Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1892 — ROYAL RANGER RALPH; OR The Waif of tie Western Prairies. [ARTICLE]

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; OR The Waif of tie Western Prairies.

BY WELDON J. COBB.

CHAPTER XXl—Continued. “They will soon besin a new mode of attack,” said the hermit, “but what wo cannot tall until they begin operations.” This the savages did an hour later. Darkness had come down over the ravine, but the hermit stood at the window, and his keen eyes were fixed on the dim scene below. “I understand their plans now,” ho said at last “What are they?” asked tho scout. “They are trying to scale the cl ill. ” “It is almost perpendicular.” “Sti.l, under the cover of the darkness they hone to reach us.” “They wi 1 not” “No. One thing has prevented the success of their enterprise. ” “And that is ” “Their discovery,” replied the old hermit, grimly. , As he spoke, Walford went to corner of the cabin. He lowered some object by a rope from the window of the cabin a irinute later. He ignited a match and swung the object clear of the window. It proved to bo an immense open lantern. Its rays, suddenly cast forth, illumined the space beneath them bright as day. It showed the savages in half a dozen places in the act of endeavoring to scale the cliff and reach the refuge of their enemies. Cries of rage and dismay' escaped them, as the action of the hermit battled their plans. Both Walford and the scout began firing at them and the Modocs retreated. The flames of /the lantern soon died away, leaving the valley in darkness again. “They seem to have abandoned the attack,” suggested the scout, after a long pause. “For the time being, perhaps,” replied Walford; “but we shall have more trouble with them before the night is over. ” “You think so?” “I know it. Look there!” Both men peered curiously from the window. A flaming streak of firq,parted the darkness. “An arrow,” said the scout. “Exactly.” “Tipped with fire. ” “Yes.” “They mean to burn us out. ” Walford laughed grimly. “If thoy can. ” “See! There are others. ” Half a dozen fire arrows were shot upward from different pointsof the valley. Most ot these fell wide of their intended mark. Some shot over the cabin. Some struck the cliff and were extinguished. Others described a circle and fell to the ground. Some, however, it was evident penetrated the under surface of the exposed floor beneath their feet. These they could not see. Walford seemed undisturbed at thoso episodes. “Are you not afraid?” asked the scout, finally. “Of what!” “Of the fire ” “I do not believe they can fire the cabin.” “Why not?” “The sides and floor are damp'and moss-covered. ” “Ha! what about that. ” A decidedly smoky smell began to pervade the place. “The logs are certainly on fire,” remarked Ranger Ralph. “Well, when we are in danger we will retreat. ” “Where?” * “To one of the rocks.” “is there a way to leave here?” “Yes. ” “And reach the valley?” Walford nodded assentingly. He saw as he watched fr m the window that a faint glow showed beneath the cabin, “They’ve done it, ” he said, calmly. “Done what?” “Set the cabin on fire. ” “Then we had better leave here.” “I suppose we had.” “Then iet us do so. ” “In a moment Wait" “Where are you going?” “To see that the way is clear. ” Walford left the hut on the side farthest ffom the mountain. Ranger Ralph remained at the window, looking down at the valley. Every moment the glare increased. Evidently the bottom of the cabin was on fire. The arrows of the Modocs had ignited the floor. Ti e scout could hear the flames crackling fiercely. The smoke began to fill the cabin, and he was impelled to retreat. Still he determined to await Walford's return. Suddenly an anxious sound startled and alarmed the old scout There was a tearing, crashing noise. The hut seemed to lock and quiver wildly. The floor appeared to drop precipitately. In a flash the scout realized what had occurred. The fire the joists that held the floor iu pla 'c. These had been burned through!, and the result promised a dire disaster to the scout. He had just time to spring to one side as he saw what was about to transpire. He reached the door leading to the spot where ti e tree bridge had been, just as tho floor gave way. With a crash it went hurtling to the valley below. Triumphant shouts of dempstiac glee arose from the savages. They expected to see the scout and the hermit dashed to pieces. Ranger Ralph had escaped unhurt, however, and Walford was not in the cabin when the disaster came. The scout gained the rock and hastened to get out of range and sight of the Indians. In his precipitate haste he stumbled and fell. He dropped over the edge of the cliff and landed on a ledge about twenty feet below. The fall made him Insensible. When he awoke to • consciousness it was broad daylight, and the valley was deserted. After several days of arduous endeavor to baffle the outlaw Despard and to rescue Inez Tracey, the scout found himself alive, in peril, and with nothing before him except complicated plots and a broken trail. CHAPTEfe XXII. OR THE TRAIL. One week after the occurVence of the events narrated in the last chapter, a solitary horseman emerged from the last of a Series of lonely mountain passes and struck off into a forest beyond which reached the isolated mining district of Gold Valley. The spot was located about one hundred miles south of Miners’ Gulch, and although remote from any large business center, was prolific of numerous little settlements and mining camps. The horseman took a rapid but close survey of the landscape before he descended from the bills. “Yonder are the New Era mining camps,” he murmured. “It is here that >1 expect to find Dyke Despard. For two .days I have traced him, and I have rea-. pon to beiieve that Danton, his accom-

