Ted Strong in Montana

by Edward C. Taylor

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  A DUEL WITH LARIATS.

  Outside it was night, and beyond the clearing the woods were dark. BothTed's and Hallie's horses were gone, and it would be impossible for themto start back toward the camp without them.

  "We'd better hide in the woods until morning," said Stella. "SingingBird will guide the boys here. Besides, we do not know when that bravewarrior Barrows will return with his soldiers."

  "That is a good idea," said Ted, and they crossed the clearing to thewoods, and found a place of concealment from which they could see allthat took place at the house.

  The night was far advanced, and the girls were sleeping on a couch ofdried pine needles, which Ted had gathered for them.

  Ted was on watch to shield them from harm, and to drive away the animalsof the night.

  He was half asleep himself, sitting with his back to a tree with hishead on his arms, which were crossed on his knees.

  An unusual sound brought him to his senses instantly, and he waslistening intently.

  He heard the sound of horses' feet, and the subdued rumble of mentalking.

  There were only two horses, and they were coming on uncertainly.

  Evidently their riders did not know their way, and were feeling along inthe dark, which was intense.

  "It ought to be along here somewhere."

  It was the voice of Woofer.

  "Well, I hope it is," said another voice, "I'm tired of this nightriding. When did the boss say he'd be here?"

  "Early in ther mornin'. He's goin' ter make an attack on ther cow campter-night, an' what he don't kill he's goin' ter bring here, an'stampede ther cattle an' scatter them all over ther range."

  Woofer laughed as he said it.

  "I don't care much what he does," he continued, "if he'll only turn overther Injun gal ter me. That'll be ernuff fer you an' me, I reckon."

  "Then what's he goin' ter do?"

  "He's goin' ter take that Croffut gal, he's jest crazy about her, an'hike her off ter ther coast, an' put her aboard a private yacht he's gotthere, an' that'll be ther last o' her in this community."

  "What's goin' ter happen ter ther rest o' them?"

  "He's got er nice little deal fixed up fer Ted Strong. He wuz tellin' methet if I wanted it, ther job was mine. I reckon I'll take it," andWoofer laughed heartily.

  "You're ter be ther executioner, eh?"

  "That's about ther size o' it."

  "An' yer hate yer job, eh?" This was greeted with uproarious laughter.

  "Like a kid hates candy."

  "What's it goin' ter be?"

  "A little rope play, I reckon."

  "That's yer long suit. Hello, what's this? Here we are at the cabin."

  Ted heard the men dismount and enter the cabin, and then their voicesroaring with rage.

  "They've escaped, darn 'em!" they heard Woofer shout. "Hey, there, turnout an' hunt 'em! Ther boss will be wild when he finds this out."

  "Hunt fer 'em nothin', in this dark? Yer wouldn't find 'em in a bluemoon. Why, it was all we could do ter find ther cabin."

  "Well, they can't git far away. We'll find 'em in ther mornin'."

  They retired to the cabin again, and slammed the door.

  "Did you hear that?"

  Stella's hand was on Ted's arm, and she whispered to him in an awed sortof voice.

  "You awake?" he said. "Yes, I heard it, but don't let it worry you. Theywon't get us very soon."

  They heard Hallie sobbing quietly.

  "What's the matter, dear?" asked Stella. "Don't be frightened."

  "Suppose he does," sobbed Hallie.

  "Suppose who does what?" asked Stella, throwing her arms around herfriend.

  "Suppose Lieutenant Barrows does get me and takes me away on a boat. Oh,I shall kill myself!"

  "Never fear," said Ted. "He won't do that. Why, the whole army would beup in arms and after him before he got fifty miles."

  Hallie took comfort in this, and slept again, while Ted and Stellaremained on guard.

  As the night wore on, they both became very sleepy, and they must havedropped into a doze, for when they awoke at the sound of a loud laugh,the sun was shining brightly, and they were surrounded by soldiers, andWoofer was looking down at them with a sneering laugh.

