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“unmarried, and who had for years been an e
id | part, Tom was head over heels in love with
' a brace of revolvers ani
2
—YHAPPY DAYS Tt
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“LOS
T HOPES MIN
BY P, Ts RAYMOND:
CHAPTER I.
ON THE DIAMOND TRAIL.
Tue light of anew day @'sclosed a drear:
and monotonous scene, The place is South
Africa, and the locality the barren velds,
or plains, which are traversed by the trail
leading northward from the cape,
As far as the eye can reach all that can
e seen are fields of red sand thickly
strewn with st nes and gray rocks, yellow
herbs and stunted bushes. There is no
cultivation or natural beauty.
rare intervals the traveler comes
upon a miserable farmhouse occupied by
Boers, or Dutch settlers, t the date of
which we are telling the only way to the
diamond fields, or treasure Tand of South
Africa, which are situated on the right
shore of the Orange River toward the
southern confines of the great desert of
Kalakari, was.through the great veld,
Already the iamond seekers had
thronged to the new treasure country,
and the “dry diggings” of Kimberly and
New Rush were reported to be the richest }.
in the world,
stage which could accommodate
twelve persons was making its way along
the trail over the veld this morning in the
month of May, .
This vehicle had a coarse cloth top, and
was mounted on four large wheels, and
drawn by fourteen mules that were driven
with great skill by two drivers, who sat
side by side on the box. One held the
reins, while his assistant wielded a very
long whip, made of bamboo, likea gigantic
fishing rod, with which he not only bela-
bored, but also directed the mules.
Among the passengers in the diamond
coach, which was escorted-by two well-
armed and well-mounted men, there was
a Jad of eighteen, whose handsome and in-
the long voyage from one continent to the
other, and arrived in Cape Town, whence
he had taken passage by the diamond
coach for the new treasure Jand,
The lad’s uncle, James Foster, who was
unsuccessful treasure hunter in the go
fields of America, had gone to the African
diamond mines some months previously,
" 3 an orphan, and he made his
home in New York with distant relatives,
who failed to show much affection for him,
and so, when three months ago, the youth
received a letter from his uncle, the dia-
mond seeker, which invited him to come
to South Africa, and contained a draft on
a New York bank for money with which to
pay his passage, be hastened to sail tor the
distant land of wealth, :
In Cape Town, Tom had the good fortune
to fall in with the celebrated American-
African explorer and mighty hunter, Eljis
‘onklin, who was visiting Africa for the
third time,
Conklin had previously shot big game
all over South Africa, and he had jour-
neyed among savage tribes, who had never
set eyes on a white man before, and re-
turned to give the world the result of his
explorations.
As the great hunter and explorer was an
old friend of Tom Porter and his family,
he took the Jad under his wing in Cape
‘own, and gave him much good advice
and also valuable information,
‘Thanks to Conklin, Tom secured a good
gurte before he started for the diamond
elds. ,
Among other things, Tom bought a rifle,
da hunting knife,
for Conklin told him that the trail to the
diamond mines was by no means a safe
&.
one, it being haunted by a daring band of
outlaws, who had more than once robbed
the stage coach.
Tom regretted that Ellis Conklin was
_| not bound for the diamond country, for he
would have been delighted to have the
great hunter for a traveling companion,
But Ellis Conklin had already made his
preparations for a great hunt in the Bas-
soutos country—a_ tribe among which he
was known, and whose cbief had agreed to
furnish him with a little escort of armed
negroes,
So Tom parted with tbe hunter in Cape
Town,tbut the latter assured the lad that
he meant to visit the diamond fields later
in the season, and that he would not fail
to look him up.
The lad had been several days on the
journey to the diamond land in the great
stage coach, when the morning which we
have selected for the opening of our nar-
rative came, “
At dawn the stage party had left the
farmhouse of a Boer settler, where they
had put up the preceding night,
The company that occupied the vehicle
was atypical representation of the float-
ing population which runs from all parts
of the world to gold or diamond mines,
Among the passengers were two persons
who interested Tom, One of these was a
founs girl, about his own age—a fair-
aired Anglo-Saxon beauty with the roses
of old England in her cheeks. The other
person who particularly attracted Tom’s
attention was a tall, dark-visaged man of
middle age, whose clean-shaven face show-
ed strong and resolute features, but whose
smnall, beady, black eyes never seeme
meet those of anyone squarely and frankly.