plice, is to meet him there and divide their plunder and leave the country. He certainly will not recognize me in this disguise. He shall not escape me. He shall be punished for his many crimes. He shall tell mo where I can find the woman I love—lnez Tracey.” It was Darrel Grey. who spoke, but not, in propria persona, as the reader first saw him. He was e'aboratcly disguisod, .and in nowise resembled the young scout who had rescued Inez Tracey the eventful night at Ten Spot, when our story opened His disguise and appearance in tho district described may be briefly explained. When he had been set free by Shadow Snake at the outlaws’ stsonghold in Lone Canyon, he had, as directed, gone at once to Miners' Gulch. He knew that it would be dangerous and useless to attempt to find Inez or the scout with the hostile tribes around him. His leturn to tho Gulch was not, tb refore, a letreat, but a forced flight for safety. Once arrived there, he arou?ed the natives by relating all the exciting events of tho preceding few days. The result was that a score of determined men set out the next day to rescue,their irnperi ed companion. Ranger Ralph. trace of the scou , Inez, the old hermitVor the Indian princess could be found. The Modocs had returned to their usual camp, where they were so numerous that a journey thither would be useless. The bandits had been despersed or killed, and tho disappointed Barrel could learn nothing of Despard or the surviving members of the band. All the parties to the recent plot of the desperado had mysteriously and strangely disappeared. Utterly dispirited the young scout returned to Miners’ Gulch. He had no means of knowing whether Inez Tracey was a prisoner in the hands of the Modocs or was the captive of Despard. He inclined .to the latter belief, however, and at last determined to act upon it. Assuming that Despard had escaped, he resolved to gain a trace of his whereabouts if possible. It was for this reason, knowing the wiiy foe with whom ho had to deal, that he disguised himself. He visited Lone Canyon, found the tavern in ruins, and the bandit stronghold entirely deserted. Thence he wont south, . visiting all tho many mining camps along Pueblo River. He pretended to be a prospector, but kept a sharp lookout for some of the escaped outlaws. Finally, one day, he mot at a tavern a man whom ho recognized as a former member of Despard’s band. From him he deftly learned that Despard and Danton had escaped tho Modocs. They were to meet at Dead Man’s Gully in a few days. Despard was in hiding and Danton had gone after some hidden treasure. • That afternoon Darrel arrived at the gully, where a tavern that was a general center for the miners was located. Darrel announced to the landlord that he intended to remain for several days, and secured a room at the tavern. That night and all tho next day he haunted the bar-room of ' the place, keeping a sharp lookout for Despard. He made manv guarded inquiries as to the outlaw, but could learn nothing definite concerning him. The next evening, however, an episode occurred which indicated that his efforts to locate Despard were destined to be rewarded with success at last. It was just after dusk, and he was seated in a chair near the bar, when a stranger entered the place. The others in the room, engrossed in card playing and drinkihg, did not notice’ him, and Darrel himself only bestowed a passing glance at him. The stranger bore a small sachel in his hand and wore a heavy sombrero that effectually shadowed his bearded face. He addressed the landlord in a low tone. Tho moment he spoke Darrel started violently. “Danton!” he breathed, excitedly. He had instantly recognized the voice. He controlled his emotions, fiowever, and listened intently. “Are you tho landlord?” asked the disguised Danton. “Yes.” “I was to meet a friend here.” “VYhat is his name?” “Fuertado. ” “A Mexican?” “Yes. ” “There’s no one here of that name, ” said tho landlord, “Then he hasn’t come yet. I’ll wait for him. Can you give me a room?” “Yes. ” Danton p’aced a coin on the counter. “And send Fuertado to mo when ho comes ” “All right” Danton was led to an apartment in the rear of the bar-room by the landlord. Darrel Grey was keenly excited. He walked out into the open air and reflected deeply. His enemies were nearly in his power. The disguised stranger was certainly Danton. The man Fuertado he had named was undoubtedly Dyke Despard. “What had I better do?” he mused. Darrel formed a quick resolution. He had made the acquaintance of one of the principal men of the place the day previous, and find impressed him favorably. His name was Brown, and he was an exofficio Sheriff of the district Darrel hastened at once to the cabin where he lived. Briefly he related the true object of his visit to Dead Man’s Gully. Tho Sheriff listened interestedly. He had heard of Despard, and evidently bore him no friendly feelings. “You want me to help you?” he said. “Y’es, ” replied Darrel. “And arrest the man?” “At once. ” “On what charge?” , “Train robbery and murder. ” “Have yon any w.tnesses?” “Not here. ” “That’s it, you see. Despard has some friends among the regular miners.” “Well?” “They would demand a speedy trial, and, as you have no witnesses, I doubt if you could convict Despard.” “But at Miners’ Gulch his crimes are known. ” “That is different Now, I have a plan. ” “Well?” “Arrest him yourself.” “Alone?” “No; I will help you. We will capture him quietly and spirit him away.” “How?”