  "Jest like ther babes in ther woods," he shouted, and the soldierslaughed with him.

  Ted was on his feet in an instant, feeling for his revolver, but it wasnot in its accustomed place, and he suddenly remembered that it had beentaken from him by the soldiers the night before.

  "Whar's ther lootenant?" asked Woofer. "He'd be glad ter see thistablow."

  "He's gone out inter ther woods ter walk his mad off. When he got withinstrikin' distance o' ther cow camp last night his sand run out, and hestarted back. Then when he found that his birds had flown that was therlast kick what sent him down."

  "What's he goin' ter do now."

  "I reckon he'll make ther best o' what he's got now. Come, git up."Woofer spoke roughly to the two girls, and they arose. "Come along backto the cabin. Ther lootenant will be mighty glad ter see yer. One o' yousour doughs hunt up ther lootenant an' tell him ther lost is found."

  Ted saw that resistance was useless, and, taking the girls by the hand,he crossed the wide clearing between the woods and the cabin; at thedoor of which they arrived just as Barrows strode up.

  One of the soldiers was busy preparing breakfast, and the others weregrouped around jesting about their night's work.

  The two girls were sent into the room in which Ted and Hallie had beentaken the night before, but Ted was not confined, and was allowed towalk up and down in front of the cabin.

  Barrows did not attempt to hold conversation with any of them, but satat his table with his head in his hand, thinking moodily.

  Evidently Barrows was an arrant coward. He had set out with theintention of ruining the Moon Valley herd, and killing all who attemptedto resist him, but his courage had failed him.

  Ted saw hope in this, if the boys would only arrive on time.

  He thought over the conversation he had heard the night before on thearrival of Woofer and his companion at the cabin, with regard to his ownfate. Evidently it meant something out of the ordinary, for it seemed tohave given extreme pleasure to Woofer, for it was evidently theintention that all the advantage was to be with the cow-puncher. Well,it didn't matter much, so long as he had the ghost of a show himself. Hewas willing to take a long chance.

  Breakfast was announced, and, as the soldiers sat down to eat, the cookcame out with three tin plates on which there were bacon and bread, andtin cups of coffee for the prisoners, and they sat down together in theshade of the cabin and ate their food gratefully, for they were veryhungry.

  The meal was soon over, and Woofer began to strut up and down in frontof the cabin.

  "I reckon here's where I get my revenge, ain't it, lootenant?" he said,stopping in front of Barrows.

  "Do what you please with him," said Barrows crossly, "but leave thegirls alone."

  "I don't want but one gal, an' she's copper colored," laughed Wooferinsultingly, walking to his horse, which was already saddled.

  "Now, young feller," he said to Ted, "I'm goin' ter give yer a chancefer yer white alley. I'm goin' ter try ter rope yer while yer dodges me.If I get yer, why--I'll drag yer, see?"

  Ted saw that he was to have no chance for his life whatever.

  He was to be afoot, while the other man was to ride and try to rope him,and, if he succeeded, drag him to death over the rough ground.

  "Do you call that a chance for my life?" asked Ted.

  "As much as you'll get," answered Woofer, with a canine grin. "Get outan' take a fightin' chance, or I'll rope yer an' drag yer without it."

  Ted looked around the circle of grinning faces about him, and saw thatthere was no mercy for him. He must make the best fight he could.

  Woofer had ridden out into the open and was coiling his rope in his handready for a cast.

 
As Ted walked out he saw in the grove the horses of the soldiers, andamong them Sultan bridled and saddled, and a thought flashed through hismind that before the duel was ended he might find use for his beautifulstallion.

  As soon as Ted was in the open, Woofer began to circle around him on alope, steadily increasing the pony's speed, at the same time keeping therope swinging about his head.

  Ted wheeled on his heels, always keeping his face to the horseman, thepivot, as it were, of this little spectacle. Near the cabin stood thesoldiers, watching the play with interest. Stella and Hallie were at oneside, their eyes fastened on the scene with a sort of fascinated horror.Stella knew well the danger of the bout. In the doorway of the cabinLieutenant Barrows leaned indifferently, smoking a cigarette, andwatching the uneven contest with slight interest in its outcome, andwith no regard whatever for the thing which all gentlemen hold sacred,that is, fair play.

