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“ST HAPPY DAYS ‘eT
Ile worked like a madman. He could
think of but one thing and that was that
she was buried in the wreckage. Fain
ant sick at heart he worked.
t of course he found no trace of her.
newt others of the troupe came to his side.
The storm was passing as rapidly as it
came.
Mr. Bailey and his wife were amon
them. {They rushed up to Cal and asked
for Juli
“My ‘Soul ! I do not know,” replied
the young circus rider.
“But she was last Wwith you,”
Mr. Baile :
“Tam well aware of that,” replied Cal.
“We rode out of the tent together. Then
something struck me on the head and I
Jost consciousness. Oh, it is terrible.”
“I fear she is under the wreckage,
then,” cried Mr. Bailey, in tones of
agony. “Oh, this is an awful affair. Many
dead and wounded are being taken out of
the large tent.
s of men were frantically at work
everywhere. ‘The multitude turned’ and
came a yast rescue corps.
Hundreds of wounded were taken from
the wreckage and many dead. The dress-
ing tents were easily removed and it was
found that all of the circus company were
uninjured and present except Julie.
The petite bareback rider had vanished
in a strange manner. All quest was vain.
Search was even made beyond the circus
grounds,
Then a clue was gained.
A street boy had seen a young girl clad
in circus garb being carried through the
storm to a distant part of the grounds.
There a Spach. was in waiting and she
was placed in
The lad had ‘attached no importance to
the scene, naturally concluding that she
had received injury and was being taken
away by frie
ans all the “other members of the com-
were present, there could be but one
. conclusion and this was that it was Julie.
Questioned further, the lad described
the abductors as three dark-featured men,
dressed in loose hanging clothes and broad
declared
elt hats.
Then Cal recalled the dark- featured
“man: whoin he had seen at the Z en-
trance, <A great cry of comprehension
and of anguish “escaped him
“Oh, heaven!” he cried. “I’see it ail
now. She has ‘been stolen away. She
lost, lost! We shall never see her agai
“What?” cried Mr. Bailey, forcibly.
“Do you know that, Cat?”
“Oh, it is the truth, the truth,” cried
the young circus rider, and then he de-
scribed the incident exactly. Mr. Bailey
listened with pallid face.
"he groaned. “It is too
I fear we shall never see Julie alive
t seemed certain that all this must be
*the work of Vespada. If so, doubtless be-
fore this he had executed the completion
f his vow of vendetta.
Words cannot depict the sensations ex-
perienced by little Julie's friends. Agony
of spirit and awful sorrow prevailed.
To Cal it seemed as if all the world had
grown black. is soul was in a deadly
stupor. <And yet, with the tenacity of a
youthful soul, he clung t
’erhaps Vespada would ot at once
wreak his vengeance upon her, S
might be in his power, but yet alive.
There was a chance of rescue.
So that evening, while silence reigned
upen the circus ground, for the tents were
so riddled that no performance could be
given, Cal set out to do some shrewd de-
tective wor!
Ile tried to trace the carriage used by
the abductors.
‘And in doing this he gained a fresh
ie
o
clue.
The description of the man at the ring
entrance with the swarthy face and rings
of gold in his ears, tallied ‘with that of the
Jeader of a‘band of gypsies whic! a
been quartered for many weeks near the
tow
"This gay
ful renewal of
might
ve Cal a new lead and a wonder-
hope. After all Julie
‘in the power of Vespada she
would doubtless come to no harm. Ie
had heard of many similar cases of ab-
duction by gyps
ight be “that they fancied her
strange beauty, or there was hope of a
large ransom. yhat other motive they
could have Cal could not imagine until he
FOr her parentage.
pta, her mother, had been a sipsy.
Vespada had fallen in love with her at
gypsy fair. he gypsies are people of
strange habits and secret ways.
nomadic life was conducive to this.
There was perhaps some other reason
why they should seek to regain Julie. She
was of royal lineage among them. The
old queen was nigh her end. Perhaps a
new one was needed.
none more peerless or
pharming than Julie could be imagined.
She had simply gone back to her people.
Perhaps against her will, but nevertheless.
I these conclusions Cal drew. ‘Then
he tried. to find the gypsy encampment.
L t had vanished. ta trace of
the nomads could be found. No one knew
where they had fone or when. They had
simply disappea:
After a futile ‘quest Cal was obliged to
give up and return to the circus. But
was no longer desponden
He was assured that “the vendetta had
not been executed. In the hands of the
Bypsies Julie was safe. Some day she
should be rescued.
Mr. Bailey kept a dozen detectives at
ork to learn the child’s fate. He was
persistent in his efforts, but none of them
bore fruit.
As rapidly as possible the tents were
repaired and the damage estimated. Then
the cireus went on.
As for Cal, he was intensely depressed.
Jis heart was not in his work.
While his duties were performed as
thoroughly as ever, interest in them was
dead. His handsome face grew pale and
drawn, his eyes sunken and suffering of
spirit was depicted in every line,
The same might be said of. “Mr. and
Mrs. Bailey. They hid loved Julie as a
daughter and her fate was sad to reflect
upon. ime went on they slowly aban-
doned hope.
