Believing the men who tried to stop Bob must have been robbed, several

of those about the store leaped onto their horses and gave chase
Believing the men who tried to stop Bob must have been robbed, several
of those about the store leaped onto their horses and gave chase.

'_Bought_ him?' repeated the cowboy in amazement

'_Bought_ him?' repeated the cowboy in amazement. 'You must be rollin"
in money, kid. Simons said he"d never sell for less than two hundred
dollars.'

The magistrate nodded, and Lamh Laudher immediately took his leave

The magistrate nodded, and Lamh Laudher immediately took his leave. In a
short time the intelligence spread. From the sovereign it passed to his
clerk, from the clerk to the other members of the corporation, and, ere
an hour, the town was in a blaze with the intelligence.

Proud, indeed, did Bob feel as his hand clasped the smooth handle of the

lever
Proud, indeed, did Bob feel as his hand clasped the smooth handle of the
lever. Never had he expected to run a real, snorting locomotive,
dragging a long line of cars, and the realization that he was actually
controlling the speed, set him a-tingle with delight.

'And I can"t,' said Bob

'And I can"t,' said Bob. 'I will be more than half an hour late in
getting back to the store, and I know Mr. Dardus will be very angry. I
most wish I hadn"t said I"d wait. It just shows that Mr. Dardus is right
when he says there is no pleasure in having money that isn"t earned
honestly, and getting a dollar for just holding this money isn"t really
honest work.'

When the conductor came along collecting the tickets, Bob proudly drew

forth his pass and presented it
When the conductor came along collecting the tickets, Bob proudly drew
forth his pass and presented it. As though unable to reconcile the bit
of paper with the poorly-clad boy, the conductor scrutinized the
official transportation closely, from time to time glancing at Bob.

'The kid was just up here trying to get a pass he said Mr

'The kid was just up here trying to get a pass he said Mr. Perkins had
told him to call for,' returned the man who had dismissed Bob so
abruptly.

'I think you have chosen the wisest course, Bob,' he finally said

'I think you have chosen the wisest course, Bob,' he finally said. 'The
West is a great country, and you have qualities about you that I think
will bring you success. Of course, you will probably be obliged to stand
a good many hard knocks, but they won"t hurt you, my boy. Hard knocks
are good for any man. The only thing to be careful about is that they do
not sour you and cause you to feel anger and hatred against your
fellows.

This confidence in his squareness appealed more to the ranchman than

anything else Bob could have said or done
This confidence in his squareness appealed more to the ranchman than
anything else Bob could have said or done.

'If courage alone were wanting, I have that,' the young man

replied;--'but I am wholly unknown in town
'If courage alone were wanting, I have that,' the young man
replied;--'but I am wholly unknown in town. How then shall I accomplish
an introduction at Court, when I know not even its humblest attendant?'

After an hour or more of riding, they came to the herd, spread out over

a quarter of a mile of plain, and rode round it till they came to where
four cowboys were lolling on the grass, smoking
After an hour or more of riding, they came to the herd, spread out over
a quarter of a mile of plain, and rode round it till they came to where
four cowboys were lolling on the grass, smoking.

'Sure, we can do it! I"ve got the papers all ready, old Sam Ford"s

signature and all
'Sure, we can do it! I"ve got the papers all ready, old Sam Ford"s
signature and all. Just pass over that two thousand five hundred
dollars, and I"ll give them to you.'

And satisfied with the effect produced by this menace, she departed with

her daughter, before Lord Roos could utter a reply
And satisfied with the effect produced by this menace, she departed with
her daughter, before Lord Roos could utter a reply.

'One other question, and I ask no more,' said the Countess, scarcely

able to syllable her words
'One other question, and I ask no more,' said the Countess, scarcely
able to syllable her words. 'Who is to administer the deadly draught?'

'En verdad!' he exclaimed, 'that is the loveliest piece of rusticity I

have seen since I came to England
'En verdad!' he exclaimed, 'that is the loveliest piece of rusticity I
have seen since I came to England. I thought mine eyes did not deceive
me, as to her beauty, when I caught sight of her from the Lord
Chamberlain"s gallery.'

After an hour or more of riding, they came to the herd, spread out over

a quarter of a mile of plain, and rode round it till they came to where
four cowboys were lolling on the grass, smoking
After an hour or more of riding, they came to the herd, spread out over
a quarter of a mile of plain, and rode round it till they came to where
four cowboys were lolling on the grass, smoking.