  Around and around rode Woofer, waiting for a good chance for a cast, butalways finding Ted alert. But suddenly the rope flew from his hand withunerring accuracy, and Ted had just time to dodge it. It had been asswift and almost as deadly as the strike of a rattlesnake.

  With a confident smile, Woofer drew in his rope again, coiling it, andmaking ready for another cast.

  Again he circled and cast, and this time the rope settled over Ted'sshoulders, and a great shout went up from the soldiers.

  But before Woofer could tighten it Ted managed to wriggle out of it, andagain Woofer drew it in.

  Ted realized the danger in which he would stand if ever Woofer succeededin getting him fast.

  Suddenly his hand came in contact with something hard in his pocket. Itwas his knife, and he surreptitiously inserted his hand, and opened it,then drew it out concealed in his palm. He felt sure that if it wasdiscovered that even this chance would be taken from him.

  Again and again Woofer cast and Ted dodged, and the soldiers weregetting tired of the monotony of it, and began to deride Woofer for notbeing able to get Ted.

  This aroused the man to anger, and the next time he sent the rope overTed's shoulders, and drew it taut. A wild cry went up as Ted was beingdragged along as fast as he could run, and Stella turned white and gavea cry of fear.

  But Ted reached up, just as he was about to be carried off his feet, andcut the rope in two.

  At this a yell of protest rose from Woofer, but the men had at lastturned with sympathy to Ted.

  "Let him have the knife," they cried. "You have the horse and the rope."

  Woofer was forced to be content, and he slowly dragged the rope backagain, and made a new noose.

  He was getting rattled, while Ted was gaining courage, and the rope didnot come as accurately as when Woofer had not begun to grow weary.

  The soldiers were now addressing rough pleasantries at Woofer, who wasgrowing angry and trying harder than ever to rope Ted and drag him todeath.

  Then, quite unexpectedly, the rope settled over Ted's arms, for he hadgrown a little careless, and his eyes had been directed toward the topof the hill behind the cabin, where he had seen something that causedhis eyes to open with wonder.

  But when he felt himself being dragged along on a run he came to hissenses. Stooping his head, he managed to get the knife between histeeth. Then he went along the rope, gathering it in his hands as hewent, as if he were climbing it hand over hand.

  A shout of joy went up from the two girls at this, for they saw hispurpose.

  On he went, the rope coming into his hand and being coiled on his arm.Woofer all the while was urging on his pony, trying to throw Ted off hisfeet.

  Ted had now gathered in about thirty feet of the rope, or about half ofit.

  Woofer saw his game, and swore horribly, as he tried in vain to throwTed.

  When he thought he had enough rope, Ted bent his head once more, and hisfingers grasped the knife with which he cut the rope and was free.

  Suddenly a shrill whistle left his lips, and there was a nickeringanswer as Sultan left the other horses and came galloping to his side.

  Stella threw up her hat and shouted, and the soldiers followed herexample.

  As Sultan galloped on, Ted leaped into the saddle, and began to make anoose in his lariat, for he now was equally armed with his enemy.

  But Woofer was game, and came galloping back. He didn't know how good aroper Ted was, but he felt confidence in himself.

  Around they went, circling like horsemen in a circus ring, with watchfuleyes and whirling lariats.

  But suddenly Ted's rope left his hand before Woofer could divine hismeaning, and pinioned the cow-puncher.

  At the same moment Ted gave Sultan a prick with the spur, and the littlestallion leaped into the air.

  Woofer left his saddle and struck the ground with a bump that knockedthe wind out of him.

  This was not to the liking of the soldiers, who ran howling toward Ted.

  "Drag him from his horse," they shouted.

  "No, yer don't. Fair play fer all!" a clear voice rang out above thedin, and the soldiers turned toward the hill behind the cabin.