Persons who are thrown together during
long journeys soon get acquainted, and
Tom had already got on easy speaking
terms with the young lady, and also with
the man allu ed. to,
The former had informed the lad that
her name was Rose Denton, and that she
was the only child of Mark Denton, the
wealthy English owner of one of the rich-
est claims in the diamond land,
And Tom gathered from the further con-
fidences with which the young lady favor-
ed him that she lived at New Rush, She
had been on a visit to Cape Town, and was
now returning to her home at the mines,
Of course, Tom told the pretty girl all
about himself, and be was delighted to
see that she seemed interested. For his
pretty Rose Denton, before he had been in
her company three days, during the stage
—
2
s
rney.
The young lady was accompanied by a
sour-visaged woman of uncertain age, who|a
was her maid. Miss Sharp, as she was
named, amuse ‘om by her eccentricities,
She never allowed a chance to pass to pro-
claim that she was an old maid, and that
she gloried in her state of single blessed-
ness. .
“Men are a necessary evil, I suppose,
but for my part I have no use for them,”
was the burden of the refrain upon which
Miss Sharp liked to harp. .
A if the eecentric spinster disliked
men in general, it seemed that she had a
particular aversion for the dark faced man
.we have mentioned, and who had
introduced himself to the stage party by
the name of Ralph Blackwood,
Ile said he was going to seek his fortune
in the diamond fields, and that he was an
Englishman anyone could tell.
As Blackwood had from the beginning
of the journey shown great admiration for
Rose Denton, and indeed constantly forced
4
o
his attentions upon her, ‘'om Porter had | em
soon come to feel something like’ jealous
dislike for the man.
3ut, though Black wood showed in man
ways that he disliked Tom, thus far there
had been no open rupture between them,
Frequently Tom would see Blackwood
glaring at him covertly, and he knew that
the fortune hunter regarded him as a rival
for the favor of their girlish traveling
companion,
Thus far all had gone well with the
arty. :
But as the stage proceeded this morning,
the mounted guards rode up alongside the
stage, and one of them addressed the pas-
sengers, saying: .
“We are now getting into dangerous
country, These parts are infested by the
daring band of outlaws known as ‘The
Masks of the Diamond Trail,’so I warn all
‘ou gents to look to your arms, for the out-
aws may attempt to hold us upat any
time now.”
Tom had already heard about the doings
of the outlaws mentioned, so he knew that
the band always appeared in masks, and
that they had frequently robbed the stage,
Moreover, the lad had heard in Cape
Town that the identity of each member of
the masked band was a secret which as yet
no one had succeeded in penetrating,
The guard’s announcement of. probable
eril ahead seemed to alarm some of the
men of the party, but Tom observed that
Blackwood showed no signs of fear.
The American lad was naturally brave,
and he quietly looked to his weapons,
while Blackwood began to bluster and de-
clare that he had no fear of all the outlaws
in .
Rose Denton knew the perils of the trail,
but Tom saw that she turned pale when
the guard gave the alarming warning,
beside the young girl, and he said to ber
in reassuring tones:
“Do not be alarmed, Miss Denton. In-
cluding the guards and the drivers there
are fourteen of us men, and even if the
outlaws should attack the coach, I think
we can beat them off. Be sure I’ will do
my best to protect you.”
“Thank you, Iam sure you are brave,”
answered Tose, quietly, ,
“ Humph !" ejaculated Blackwood, who
Wwas seated facing the young lady and
‘om, = You can’t rely much on a mere
slip of a boy like that, Miss Denton, I
am anxious for your safety, Just come
and sit by me. Then you will be ont of
Tange of a bullet that may yet come
manne your side.”
hanks, but I prefer to remain
I am,” re lied Miss Denton, where
ut Linsist, This is no time for
modesty. Sit beside me. You must de
so. If you will not look out for yourself I
mean to do so for you,” said Blackwood,
The young girl flushed with just indig-
nation, and she regarded Blackwood wit
ook in which surprise and fear were
equally mingled, .
mane, fellow made a@ movement as if he
eant to place the young 1.
seat beside him b: sree. & lady upon the
zon instantly sprang to his feet.
you dare to lay a hand on Miss Den-
ton you'll regret it the lad cried, sternly.
