To

Mr. Charles Augustine Stickle

My brother—in deed, though not by blood—this
tale of his birthland is affectionately inscribed.

CONTENTS

[I. Collars-and-Cuffs][3]
[II. The Red Desert][24]
[III. A Little Brother of the Cows][38]
[IV. At the Rio Gloria][59]
[V. The Outlaws][80]
[VI. Everyman's Share][102]
[VII. The Killer][122]
[VIII. Benson's Bridge-Timbers][141]
[IX. Judson's Joke][157]
[X. Flemister and Others][177]
[XI. Nemesis][187]
[XII. The Pleasurers ][202]
[XIII. Bitter-Sweet][224]
[XIV. Blind Signals][248]
[XV. Eleanor Intervenes][260]
[XVI. The Shadowgraph][270]
[XVII. The Dipsomaniac ][289]
[XVIII. At Silver Switch][305]
[XIX. The Challenge][324]
[XX. Storm Signals ][346]
[XXI. The Boss Machinist][369]
[XXII. The Terror][380]
[XXIII. The Crucible][398]

ILLUSTRATIONS

[ "I'll spend the last dollar of the fortune my father left me, if needful, in finding that man and hanging him!"][Frontispiece]
Facing Page
[His hand was on the latch of the door-yard gate when a man rose out of the gloom.][138]
["Bart's afraid he can't duck without dying."][176]
["Well, gentlemen, I'm waiting. Why don't you shoot?"][400]