  On the summit stood Bud Morgan, his long, fair hair floating in thebreeze, and on either side of him ten cow-punchers with theirWinchesters trained upon the unarmed soldiers, whose carbines werestacked in the house.

  "Three cheers for the broncho boys!" yelled Stella shrilly. "You can'tbeat 'em anyway you try."

  CHAPTER XXXVI.

  THE MOTHER LODE.

  As the boys swarmed down the hill to where Ted and the girls werestanding apart from the soldiers, who stood staring at them inamazement, they let out the Moon Valley yell, and acted as though theywere a victorious army taking possession of a conquered city.

  Lieutenant Barrows stood in the doorway in open-mouthed amazement at thechange of scene, in which he and his men were not the captors, but thecaptured.

  He started to bluster by ordering Hallie to get ready to accompany himback to her father.

  "I shall not go," she said positively. "I don't believe that my fathersent for me."

  "I know he didn't," said Ted firmly.

  "What do you know about it?" asked Barrows, with a sneer.

  "I know that it was your intention to kidnap Miss Croffut and take herto the coast, where you would board a yacht and carry her out of thecountry."

  "That's a----" began Barrows.

  "Don't let the word lie pass your lips as applied to me, or I'll jam itdown your throat," said Ted, advancing toward the officer, who turnedpale and retreated.

  "You shouldn't tell your intentions to such irresponsible persons as theWoofer, here. He told all about it early this morning so loud that thewhole of Montana might have heard it if they had been awake. I heard it,and if Woofer denies saying that you did say so, then he's a liar, andI'm personally responsible for everything I say."

  "I did say so, and I heard the lieutenant say so," said Wooferdefiantly.

  "Another thing, I have in my pocketbook scraps of a letter written byyou in which you say you have sent Paris green out to poison our cattle,and you did succeed in a way, but not as you wished. Barrows, your gameis played. You are at the end. I shall see that the proper authoritiesget all the details of this, and you know what will happen then. Youwill be chased out of the army like a mad dog, and all the influence youcan bring to bear will not serve you."

  Barrows was looking at Ted with terror in his eyes.

  "My advice to you is to skip before the army gets on to you," continuedTed. "Disappear. Obliterate yourself. It will be easier for you to bethought a deserter than what will be thought of you if what we knowabout you goes back to the post."

  Barrows stepped back into the cabin, and Ted walked to where he couldkeep his eye on the soldier.

  Suddenly he jumped into the cabin and wrenched a pistol out of Barrows'hand.

  "No, you don't," he cried angrily. "You can't pay for this byself-murder. You've got to live to pay for your meanness."

  Barrows submitted to be disarmed by Ted. He stood looking
for a momentat Hallie, and for a moment it seemed as if he would speak to her. Then,with a cry of agony, he rushed across the open, leaped upon his horse,and, plunging into the grove, was lost to sight.

  "Sergeant, now you know what to do," said Ted. "There's only one thingfor you to do. Hike for the post and tell the commandant anything youlike to explain the absence of Barrows. But be sure to say to thecolonel that his daughter is safe and well and prefers to stay with MissFosdick and her friends. I don't know how deeply you are mixed up inthis cattle-poisoning, girl-abducting scheme of Barrows, but I give youthe benefit of the doubt."

  "Sure, sir, I didn't know anything about the cattle poisoning, nor doany of the men, and as for abducting the young lady, all I knew about itwas that we were sent by the colonel to bring her back, that is, thelieutenant said so. We was to arrest you for stealin' cattle from thegover'ment. But I don't see as we can do anything, now that the officerin charge is gone. All right, sir, I'll tell the colonel all what yousaid, an' somethin' that's been layin' hard on my stomach ever since Igot wise to the officer what's not in charge no more. Men, get ready tomarch."

  The soldiers saddled their horses, and got ready to start on the marchback to Fort Felton.

  When they were ready to start, Ted walked up to Woofer and the man whohad come in with him in the night.