“Will you pay the expenses for a vehicle to convey him to the gulch?” “Yes. ” “Then return to the hotel. ” “And keep watch of the men?” “Exactly. ” “And you?” “Depend upon my being on hand when the proper time comts. ” “Agreed. ” Darrel returned to the hotel. His first question was of the landlord. “Has your guest’s friend come yet?” he asked, with affected carelessness. “The Mexican?” “Yes.” “He just came. ” “In the room yonder, I suppose. ” “Yes.” Darrel went outside again and walked around the house. The shutters of the room occupied by Danton and his companions were closed, however. “I must see and overhear them," he decided. He examined the house closely. He

knew that it had a large unfinished loft, used for storage. Ten minutes later he was clambering over its rafters, and located tho room Danton was in. Then he began to cut a small hole through the thin plastering. He had made a chink large enough to look into the apartment, when he paused. Evidently tho falling particles of plaster had attracted the attention of the occupants of the place. For a voice, unmistakably that of Despard, asked quickly: “What is that?” CHAPTER XXIII. UNDER ARREST. Darrel Grey remained perfectly si'ent and glancol through tho hole in the ceiling. Seated at a table was Danton, and opposite him the object of all Darrel’s quest—the bandit leader, Dyke Despard. The latter was disguised as a Mexican, but his dark, l ashing eyes betrayed his true identity to the young scout A few grains of plaster had fallen on the table between them. “What is that?" Despard had demanded. “What?”. “The plaster is falling.” “The rats, probably. Go on with your story, Despard. We have no time to lose ” Despard paid no further attention to the falling plaster and asked, “You have the gold dust?” os,” replied Danton. “Where is it?” “In this sachel. ” “What have you learned?” “Nothing.” “The boys are all scattered?” “Yes. ” “And the diamonds cannot be found?" “No. White Fawn took them. ’’ “And cannot be traced?" “I fear not.” “Very well: then wo must content ourselves with what we have. ” “We’re forced to. ” “And leave the country at once. " , “Yes; for we are not in much favor here. ” “There's that land that was left by Tracey. ” “In California?” “Exactly.” “Tho old hermit said it was worthless. ” “It’s something, and I havo the papers to it. If wo only had tho girl. ” “Inez?” “Yes.” “She’s in tho hands of the Modccs. ” “You think so?” “I am sure of it ” Darrell became so excited that ho made a care ess move at this jun tuie. He slipped from one of tho rafters, and, in doing so, fell upon the frail plastering. There was a era h, and tho next moment he went flying through tho air. He landed directly on the table between the amazed conspirators. “You are my prisoners!” Darrel had regained his presence of mind instantly. Drawing a revolver he sprang to tho floor. His main attention was directed to Despard. Danton had taken the alarm quickly. Before Darrel could detain him he had gained tho window. With a crash he went through it, shutters and all. At that moment the rear door was opened. Brown, tho Sheriff, stood on its threshold. “Dyke Despard,” ho said, “you are under arrest. ” |TO BE CONTINUED.]