'Sure, we can do it! I"ve got the papers all ready, old Sam Ford"s

signature and all
'Sure, we can do it! I"ve got the papers all ready, old Sam Ford"s
signature and all. Just pass over that two thousand five hundred
dollars, and I"ll give them to you.'

Some little time had elapsed since Aveline"s departure on her sorrowful

errand, and Sir Thomas Lake was still alone, and once more deeply
engrossed in the consideration of the document, which, it will be
recollected, had occasioned him so much disquietude; and the feeling by
no means diminished when the usher entered and announced Lady Lake
Some little time had elapsed since Aveline"s departure on her sorrowful
errand, and Sir Thomas Lake was still alone, and once more deeply
engrossed in the consideration of the document, which, it will be
recollected, had occasioned him so much disquietude; and the feeling by
no means diminished when the usher entered and announced Lady Lake.
Severe and inflexible as we have described him, the Secretary of State
was generally yielding enough towards his lady, of whom he stood in
great awe, and whom he treated with the utmost deference; but on this
occasion, contrary to habitude, he received her very coldly, and without
rising motioned her to a seat beside him. Disregarding the want of
attention, which, under other circumstances, she would have resented,
Lady Lake took the seat indicated without remark, and continued silent
till the usher had retired. Then turning quickly towards her husband,
and fixing an inquiring look upon him, she said in a low voice--

Entering one of the doors, he beheld several handsomely polished desks,

at which busy men were seated
Entering one of the doors, he beheld several handsomely polished desks,
at which busy men were seated.

'When you"ve been doing police stations longer, Foster, you will learn

that you can"t judge criminals by their faces,' snarled the sergeant,
and as the other reporters heard this caustic comment, they laughed
uproariously
'When you"ve been doing police stations longer, Foster, you will learn
that you can"t judge criminals by their faces,' snarled the sergeant,
and as the other reporters heard this caustic comment, they laughed
uproariously.

'Not that I was in any real peril, my fair young Sir,' she continued,

'though I feigned to be so, for I have powerful protectors, as you
perceive; and indeed this was all a preconcerted scheme between my Lord
Roos and his noble friends to turn the tables on the two extortioners
'Not that I was in any real peril, my fair young Sir,' she continued,
'though I feigned to be so, for I have powerful protectors, as you
perceive; and indeed this was all a preconcerted scheme between my Lord
Roos and his noble friends to turn the tables on the two extortioners.
But that does not lessen my gratitude to you; and I shall try to prove
it. You are in more danger than, perchance, you wot of; and I feel quite
sure Sir Giles means to carry his threat into execution, and to cause
your arrest.'

'I should be very grateful if some of you _gentlemen_ would tell me of a

ranch where I can apply for a job
'I should be very grateful if some of you _gentlemen_ would tell me of a
ranch where I can apply for a job. I"d rather like to get one without
Mr. Thomas" assistance.'

Never stopping to notice in what direction he was going, Bob dashed

along the street, fearful only lest his guardian would pursue him, and
expecting every moment to hear his voice shouting at him to stop
Never stopping to notice in what direction he was going, Bob dashed
along the street, fearful only lest his guardian would pursue him, and
expecting every moment to hear his voice shouting at him to stop. But as
the moments wore by without any sign of excitement or alarm, Bob gained
confidence, finally slackening his pace to a walk, and began to think of
what he should do, now that he had taken matters into his own hands, and
severed the ties of years that had bound him to his guardian.

Elated by the capture and identification of the would-be train-robbers,

the officers made much of Bob, praising him for remaining to listen
until he had heard the dastardly plot, and commenting on the good
fortune which had placed him just where the tramps were
Elated by the capture and identification of the would-be train-robbers,
the officers made much of Bob, praising him for remaining to listen
until he had heard the dastardly plot, and commenting on the good
fortune which had placed him just where the tramps were.

'Now,' said Nell, addressing the whole party, 'let us all be ready

to-morrow, while the whole town"s preparin" for the fight, to slip away
as well disguised as we can, out of the place; by that time you"ll have
your business done, an" your trifle o" money earned;' she directed the
last words to the red-haired stranger
'Now,' said Nell, addressing the whole party, 'let us all be ready
to-morrow, while the whole town"s preparin" for the fight, to slip away
as well disguised as we can, out of the place; by that time you"ll have
your business done, an" your trifle o" money earned;' she directed the
last words to the red-haired stranger.