  "Woofer," said he, "strike the back trail, and don't look around. Youare not wanted in this part of the country. Remember, we are all deputyUnited States marshals, and not in the least afraid to use ourauthority. Hike!"

  "All right, pardner, if you say you don't like our sassiety we won'tforce it on you. We'd like good company back to Felton, anyhow, an' thesojers has plenty o' grub. Adios!"

  With a wave of the hand, the sergeant led his column out of theclearing, and, climbing the hill, struck into the southwest, where laythe fort.

  When they were gone Singing Bird came out of the woods in which she hadbeen hiding, for she was in mortal terror of Woofer.

  When she knew that Woofer was in the vicinity she had run into the woodsand immediately climbed into a tall pine tree that grew on the hill,where she was sure he would not be able to find her.

  Now, when she came forth, she ran to Stella, in a very much excitedstate.

  "Sister," she cried. "I have found it!"

  "Found what?" asked Stella, in surprise at the girl's emotion, forusually she had the stoicism of her Indian blood.

  "I have found the place of the secret, the place of the mother gold,"cried Singing Bird, trembling with excitement.

  "I have seen it, the place where my mother lay," she continued, when herexcitement had somewhat passed away.

  "How?" asked the puzzled Stella.

  "When I climbed the tree I saw the big, muddy river lying over there. Ilooked about. It seemed that I had seen it the same before. Then Iremembered the night the white men killed my mother, and it all cameback to me. Woofer was one of the men. He knew that we were coming nearto it."

  "How did you recognize it as the place?" asked Stella.

  "By the tree across the river, and by the bluffs, and the turn of theriver. Oh, I know it. You can't fool Indian on signs like that."

  The boys were standing around listening eagerly, for this was the firsttime they had heard of the "mother gold." Briefly Ted related the storytold by Singing Bird about the gold in the river, and how her fatherfound the mother lode.

  "I'm fer gettin' thar as soon as we kin," said Bud Morgan. "Whenever Ismell gold I git tired o' ther smell o' cows."

  "Looks good to me," said Ben.

  "Me, too," said Kit, and the other boys raised a shout for the motherlode and the excitement of finding gold.

  "But the cattle?" asked Ted.

  "We'll drive them down into this valley, where part of the force caneasily watch them, while the other part is engaged in the fascinatingsport of gold hunting. Me for the gold." Thus Stella delivered herself,and that seemed to settle it.

  Accordingly the cattle were driven down from the plain and into thebeautiful grassy valley, with the Missouri flowing at the foot of it.Then they pitched their camp.

  Singing Bird had gone into the woods on an exploring mission to find, ifshe could, the grave in which her father had buried her mother the dayafter the fight with the white miners, and had been gone an hour ormore, when she came hurrying back, trembling like an aspen.

  Rushing up to Ted, she fell at his feet.

  "What's the matter now?" he asked, in a kindly way.

  "I have seen him," she cried. "Save me! Save me!"

  "Whom have you seen?" asked Ted.

  "Running Bear. I go into the woods, and I see moccasin tracks; freshones. They are large and new, made this day. I run away from them. ThenI see an Indian hiding behind the trees, always following me, and Iturned and ran for the camp. He followed me until he saw the camp, whenhe turned and ran the other way."

  "Are you sure it was Running Bear?"

  "Oh, yes, I am sure. I know Running Bear. He was my husband."

  "Well, do not be afraid. Running Bear will not hurt you. But don't goaway from the camp."

  Ted told the boys that the Indian was on their trail, looking for themine himself, but that he would probably track them until they found it,and then try to take it from them by pressing to his service a band ofIndians, which he could very well do.

  When Stella went to look for Singing Bird that evening she could not befound. The alarm was passed to the boys, and a thorough search of thecamp was begun, but the girl could not be found.

  "She has done what I told her not to do," said Ted. "She has left camp,and that precious rascal has captured her. But he will not wring hersecret from her. I am convinced that she would die first."