But Cal ‘did not.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE GYPSY,
.
From town to town the circus traveled
on. The performances were good and the
show made money.
Mr, Bailey figured out a very success-
ful season. Cal was rapidly paying for
his interest.
“If we have such luck as this, Cal,” Mr.
Bailey said, “in a few years we should
retire with wealth.”
one time Cal's spirits would have
mounted high with this reflection. But
pow w wealth seemed of little importance
to
After some weeks of traveling the cir-
cus “finally reached Portland,
own was well-billed ale a great
crowd turned out. The tent was packed
to overflowing.
Jal was on the programme for a cha-
riot race as well as bareback riding. The
former was a thrilling feature.
Six horses, three abreast, were attached
to the Roman chariot. Cal was to drive
against Signor Ravelli.
e race depended upon the position at
the start, for swinging wide at the cor-
ners gave the outside team a chance to
come in and beat the other out. So a
one time Cal’s team would win, at another
Ravelli’s.
The winning therefore was always pre-
concerted, but this was not apparent to
the crowd, which was sufficient. On the
present day Cal had the outside posi
tion at the start, therefore was bound t
be the winner.
The chariots came down to the starting
line and were given the word. Away w
the white and black horses. Jike whith
vind 30
wire und the corners they flew. Cal had
all that, he could do to keep the chariot
upright, and had little time or chance to
glance into the audience.
t as he swung the last corner on the
way “home, by the merest chance his gaze
dropped into the audience upon the seats
near the ring and rested upon a dark,
swarthy face.
It was the gypsy whom he had seen at
the ring entrance the day Julie was ab-
ducted.
Cal could hardly maintain his position
in the chariot after that. He reeled and
seemed likely to fall, while his face was
ashen pale.
This was seen by the audience and 2
shuddering ery of apprehension went u
ut Cal recovercd himself, steadied the
horses and brought them down. Then
stepped from the chariot.
The people were cheering him, but he
heard them not. Ravelli’s Soice sounded
in his ears as from a distan
Pay hat’s the matter with. OU, Cal? You
nearly took my wheel off at the last turn.”
But Cal heard nothing. His mind was
concentrated upon fhe spot where he had
seen the gypsy
Like a cat he ‘Teaped the ropes and ran
along the sawdust. e had reached
the spot where the teliow sat.
Ile was still ther
jut there was a blank expression on his
face and a stare in his eyes which would
seem to assert that Cal was a stranger to
him.
But Cal was not to be deceived.
He pounced upon the fellow like a cat
upon a mouse. He faced him sternly and
said with set teet
“Where is she? “Alive or dead?”
The gypsy looked startled, but never
lost his stoicism. We affected surprise
and ignorance in the way which only his
kind can.
“Si, sit nor
and half in, Traliain
you_mean?
“You lie, you black scoundrel!” cried
Cal. “I> know you were in the tent at
Bradford When the tornado struck us.
e of the party that abducted
X Now you'll not go from here
until you tell me if she is alive and where
she is.
’ he said, half in Spanish
“Ido not know what
Just now Mr. Bailey and the ring-
master came up. Behind them were two
detectives.
At sight of the gypsy 1 Mr, _pPailey cried
You recognize him, Cal
“T do,” replied Cal.
“Arrest hin ot hsP and bring him into
the dressing r
The detectives, “sprang forward. The
gypsy drew a stiletto and offered resist-
ance. But they quickly disarmed him
Ie was ied to the dressing tent.
Tl performance w and the
crowd quickly forgot the incident. To
them it.meant that some thief or pick-
pocket had been spotted, nothing more.
Into the dressing tent the gypsy was
le
His face: owas black and scowling and
he was plainly in a very angry mood.
first he sullenly — refused to answer any
questions,
At length, however, he said:
“Gentlem I know not what you
ean. am "Giovanni, an honest man.
will harm nobody. I know nothing of the
little girl you speak o
“Where is youn camp?” asked Mr. Bai-
ley, sternly. “Take us
The fellow nodded cher But the
sly tremble in his eye betrayed him.
words were not believed.
“Ah, signors,” he replied, “I will be
happy to do that, It is far beyond the
line in Canada. Gne—two hundred miles.
There Caddo will sell you horses and
Vedda will read the cards and the stars.
I shall be glad to go there.”
He bowed low and with an affectation
of servility. But no more could be drawn
from him. Finally one of the detectives
took Cal and Mr. Bailey asidé and said:
“Let him go and we will shadow him.
It is the only way.”
's was done. Giovanni ‘was allowed
to depart. with the detectives close upon
his heels. But he had barely yanished
when a boy entered the dressing tent and
handed Cal a scrawled bit of note paper.
The young circus rider, with thrilling
emotions, deciphered it as follows:
“Deer Boy:
“No dout yu will be sprized tu heer
from me jest now, but I’ve bin on a still
hunt an’ [ kin tell yu not tu worry. The
leetle gal is in good hands an’ safe. I'll
tell yu jest whar she is soon. Vespada
can’t touch her where she is. I will see
you very soon. Your friend,
: “Tim WALKER.”
