TEARING OFF THE MASK.
When Buffalo Bill rode into the camp where Surgeon Powell and the
gold-hunter sat, it was seen that he was leading two horses, one
carrying a pack-saddle, the other a heavy load.
The surgeon-scout at once arose and greeted him, and said:
"Ho, Bill, what game is that?"
"A dead outlaw, the lieutenant of the band, whom I killed. But you are
not alone, Frank?"
"No, it is your old rescuer, who was on his way to the fort to see you,
when he met me. He was going to tell you that the outlaws have their
retreat in the Grand Canyon."
"I have been to it; but how are you, Pard Seldon, and let me say that I
have good news for you, as your daughter has come West to meet you and
is now at Last Chance."
"Thank you, Mr. Cody, but I am aware of that fact, as Surgeon Powell
can tell you; but come, look me squarely in the face, and see if you
know who I am."
Buffalo Bill gave a fixed look, and then cried excitedly:
"By the gods of war, _you are Wallace Weston or his ghost_."
"I am a very healthy ghost, sir; but I am Wallace Weston, and I leave it
to Surgeon Powell to tell my story to you."
The scout seized the gold-hunter's hand and wrung it hard, while he
said:
"Thank God you are not dead, Weston, for only this night have I heard
the truth of your story from the lips of the dying outlaw, Alvin Wolf."
"Ha! once my friend, then my foe, for he sided with the Mayhews against
me."
"He did, and I have his diary, which tells the whole story; but now let
me tell mine, and then we can compare notes and decide what is best to
be done."
They first had supper, after staking out their horses, and afterward
buried the body of the outlaw, Alvin Wolf.
Then, until after midnight, they sat talking together, the surgeon, the
scout, and the gold-hunter, about all that had happened, after which
they retired to their blankets.
It was just dawn the next morning when Wallace Weston rode away from the
old camp to make all speed to Last Chance. His mission there was to take
a letter to Driver Harding, which was as follows:
"Trust the bearer with your life. Pick out eight of the
best men in the camp, whom you can trust, and have them
pretend to start for W---- on business, going in your
coach.
"See that no one else goes. Have two leaders that are
good saddle-horses, and smuggle into the coach seven
saddles.
"I will meet you at Dead Line with horses, and prepare
to lose your leaders then, for four horses can readily
pull your empty coach on to W----.
"Your men must be the best, and fully armed.
"The bearer will bring your answer to me."
"Yours, B. B."
Pushing rapidly on, Wallace Weston arrived in Last Chance that night and
at once sought out Harding. Giving him his letter, he received his
answer, after the two had had a talk together, and then, mounted upon a
fresh horse furnished him by the driver, he started upon his return,
having attracted no particular attention.
It was the next day that the coach rolled out for W---- and it carried
eight miners as passengers. Arriving at Dead Line, it was met there by
Buffalo Bill, Surgeon Powell, and Wallace Weston, and the eight miners
joined them and went up to the scout's basin camp.
Then, with the two leaders taken from Harding's coach, they had, with
Wolf's horses and the pack-animals, enough to mount the party.
The next morning the start was made for the Grand Canyon, and the descent
was made on foot in the darkness of night, the horses having been left
on the rim.
The party were led by Wallace Weston, who knew the trail perfectly, and
at midnight they rushed in upon the outlaw camp, giving them a complete
surprise.
Revolvers rattled, cries of alarm and pain were heard, cheers were
given, and then silence reigned supreme, for the battle was won and four
outlaws had been made prisoners--the rest were killed.
One miner had been killed, and others wounded, though slightly, and
these were cared for by Doctor Powell.
In the camp the prisoner, Bernard Brandon, was found safe, but still
unconscious of all about him, apparently.
Wallace Weston had asked Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Powell to go on with
him to his camp, and there they found Lucas Langley on guard, he having
heard the echoes of the firing far down the canyon, and supposed that it
meant an attack planned by his pard.
Without letting the secret be known, that there was gold in the canyon,
Buffalo Bill ordered an early start for Last Chance, and it was made by
all except Lucas Langley, who remained at his cabin to await Weston's
return.
Upon nearing Last Chance Buffalo Bill halted the party, to follow on a
few hours later, while he rode on with Surgeon Powell and Wallace
Weston.
The scout was recognized by the miners and warmly greeted, and, as he
dismounted at the hotel and was welcomed by Landlord Larry and Harding,
who had returned, Doctor Dick came forward and said:
"Delighted to see you, Mr. Cody, again in Last Chance."
"Yes, Doctor Dick, I am here to find Richard Mayhew, alias Doctor Dick,
and, more still, the masked chief of the road-agents--hold! you are
covered!"
But Doctor Dick saw that all was lost, saw that the rope would be his
end, and, in spite of the warning of the scout, he drew his revolver.