Blackwood Jaughed sneeringly, .
ought to twist your neck, you impn-
ent young whipsnapper, and-I would
— o matter. I'll settle with you
ata more convenient time,” he said,
Any time you like, And now I want
y ave noticed all
that Miss Denton does not like your arene
tions, and you must discontinue them, or
I win jnake you,” replied Tom, ,
« ¢ was not for my plans—” began
added? ‘Then he paused abruptly and
“I can afford to wait, but you wil
out that it was a bad thing toinake wend
e
through the window, and you'll have a
=
‘om did not reply, for just th
enton whispered 18 iim, dastinte : Rose
Do uarrel with him on my ac-
dangerous man,’
The young lady smiled upon Tom very
sweetly as she added;
fhat morning Tom had secured a seat |a few
that he is a desperate and b
“‘T thank you so much for interfering in
my behalf.”
Soon after that the stage stopped ata
water course for a moment and Blackwood
got out and took his place.on the top of
the vehicle, -
Nothing of importance transpired until
oor,
‘Then the stage halted at the farmhouse
of a Boer settler for dinner.
Soon aftér the midday half was made
Tom saw Blackwood stealing away from
the farmhouse, : :
There was something in the fellow’s
manner that served to awaken in ‘lom's
mind the suspicion that he was bent upon
mischief of some kin .
Obeying an impulse of the moment, with-
out waiting to acquaint anyone with his in-
tentions, Tom glided in pursuit of Black- _
B
2
‘ood.
The latter had just disappeared in a
grove of stunted, sun-parched trees north
of the Boer's dwelling, when the lad start-
ed after him,
Entering the grove, Tom presently caught
sight of Blackwood again, and, certain that
@ was not discovered, he trailed the sus-
picious acting man until he came toa halt
hear the northern confines of the cover,
Ifere there was a ravine, and as ‘Tom stood
behind a tree and watched him, Black-
wood put a silver whistle to his mouth and
blew a peculiar: blast upon it. Lvidently
this was a signal, for the whistle was an-
swered from the depths of the ravine, and
Ww moments later the astonished lad
behind the tree saw a dozen rough-looking
men come up out of the ravine and join
Blackwood.
Tom was near enough to catch every
word which passed between the stage .
coach passenger and these desperate ap-
pearing ruffians, all of whom were heavily
armed,
‘*My orders are for you to hold up the
coach at Zulu Run—the first stream on the
trail north of here,” said Blackwood, at
once,
‘But cap, the diamond vigilantes are on
the lookout, and it’s a big risk to take
just for the chance of plundering a lot of
men who are goin’ to the diamond diggin’s
after fortunes, an’so are not likely to be
over burdened with money. i
and stop the coach when it comes back.
Diamonds are sent to Cape Town by the _
coach sometimes, you know,” answered
one of the ruffians, .
“‘ Bramble, you're a fool! There’s a prize
going to the mine, Old Mark Denton’s
aughter is one of the passengers. It’s my
game to have you capture her. Her father,
the diamond king, will pay any ransom we
ask,” answered Blackwood with the air of
one in authority,
CHAPTER IL
THE OUTLAWS OF TIE TREASURE’ LAND,
“THE treacherous villain!’ thought
Tom, andhe was convinced, of course, that
Blackwood was really the leader of the
band of outlaws, :
But before he could make any reflections
the rascally stage passenger continued
YA say, Bramble, there’s a boy
among the passengers whom I want you
to take prisoner with the girl, I’ve gota
little score to’settle with the upstart.”
om was quick to think and act, He at
once decided to get back to the Boer's farms
elay, and warn the coach
Pissensers by revealing the treachery of
lackwood,
Without waiting to hear more, he started
© steal away in the direction whence he
had come, i
But suddenly, when he had not taken
more than half a dozen steps, a dry stick
is foot. Instant] jack-
wood turned and saw the ;
ad.
‘That’s the boy I want to”
capture! After him! If he Jeaches,the
ee Pe
ao