodded approval. Although her pale face and thin features made Her look all eyes, there was no Ignoring her neatly ride within The Town of High Promise. They halted their horses at the top of a steep descent early in the afternoon and gazed down into the lower end of Deadwood Gulch. The gulch seemed to end abruptly against a ridge in the middle distance, but San Juan explained that its course was very winding and that it was fully ten miles long. Both sides of tbe road were lined with log cabins, shanties of rough boards, and tents. It aint very pretty to look at, dubiously commented Lottie Carl, gazing disapprovingly at the scattered dead pines, the survivors of fires and windfalls. , I agree with Lottie. It Isnt much to look at, said Dinsdale. Forget the .scenery, nmn. . Remember that Deadwood City wasnt laid out till last May, and that all supplies and the machinery for the sawmills had to.be freighted in for two hundred and fifty miles with much of the road being in hostile country.- - Dead-woois a great town. No other like it in the' world." And in saying this the gambler spoke with but little, if any, exaggeration; for tiie mining camp at tiie junction of the two creeks was a miracle of American enthusiasm and enterprise. Up to the middle of May it bad' been a tangled wilderness, with the growth so thick and impenetrable that the government exploring expedition of the previous year, sent out to confirm tiie Custer expedition of seventy-fouhad not entered the gulch at all. Since the middle of May, when Craven Lee and Isaac Brown built the first pine log cabin and helped to lay out the streets with a lariat in lieu f f a surveyors chain, it had grown fUto a business center of feverish .acd r, tivity. B San Juan Joe dismounted before ?Parkhursts Lager Beer Saloon on tbe left of the road and announced: This is the beginning of Deadwood City. Lets have a glass of beer. "Ill stay here with Lottie, replied Dinsdale. San Juan wns soon back. As he swung into the saddle he told Dinsdale It was true that Wild Bills slayer had latest news from the south. gambler did not attempt to speak at first, for he was battered with fierce queries from a score of men at once. "Wheres Crook? Lord! Is the government going to let them devils wipe us out? Have the Crows and Shoshoni joined Crook yet? Wheres Terry? Wheres Gibson? "Why dont the soldiers come? The gambler raised a hand for silence and briefly recited what little outside news he had picked up while at Bowmans ranch on the Cheyenne. With more detail he told of the massacre In the canyon and was compelled to wait until the chorus of oaths and yells for vengeance had spent itself. The wild outburst changed to wilder cheers and a tremendous exultation as he spoke of the five Indians slain by him and Dinsdale. One word more," cried San Juan. This little lady Is Lottie Carl, tbe only survivor of the Belman outfit. "Buy her a pair of shoes, howled a citizen. Deafening cheers greeted the sugA blacksmith, still wearing gestion. his leather apron and carrying liis sledge, shouted: Hooray for five dead skunks!. Ill start it with this! And snatching a hat from the nearest head, he dropped into it a tiny bag of dust. There were many in the gathering who did not know where tiie next meal was coming from ; but there were enough others to swell the contents of the hat. When the collection was handed up to the gambler ..Dinsdale stripped two greenbacks from a roll as his contribution. Even in the enthusiasm of the moment this act was noted and remembered ; for greenbacks were curiosities in the hills and readily commanded a premium of five per cent. San Juan gave generously. The noisy promoter called for a committee to count the collection. This was done in due form with the gambler as chairman. After a visit to s the of tiie nearest store the committee reported that Lottie Carl was richer by thirty-fiv- e ounces or six hundred and forty-seve- n dollars. Vociferous cheering greeted the announcement. The hat with its wealth was handed to the flush-face- d girl. Lottie Carl was too dazed to speak; hut San Juan rose in his stirrups and gold-scale- bellowed ; The little lady wishes me to thank you for her." ' " - Dinsdale leaned forward and spoke rapidly to the gambler, who stared at him in faint surprise, and replied: First time youve mentioned it to me." I forgot about it. Heard, it at Laramie. May not interest them." "Everything interests us up here. Again rising in his stirrups and waving his hand for attention, San Juan announced : My friend, whos just through from Cheyenne and Fort Laramie, says held up the Union Pacific train at Ogalalu, went through the passengers, took the express and mail. d rippled imprecations through the crowds. Only the great fear of the mighty Sioux nation and its threat to sweep through the hills and exterminate every white