But ere his finger touched the trigger he fell, a dead man, at the feet
of Buffalo Bill, Celeste Seldon having come forward just in time to see
him fall his length upon the earth.
To the excited miners Buffalo Bill turned and made a speech, for he had
killed their hero, the idol of Last Chance.
He told them how the mask of the gambler had been torn off, by the
confession of the outlaw Lieutenant Alvin Wolf, and how he had had his
suspicions aroused, as had also Landlord Larry and Harding, by several
things that had occurred.
The whole story was made known, and, as the rest of the party came in,
bearing the booty of the outlaws and the prisoners, and in Doctor Dick's
cabin was found the very bag of gold that had been given for Celeste
Seldon's ransom, and the money before taken from the coach, there was no
doubting his guilt, and a howl of rage arose against him and his
followers.
Later, while Buffalo Bill, Surgeon Powell, Wallace Weston, and Landlord
Larry were at Celeste Seldon's cabin, telling her the true story
regarding her father, the storm broke in fury, and Harding rushed in to
say that the miners had seized the outlaw prisoners and were hanging
them.
An attempted rescue was made by Surgeon Powell and Buffalo Bill, but in
vain; that mob would not, could not, be stayed in its madness, and the
work of revenge was accomplished.
The next day, as Surgeon Powell had said that the reason of Bernard
Brandon could be restored by an operation, Celeste begged him to make
the attempt, and, to the joy of all, it was crowned with perfect
success.
With his reason once on its throne, and learning all that had taken
place, Bernard Brandon told how he had been the young partner of Lawyer
Edgar Stone, who had kept his friend, Andrew Seldon, away from home by
false letters, had written him that Celeste was dead, intending in the
end to marry her and get the large fortune for himself, for the estate
had greatly increased in value since the departure of its owner.
He had at last decided to go to Celeste and confess all, and, learning
that he had done so, Edgar Stone had fled to save imprisonment.
In atonement Bernard Brandon had come West to find Andrew Seldon, and,
not hearing from him, Celeste had followed him.
Bernard Brandon hoped that his atonement might win the heart of Celeste,
but instead she dismissed him with liberal payment and placed herself
under the guardianship of Wallace Weston, who had taken her father's
name.
Bidding adieu to their pards at Last Chance, after sending Harding to
the Grand Canyon to join Lucas Langley at the mine, Wallace Weston went
East with Celeste, and going to his old home, he told the whole story of
his life, and submitted letters from Doctor Powell, Buffalo Bill, and
the diary of the outlaw officer as proof of his innocence, so that the
charges against him were at once ended by legal process.
Armed with proper papers, he presented himself before the President and
received his pardon, after which, with Celeste Seldon as Mrs. Wallace
Weston, he went to Fort Faraway and received a welcome from all his old
officers and comrades that made his heart glad.
As the mines in the Grand Canyon had ceased panning out as expected,
Wallace Weston gave up his interest there to Lucas Langley and Harding,
and returned East with his beautiful wife.
THE END.
"Buffalo Bill's Death Call" is the title of a weirdly thrilling series
of adventures of the famous scout and his band in No. 42 of the BUFFALO
BILL BORDER STORIES. No admirer of Colonel Cody and his exploits can
afford to miss a volume of this series.
History of the World War
_By Thomas R. Best_
The most portentous crisis in the history of the human family has just
passed. The World War was conceived in greed and will be consummated in
justice. It will prove a blessing to mankind, because it spells
emancipation to countless unborn generations from enslaving political
and social evils. It is a big subject and one that will be discussed in
every household for many years to come. Questions will arise that only a
clear, concise account of the war in handy form can settle.
Therefore, we ask you to consider =History of the World War= by Thomas
R. Best which has been written from the American standpoint. It is
purely history--not vituperation. This volume has a chronology of
important events that will prove of inestimable reference value.
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You will find her in almost every generation, in almost every country,
in almost every city. She is not a typical adventuress, she is not a
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found as often in homely, clumsy, dull, old masculine women as in the
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=What Makes a Superwoman?=
If you think the problem worth while, why not try to solve it by reading
Albert Payson Terhune's great book, SUPERWOMEN? From Cleopatra to Lady
Hamilton--they are mighty interesting characters. Some of them smashed
thrones, some of them were content with wholesale heart smashing. You
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More Machinery
That's what we needed to fill the demand for the S. & S. novels. You
see, we were somewhat restricted in our output by the War Industries
Board, with whose ruling we gladly complied for patriotic reasons. While
the restrictions were on we used up pretty nearly all of our surplus
stock so that when we were no longer under orders from the Government,
we found ourselves with a lot of orders and very little stock.
We have just about caught up now, thanks to some new machinery we have
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Therefore, you can get a very good assortment of the S. & S. novels from
your news dealer, including the famous Horatio Alger books.