'Out, insolent fellow!' cried Sir Giles; 'thou wilt alter thy tune when

thou art scourged at the cart"s-tail
'Out, insolent fellow!' cried Sir Giles; 'thou wilt alter thy tune when
thou art scourged at the cart"s-tail.'

'That"s hard,' replied Lamh Laudher, drawing his breath tightly; 'but

I know where it comes from
'That"s hard,' replied Lamh Laudher, drawing his breath tightly; 'but
I know where it comes from. I think your father might be softened a
little, ay, a great deal, if it wasn"t for your brother Meehaul.'

'I"ll direct you, of course,' returned the agent, 'and you can"t very

well miss it because it"s the only one in town
'I"ll direct you, of course,' returned the agent, 'and you can"t very
well miss it because it"s the only one in town. But if you don"t mind,
I"d like to have you put up here with me.' Then he added in a low voice:
'The Red Indian isn"t the sort of place you"re used to and I"d feel
safer to have you here.'

Very different was Lady Roos"s conduct

Very different was Lady Roos"s conduct. This unhappy lady, whom we have
already mentioned as the daughter of Sir Thomas Lake, Secretary of
State, had the misfortune to be sincerely attached to her handsome but
profligate husband, whose neglect and frequent irregularities she had
pardoned, until the utter estrangement, occasioned by his passion for
the Countess of Exeter, filled her with such trouble, that, overpowered
at length by anguish, she complained to her mother Lady Lake,--an
ambitious and imperious woman, whose vanity had prompted her to bring
about this unfortunate match. Expressing the greatest indignation at the
treatment her daughter had experienced, Lady Lake counselled her to
resent it, undertaking herself to open the eyes of the injured Earl of
Exeter to his wife"s infidelity; but she was dissuaded from her purpose
by Sir Thomas Lake. Though generally governed by his wife, Sir Thomas
succeeded, in this instance, in over-ruling her design of proceeding at
once to extremities with the guilty pair, recommending that, in the
first instance, Lord Roos should be strongly remonstrated with by Lady
Lake and her daughter, when perhaps his fears might be aroused, if his
sense of duty could not be awakened.

'Heavens above! Aunt, she"s turned! Do I forgive you, my heart"s own

treasure? How did you ever offend me, my darling? You
'Heavens above! Aunt, she"s turned! Do I forgive you, my heart"s own
treasure? How did you ever offend me, my darling? You. know you never
did. But if you ever did, my own Ellen, I do forgive you.'

In the fear that his guardian might follow him to the room and discover

him as he was procuring his money, Bob worked with feverish haste to
lift the board, and so excited was he that it seemed as though he could
never raise it
In the fear that his guardian might follow him to the room and discover
him as he was procuring his money, Bob worked with feverish haste to
lift the board, and so excited was he that it seemed as though he could
never raise it. But at last he did so, secured possession of his
treasures, and then put the board back, just as the grocer called to him
from the doorway:

Perhaps there was not one among his nearest friends who felt more

profound regret for having been the occasion of his disgrace, and
consequently of the fate to which he had exposed him, than Meehaul Neil
Perhaps there was not one among his nearest friends who felt more
profound regret for having been the occasion of his disgrace, and
consequently of the fate to which he had exposed him, than Meehaul Neil.
In the course of that day he sent his father to old Lamh Laudher, to
know if young O"Rorke would grant him an interview, the object of which
was to dissuade him from the battle.

After the lapse of a short interval, in which Lamh Laudher"s daughter

received back her money, the certificate, and the gospel, her brother
discovered that Rody was the person who had, through Ellen Neil,
communicated to him the secret that assisted him in vanquishing the
Dead Boxer, a piece of information which saved him from prosecution
After the lapse of a short interval, in which Lamh Laudher"s daughter
received back her money, the certificate, and the gospel, her brother
discovered that Rody was the person who had, through Ellen Neil,
communicated to him the secret that assisted him in vanquishing the
Dead Boxer, a piece of information which saved him from prosecution. The
family now returned home, where they found Meehaul Neil awaiting their
arrival, for the purpose of offering his sister"s hand and dowry to
our hero. This offer, we need scarcely say, was accepted with no sullen
spirit. But Lamh Laudher was not so much her inferior in wealth as our
readers may suppose. His affectionate sister divided her money between
him and her parents, with whom she spent the remainder of her days in
peace and tranquility. Our great-grandfather remembered the wedding,
and from him came down to ourselves, as an authentic tradition, the fact
that it was an unrivalled one, but that it would never have taken place
were it not for the terrible challenge of the Dead Boxer.