Cal drew a deep breath and it seemed
to him that moment as if the world had
suddenly grown bright and rosy again.
{To BE CONTINUED.}
DON’T FAIL TO TRY FOR A WHEEL IN
THE CONTEST NOW RUNNING IN ** HAP}
PY DAYS.’’ SEE 16th PACE,
Pm ome
[This story commenced in No. 248.]
Dick, the Halt-Breed
. By FRANK FORREST,
Author of ‘ dn Ebony Land,” “In Perit
of Ponting: 7 “Steve and the S, panish
8,” “* Ben's ‘3 Brother,” “ Lucky
‘Dick Golden,” etc., eto.
CHAPTER XIII.
TIEADED OFF IN THE CANYON.
Joaquin Matanzas had not counted on
umping Gopher; in fact, in his dazed
and half drunken condition he had not
seen him at all.
e was all ready to take the life of one
half-breed, but he was not ready for.two.
ick Vas ready for him, though. So
was the Gop
Our half- reed caught the wrist of the
knife hand with his left hand and got in
one at stunning blow between the eyes with
1s
Toate Gopher, just as active, caught
the knife and ered it aw: tum-
bled Joaquin in nthe, corner.
At | sai
De
The Trail of the Indian Chief
he cried, making a rush for the bandit
leader, knife in
Never in his life had Joaquin Matanzas
had a closer call.
Ie would have been scalped with his
own knife if Dick had not interfered.
“No, Gopher! Aor cried Dick. “Don’t
do it! Follow me!”
Jumping Gopher grumblingly obeyed.
They ran out of the hut together and
made a quick dash up the canyon.
“Why you no let me scalp him, Dick?”
growled the Gopher. “Him heap bad man,
I know him better than you—oh, yes.
“That’s all right. There’s no use in
hitting a fellow when he’s down, Gopher,”
replied Dick. “Ww hite men don’ ‘t fight that
wane no white man, Dick.”
“You are more white than you are In-
“Black Wolf told me you were more
e said a sour father
s “replied Gopher,
“put I only know my father was no good.
I've always been with my mother's. people.
You can’t make anything but a Navajo
out of me no matter how hard you try.”
“I'm not trying, Gopher. As for me do
you know I take a lot of satisfaction in
being with my father’s people, but tell me
why, were you so quick to mind what I
ioe y,
plied Gopher. “We shall all obey every
order you give us from this day on. You
don" t know what it means to be chief yet,
ut you will.soon find out. I'd rather
be in your shoes than be the richest
miner in Denver—yes, I would.”
Sometimes the Gopher spoke very good
nglish and then again his speech. was
almost as broken as any Indian in the
His | tribe
ran on, Dick hardly knowing in-
which direction they were going, except
that it was down the canyon and away
from ihe secret holdout of the Black
“Where. do we go?’ he asked Gopher
at last. “Of course I want to take this
money to the fort, and we must have
horses in order to do it. Have you any
idea where we are
all abou
W: ait “ sninute, Dick, and you shall
have horses,” he said. “We can’t very
well get back to where ours was left, but
I know where, there are others, you bet.’
cqoaquin’s
“I don’t like the idea of horse stealing
much, Gopher, but I don’t raise any ol
jection this time.”
ood!” grunted the Gopher. “I must
obey the chief in all things, but I-should
awfully hate to leave good horses behind
me when we need them as much.as we
they had not far to go before they
came to a widening of the canyon. Here
over the rocks and went winding
through a broad stretch of meadow land.
It was just the place to pasture horses,
and as many as thirty were to be seen in
the moonlight.
, chey: pricked up their ears. as the two
d bo: went gal-
bal ping off over T the green sward.
“There they are,” said the Gopher. “I’ve
Dik? rocks up there. Shall we take them,
Rn replied Dick, “I shan’t bother
with the rest, What we want to do is to
get to the fort.”
“T wish we ‘tad a lariat, ”” said the Go-
pher. “I suppose I can catch a couple of
them without one, but it will take time.”
“Why, here
cottonwood tree.
This was just the find they wanted.
Dick dropped the bag on the grass and
he and the Gopher each took a lariat and
went tow ork.
when it came to swinging the la-
| riat Dick was right in
He amazed the Gopher with his skill,
for he not only caught his horse first, but
caught the other one, after Gopher made
a miss 0
There was some little trouble with the
horses at the start, but they soon got
them tamed down, and, springing upon
their backs rode off as comfortably as if
they had had saddle and bridle.
Dick was right at home in bareback
riding and his companion’: 8 admiration for
him increased every mom:
ey dashed down the “canyon to its
end, or rather to the point where it di-
vided into two arms.
Gopher declared that one led back to
the hut where Dick had his startling ad-
venture, while the other led to the trail
of the Indian Chief.
ow, which way, Dick?” he ask
“Me scalp him, bee! . "Me scalp bim!”
“To the fort, or do you still want to i
because you are the chief,” re-
hi;
Jumping Gopher declared that he knew
seen them here many a time before from.
POE SRT eee
kent Sar B ae
cage =
Soper
fect enamen enya
|