That boy you know will be mighty glad to have you make him a present of
one or two of the Alger books. Ask your dealer for a list of the titles.
Here are some good ones that we published within the past two months:
=The Backwoods Boy= =No. 77=
=Tom Temple's Career= =No. 78=
=Ben Bruce= =No. 79=
=The Young Musician= =No. 80=
=The Telegraph Boy= =No. 81=
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the NEW BERTHA CLAY LIBRARY:
=For Life and Love= =No. 93=
=How Will It End?= =No. 94=
=Love's Warfare= =No. 95=
=The Burden of a Secret= =No. 96=
=Griselda= =No. 97=
=A Woman's Witchery= =No. 98=
=An Ideal Love= =No. 99=
=Lady Marchmont's Widowhood= =No. 100=
=The Romance of a Young Girl= =No. 101=
=The Price of a Bride= =No. 102=
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Your Eyes Would Open
if you could see how we print and bind the S. & S. novels. They start as
rolls of blank paper, and are turned out by the thousands, without a
hand touching them.
You have heard wonderful stories about machines that turn out loaves of
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you have not heard anything about the machines that turn out
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is why we can sell such books as those in the NEW ROMANCE LIBRARY.
This library is a veritable storehouse of good literature. There are
love stories and mystery stories and stories of occult phenomena--each
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No. 49 NEW ROMANCE LIBRARY, "The Wreck of the _Grosvenor_", by W. Clark
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Buffalo Bill Border Stories
This line will be devoted exclusively to stories written by Colonel
Prentiss Ingraham about his lifelong friend Buffalo Bill. These two men
were inseparable companions, and Colonel Ingraham is therefore well
qualified to write stories of the adventures of the old-time scout and
plainsman. These stories are destined to be immensely popular, because
they are drawn true to life. They bring the open plains right to the
reader's front door, as it were.
The fact that these stories are historically correct gives them a very
secure place in American literature. Manifestly, no history was ever
written that could give space in such detail to the adventures of a
single man, no matter how important his life's work may have been; it
really takes a line of so-called fiction to do it, and we can honestly
say that the stories in this line do justice to the interesting
character of Buffalo Bill.
BUFFALO BILL BORDER STORIES are not for boys; they were written
expressly for adults.
1--Buffalo Bill, the Border King By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
2--Buffalo Bill's Raid By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
3--Buffalo Bill's Bravery By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
4--Buffalo Bill's Trump Card By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
5--Buffalo Bill's Pledge By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
6--Buffalo Bill's Vengeance By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
7--Buffalo Bill's Iron Grip By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
8--Buffalo Bill's Capture By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
9--Buffalo Bill's Danger Line By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
10--Buffalo Bill's Comrades By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
11--Buffalo Bill's Reckoning By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
12--Buffalo Bill's Warning By Col. Prentiss Ingraham
13--Buffalo Bill at Bay By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
14--Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Pards. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
15--Buffalo Bill's Brand By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
16--Buffalo Bill's Honor By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
17--Buffalo Bill's Phantom Hunt By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
18--Buffalo Bill's Fight With Fire By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
19--Buffalo Bill's Danite Trail By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
20--Buffalo Bill's Ranch Riders By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
21--Buffalo Bill's Death Trail By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
22--Buffalo Bill's Trackers By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
23--Buffalo Bill's Mid-air Flight By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
24--Buffalo Bill, Ambassador By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
25--Buffalo Bill's Air Voyage By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
26--Buffalo Bill's Secret Mission By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
27--Buffalo Bill's Long Trail By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
28--Buffalo Bill Against Odds By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
29--Buffalo Bill's Hot Chase By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
30--Buffalo Bill's Redskin Ally By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
31--Buffalo Bill's Treasure Trove By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
32--Buffalo Bill's Hidden Foes By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
33--Buffalo Bill's Crack Shot By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
34--Buffalo Bill's Close Call By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
35--Buffalo Bill's Double Surprise By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
36--Buffalo Bill's Ambush By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
37--Buffalo Bill's Outlaw Hunt By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
38--Buffalo Bill's Border Duel By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
39--Buffalo Bill's Bid for Fame By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
40--Buffalo Bill's Triumph By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
41--Buffalo Bill's Spy Trailer By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
42--Buffalo Bill's Death Call By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
43--Buffalo Bill's Body Guard By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
44--Buffalo Bill's Still Hunt By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
45--Buffalo Bill and the Doomed Dozen By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
46--Buffalo Bill's Prairie Scout By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
47--Buffalo Bill's Traitor Guide By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
48--Buffalo Bill's Bonanza By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
Transcriber's Note: Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
The advertisement for Buffalo Bill's Border Stories has been moved from
the front of the book to the back.