These words suggested a new train of thought to the reporter, and,

judging from the remark that his informant had some knowledge of the
boy"s antecedents, he determined to learn what he could about them
These words suggested a new train of thought to the reporter, and,
judging from the remark that his informant had some knowledge of the
boy"s antecedents, he determined to learn what he could about them.

'Bear with him, good Master Jocelyn,' Aveline said in a low tone

'Bear with him, good Master Jocelyn,' Aveline said in a low tone. 'He
hath been unjustly treated by the King, and as you see can ill brook the
usage. Bear with him, I pray of you.'

As the prisoner exhibited no violence, the thongs with which his hands

were bound were removed on his entrance to the vault, and he was allowed
the free use of his limbs
As the prisoner exhibited no violence, the thongs with which his hands
were bound were removed on his entrance to the vault, and he was allowed
the free use of his limbs. The breast-plate in which he was clad was
taken from him, and his vesture was again closely searched, but no
further discovery was made either of concealed weapon, or of any paper
or letter tending to show that he had accomplices in his dread design.
The only thing found upon him, indeed, was a small Bible, and this,
after it had been examined, he was permitted to retain. To the
interrogatories put to him by Master Dendy, the serjeant-at-arms, he
returned the briefest answers; and when he had said as much as he
thought fit, he obstinately refused to make further reply.

'You will have an opportunity of revisiting that fine city, Madame; for

you will no longer be able to carry on your calling here
'You will have an opportunity of revisiting that fine city, Madame; for
you will no longer be able to carry on your calling here.'

'You have guessed right, Sire,' he said

'You have guessed right, Sire,' he said. 'This is Sir Ferdinando"s son;
and, if I may be permitted to say so, your Majesty owes him some
reparation for the wrongs done his father.'

'Why, she says she--_will_ come, for all that, if she can; but she

bid me take your stick from you, for a rason she has, that she"ll tell
yourself when she sees you
'Why, she says she--_will_ come, for all that, if she can; but she
bid me take your stick from you, for a rason she has, that she"ll tell
yourself when she sees you.'

'And now we"ll forget all trouble and have a good time,' announced Mr

'And now we"ll forget all trouble and have a good time,' announced Mr.
Nichols. 'Give this note to the cashier, chief. Take Bob"s pass from the
messenger and meet us at the limited at eleven. Bob and I are going to
the theatre.'

'Don"t forget that address: "South 101st Street, on the left-hand

corner, in a big, yellow brick building
'Don"t forget that address: "South 101st Street, on the left-hand
corner, in a big, yellow brick building." It"s on the side of the
street nearest New York, and the name is Mrs. John Cameron.'

The enamoured knight seized the hand she extended towards him, but in

the attempt to kiss it fell to the ground, amid the laughter of the
company
The enamoured knight seized the hand she extended towards him, but in
the attempt to kiss it fell to the ground, amid the laughter of the
company.

'He told me himself, however, that when he had accumulated that amount

he was going to find a man
'He told me himself, however, that when he had accumulated that amount
he was going to find a man. But more than that he wouldn"t say.

'Why should this be so, O friend of my father?' exclaimed Sir Jocelyn

'Why should this be so, O friend of my father?' exclaimed Sir Jocelyn.
'And why should my presence be hateful to you? There is no man living
whom I would less willingly offend than yourself; and in all I have
done, where you have been concerned, I have had no free agency. Judge me
not then too harshly. I commiserate your situation from the depths of my
heart, and would relieve it were it possible.'

Without incident the hours of darkness passed and the two days that

Merry Dick was with him, and, on the third, Ford rode over to see how
they were getting along
Without incident the hours of darkness passed and the two days that
Merry Dick was with him, and, on the third, Ford rode over to see how
they were getting along.

'I must wait, your worship, till I hear fully what it is first,' replied

Lamh Laudher, 'afther that I"m not afraid of clearin" myself from it
'I must wait, your worship, till I hear fully what it is first,' replied
Lamh Laudher, 'afther that I"m not afraid of clearin" myself from it.'

'Let the door be opened,' the same authoritative voice exclaimed, which

had before ordered its closure
'Let the door be opened,' the same authoritative voice exclaimed, which
had before ordered its closure.