  "But what are we going to do about her?" asked Stella. "We can't let herremain where she is."

  "Where is she?" he asked whimsically.

  "Where is she?" Stella repeated the question excitedly. "Do you supposethat I would be here if I knew. I don't know where she is, but I'm goingto find out."

  "Not to-night, Stella, surely."

  "Yes, to-night. Right now."

  "But----"

  "There's no buts in this at all. Who wants to help me find SingingBird?"

  Every fellow in the outfit stepped forward.

  "Well, I guess that's enough," she said, laughing. "But, I want you andKit. The others can stay behind and 'tend the herd. We'll be back whenwe return." She waved a merry hand to the others, and the three strodeinto the woods, Bud bending eagerly forward to find the trail.

  Presently Bud struck a moccasin trail, and they followed it until itmingled with another.

  The first was undoubtedly that of Singing Bird. The other was that of abig man, or of a man with a big foot.

  "I reckon she come out here ter find her mother's grave, an' met up withther bully, her husband. Here they seem ter hev had a struggle, and thenthar is only one track, but deeper, showin' that he was carryin' weight.I reckon he put his hand over her mouth an' carried her off by mainstrength."

  "Poor Singing Bird," murmured Stella. "If she has really fallen into thehands of that brute, it's a sure thing that she'll be killed this time,and now we're bound to follow her and get her."

  "That's interfering between a man and his wife," said Kit.

  "I don't care. She's mine now, for I saved her life. She said so."

  "All right, Stella, we'll find her if we swaller our chewin' gum.Forward!" Bud led the way, always with his eyes on the ground.

  After traversing a few hundred yards he stopped.

  "Here they're walkin' side by side again," he said, "and they're goingtoward the river."

  They hastened on to the bank of the river, and there all trace of themwas lost at the water's edge.

  "They've crossed over, but not in a boat," said Bud. "I don't see howthey could do it if they didn't swim. There isn't the sign o' a boataround here."

  "Then over the river we go," said Stella. "But the question is, how?"

  "I'll
swim it," said Bud. "And if I find any trace of them over there,I'll holler."

  Bud threw his guns on the bank and plunged into the water, and in a fewminutes was across, for so near the headwaters it was not wide.

  They saw him scouting along the shore, and presently he waved his handat them, and pointed to the ground.

  "He's found them," said Kit. "But how are we to get over?"

  Kit ran up and down the shore, and soon found several logs, which hetowed to where Stella was waiting, and fastened them together into araft.

  "There you are," he said. "Climb aboard, and I'll ferry you across."

  Stella did so, and in a few minutes they were on the other side.

  Bud showed them the tracks of Singing Bird, and they followed them intothe woods.

  Close beside the track was a huge stump of a sycamore tree, and Stellaelected to sit down beside it and wait until they returned, as she waspretty tired. The boys passed on with the warning to fire her revolverthree times if anything should alarm her.

  As she sat beside the stump, she picked up a stick, and began poking inthe earth at her feet. As she did so, there was a rumbling sound beneathher, and the world seemed to be slipping from her. This was followed bya rush of earth and a clatter of stones, and Stella went down with it.

  She did not fall more than ten feet, however, before she stopped, alittle shaken but unhurt.

  When she had recovered somewhat, she looked about her.

  Then she gave a little shriek of joy. It seemed as if she had falleninto a regular nest of pure gold, for the glittering grains wereeverywhere about her, on her clothes and in her hair.

  Suddenly she recalled everything. She had found the mother lode that theIndian girl had told of.

  Drawing her revolver, she fired three shots, the danger signal, andimmediately it was answered by three shots, but from the side of theriver she had just quitted.

  This surprised her, but in a moment she heard a shout. It was Ted.Evidently thinking that something might befall her, he had followed, andin a few moments she heard him splashing in the water.

  "Hello!" he cried.

  "Here I am, Ted," cried Stella, and in a moment she saw his faceoutlined above her in the opening of the hole.

  "How the deuce did you get there?" he asked.