person, had restrained the miners from taking up the matter of the many stage robberies. Tiie three rode on with San Juan explaining: Not far to my friends place where ' we can leave Lottie." Dinsdale reined in and pointed, to a sign on a long log cabin, which read MRS. COLT TAKES IN BOARDERS WHO PAY AHEAD Whos Mrs. Colt? he asked. Widow with a rifle. Knows how to use it. Product of the frontier. She has no bad debts. Why not take Lottie there?" But weve already arranged to take her to see Kitty. Kittys a wonder." Soon a new note pervaded the street noises the shrewisli clamor of s and the crashing babel of overworked pianos, occasionally relieved by tiie more dulcet harmony of stringed Instruments; for they were now in the thick of the dance halls and tents and bawdy bouses. Dins-- . train-robbe- Low-voiee- Kit-ty- eyes. The side door evidently was g of a private entrance, for It was locked. San Juan gave a sharp double knock. - A slide swung back, revealing a small aperture. The opening framed one eye set on the bias, then the door opened and the Chinese attendant stood aside for them to enter. The place was heavy with the smell of musk, of scented tapers and burncharacteristic of ing dives and Insufferable to Dinsdale and Lottie Carl. The girl sniffed nnd coughed nnd drew close to Dinsdale as her eyes met the gaze of the wrinkled-faceMongolian. The gambler bruskly commanded: Tell your mistress Im here. With that, nnd as one well used to the establishment, he ushered them into a room which quite took Lottie Carls breath away. Thick rugs littered the floor, and Chinese silks of weird pattern were utilized to hide the ugly ceiling. There were several pictures, all In heavy gilt frames; and an excellent piano stood against the wall. Lottie Carl continued speechless. It was apparent she had never seen such combinations of colors and comfort. The gambler watched her with a. smile on his lean face. She would be the one to decide, he had assumed, and already he was sure of her verdict. After a life of hardships she would gladly remain in this, to her, fairy environment. There came the soft swish of skirts in the hall, a pause while a low musical voice gave an order in Chinese. Then Kitty the Schemer stood inside the door, one of the most picturesque and notorious characters to be found in all the history of mining camps some-thin- joss-stick- s, Orl-ent- al d demi-mond- e. She was slight of figure, and her face was' youthful and showed no signs of dissipation. Her air was that of innocence, piqued by curiosity. Only those who knew her history could appreciate the dynamic qualities of her spirit. Dinsdale was now recalling how she had, unaided, invaded the Far East and had established two palaces of sin, one in Hongkong, the other in Yokohama. She took in the three at a glance and extended her slim hand to the gambler. For the first time Dinsdale saw beneath the impassivity of San Juans face. He clung to her hand and said no word, but his black eyes, blazing down into the upturned face, spoke volumes. Lost your voice, Juan? Kitty asked, her limpid blue e.ves turning in welcome to Dinsdale. The gambler hastened to present hi3 companions. The woman Ignored the girl to study Dinsdale. Her subtle mind quickly formed an estimate, and it was entirely in his favol Then she deigned to appraise the girl. The rough boots and tLe dowdy dress prompted a slight smile. With arched brows she glanced from the coarse dress to her own attire, which typed the daintiest lures that civilized shopping would furnish. Beside this pnragon of frailty Lottie Carl looked very uncouth. She extended a welcome to Dinsdale, still Ignoring Lottie Carl, and said to the gambler: Well, Juan, your eyes tell me ybi love me. But surely you dont bring Mr. Dinsdale along as a witness. What is it? This girl is the only one left of an outfit trapped in Red canyon. Dinsdale and I fetched her through. We got five of the Sioux. Now go Good boy! she purred. and get some road agents. Tiie gambler completed his explanation by saying: This girl hasnt any folks. Shes all alone in the world. I reckoned you'd take her. Kitty the Schemer frowned a bit With those eyes that petulantly. hair As she hesitated San Juan Insisted: Surely she would do. Oh, leave her. Ill see what I can do. Not very interesting to Mr. Dius-daT- e though, ail this. - corrected I'm keenly interested, Dinsdale, advancing in front of Lottie Carl. And 'Im mighty curious. Just what would her position be here? Im a stranger in town, but from appearances, the big tent and all, I take it you have lots of company. Of course a quarrel between Joe and Pete follows and Pete makes a powerful enemy in Kitty. What's your guess as to the outcome? (TO BE CONTINUED.) hurdy-gurdie- Fascinated a dog howls at music you cant tell whether it is because he likes it or not, but he doesnt go When |