  "Oh, I just dropped in to take a look around, and what do you think Ifound? I've found gold by the bushel. Ted, this is the mother lode."

  Ben, Carl, and Clay were with Ted, and soon Bud and Kit, who had heardthe shots, came hurrying back.

  When they heard what had happened they were much surprised.

  "But this cannot be the place. Where is the sycamore tree Singing Birdsaid was a landmark?" said Ted.

  They had pulled Stella out of the hole, and now she pointed to the big,old stump.

  "That is what's left of it," she said. "If I hadn't that hunch to sitdown here, we wouldn't have found the mother lode in a blue moon."

  As they were speaking they heard a sound behind them, and turned to seeRunning Bear. He had crept up to them so silently that not one of themhad heard him until he was a step away.

  "Ugh!" he grunted. "White boy go away. This my country."

  "Go to your grandmother," said Ted. "Where is Singing Bird?"

  "She in Running Bear wigwam. Mebbe so you like Singing Bird. You canhave same go away."

  "What, and leave you in possession of all this gold? Not likely."

  "Then Running Bear make you. Hate white boy. Not make play this time."

  Before Ted was aware of his intention, the Indian had sprung upon himfrom the side. He was immensely powerful, and forced Ted backward towardthe edge of the pit, evidently with the intention of breaking his neckby the fall.

  But Ted managed to get a good hold at last, and forced him backgradually.

  Then Running Bear came at him with greater strength, and again theywrestled perilously near the edge of the pit.

  Running Bear took advantage of Ted's trip over the loose tree roots, andslowly forced him backward, in spite of his herculean efforts, to thepit's edge.

  He had bent Ted's head back until his neck cracked, and if he threw himinto the pit, it likely would kill him.

  From where they stood, on the opposite side of the pit, none of the boyscould get a shot at Running Bear without endangering the life of Ted.

  It was a pretty tight situation, and the boys were really alarmed forTed's safety, when out of the woods ran an apparition--a woman socovered with blood as to be unrecognizable. But Stella uttered a scream.She had seen that it was Singing Bird, who had been terribly injured byher brute of a husband, who had evidently tortured her to get from herthe information she possessed about the mother lode.

  Before any one could divine what she was about to do, the Indian girlhad sprung toward Running Bear and plunged a long, keen knife into hisback to the hilt.

  It was an Indian's revenge. She had given him blood for blood.

  Running Bear staggered backward, then suddenly wheeled, caught the knifefrom the girl's hand, and was about to plunge it into her, when he fellforward on his face and lay quite still.

  Singing Bird weaved back and forth for a moment, then she, too, sank tothe ground.

  When the horror of the sudden tragedy passed from them sufficiently, theboys rushed to the side of the unhappy couple, but they both were dead.

  That was the tragedy of the "Mother Lode Mine" on the upper Missouri,which became the property of the Moon Valley Company, and which paidenormously until it worked out, for it was only a pocket, thus puttingan end to the placer mining on the islands farther down the river.

  The rest is soon told. Barrows was never heard of again, for he knewthat if he returned to take a court-martial for his misconduct, he wouldhave fared badly.

  That fall the officers at the post sent word to Ted that if his cattlewere for sale they would be glad to buy them at his own figure, so thathis independence in repudiating the first contract was a good thingafter all, for, besides the profits which came from Stella's gold mine,the herd paid handsomely. But Stella never forgot Singing Bird, whosegentle life paid the penalty for the greed for gold. Not far from themine she was buried, and a stone carved with the story of her deathstill marks the place where she was laid to rest.

  THE END.

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  WESTERN STORY LIBRARY

  For Everyone Who Likes Adventure.

  "Ted Strong's Contract" is the title of the next volume in theWestern Story Library, No. 43, a story of wild adventure in thefar West written by Edward C. Taylor.

  Ted Strong and his band of bronco-busters have most exciting adventuresin this line of attractive, big books, and furnish the reader with analmost unlimited number of thrills.

  If you like a really good Western cowboy story, then this line is madeexpressly for you.