Year: 1872




The Counterfeit.
train on the Pacific railroad was laundering
along through one of the widest, rockiest Sec
tons of the Rocky Mountain portion of the ine
1t was nearly midnight, and nearly all but the
train employees were sleeping for on the seven
days' Journey across the continent few who can
afford il 20 unprovided with berths in the sleep
ing cars. Two men who occupied one of the Sec
tions of a car had not yet retired, but sat in the
smoking car conversng and putting away al
couple of fragrant Havanas. One was young
not more than twenty y-hve-with smooth hand
some face and frank, engaging manner. The
other was three or four years older, and his face
bore an expression at once craftier and shrewder
less honest perhaps--yet he had the easy man
ner and fluent tongue Of a man who had added
by travel and experience 10 natural self-posses-
sion and GOODNESS. Although his language at
tested his education, he had much the air Of an
adventurer These two men bad met On the
train, and had never seen each other before, yet
they passed the time very pleasantly together.


Bert Humphres the younger and first men
toned Of the two. was on his way from New
York city 10 Join an Arizona mining camp, OF
which an uncle was superintendent. He had not
seen this uncle, James Humphries, since he
ten years old, at which time The uncle had lett
New York for the West taking his little daugh-
ter Belle with him. She was the only one OF his
family, being a widower, and had been Bert's
play fellow from infancy. And now the uncle
bad written to Bert, offering him lucrative share
in nis mining interest, if he would join him in
Arizona In obedience to this summons be was
now on his way to the mines.


"And YOU have no idea that they will know
you. said Bert's companion, as they sat smok-
inn in the car


The latter by the way, gave his name as John
Conan.


90 no." replied Bert "How could they -
They have not seen me since ] was a boy, and
have utterly changed in looks since then"


"Then how do you expect to convince them
that you actually are yourself, and not kind OF
Tichborne imposter? p said Conan, laughingly.


AT this point the train stopped at solitary
station in desolate region. Indeed the station
had been formed Tor the sake of furnishing water
to the locomotives rather than to accommodate
the rather sparse settlers.


'tLet's get out and see how solid ground feels
for moment" suggested Conan.


Bert agreed and they stepped from The train.
There was only miserable little structure occu-
pied by the station keepers family in sight The
locomotive was blowing off steam SO loudly as to
preclude conversation, and Bert, wondering at
his companions movements, followed him behind





Then Conan suddenly turned, the cold barrel OF
a pistol flashed in the moonlight and Bert fell
with the blood oozing from wound in his fore
head.


The murderer bent quickly over him and SEEM
ed satisfied by a hasly examination that the
wound was fatal. Thrustng bis hands into bis
victims pockets, he extracted everything they
contained, including a check for his trunk
Hurried by the whistle Of the locomotive, Conan
thrust the stolen articles in his own pocket and
reached the train just in time to get on before it
puffed along on its way. The murderer now
sought his berth, unperceived by the sleeping
passengers and laid down.


$50 far SO good" be unused, as be resolved his
scheme in his own mind Hes out Of the way,
and shall 90 to his uncles and pass myself off
for him lve taken good care 10 enquire about
bis family, boyhood, ETC., and he was just open
mouthed enough to tell all and more than wish
ed to know I'm rather hard up, and this chance
that bis uncle offered him will, I'm certain just
suit me- Anyhow, I'll try it until can put my
hands on a good stake, and then III CUT | left
nothing on young Humphries' body bywhiC.
can be identified, and so hereafter | Can safely
persona,e Bert Humphries myself.


The bloody deed that he had committed did
not keep him long awake, and he was soon
dreaming of the success of his bold scheme.


Upon the arrival of the train the next day, at
the station from " hich Lampson Gulch the name
of James Humphries' mining camp) was easiest
reached, Conan lett the train. He presented the
murdered mans check, and readily obtained his
trunk. This he opened and carefully searched
lis contents. Here he found letters, papers, and
diary, the careful peruSal of which fortified him
with much information respecting the man whom
be proposed 10 personate.


An uneventiul journey brought him to Lamp
oop Gnlch whera hiQ recention at the hands of
Mr. Humphres and bis daughter Belle was very
unsuspecting and cordial. The latter was girl
of eighteen, possessed of more than the average
amount of beauty, and endowed with pleasing
magnetism which had much more effect in at
tracing the attention of men than had her good
looks She had looked toward 10 the arrival of
her cousin with pleasure, for life in the camp was
lonely and dstastefu to her, and she had 10
suspicion of the deceit that was being practised
upon her.


A month passed, and during that time, true to
his promise Mr. Humphries had given his sup
posed nephew a confidential and lucrative posi-
tion. Belle, however, had instinctively learn
ed to dislike Conan. He seemed, so she told her
father, not like ber childhoods playmate, and
she distrusted him vaguely but for no tangible
reason.


In the meantime, Conan bad been laying bis
plans for robbing his benefactor and flying with
the proceeds. Mr.. Humpbries kept large
amount of gold in a safe in his house, to which
the counterfeit nephew had access. Thus the ac-
complishment OF his plan seemed within his easy
reach.


One day Conan and Belle went out for a ride
over the rough mountain roads on horseback
They had ridden several miles, when, al point
where the rude road wound round bluff, one
side overlooking sharp descent, the form OF a
horse and rider was seen approaching. AS they
drew nearer, Belle noticed that her companions
face grew ashy pale, and an involuntary curse
escaped his lips.


The rider was Bert Humphries, pale, but evil
dently no ghost.


AS his eyes fell upon Conan he drew his re-
volver and urged his horse forward, but Conan
was too quick, and wheeling his own horse sud
denly, was away unharmed.


ssWhat does this mean ?" cried Belle, thorough
ly frightened.


"Who is that man ?" cried Bert.


"My cousin Bert Humphries, was the reply


'He is a murderer and an imposter," said
Bert: IL am Bert Humphries, and have but just
recovered from a frightful wound inflicted by
that william while on my way here. See here,
and he removed his hat showing deep scar IN
his forehead.


"And the william is escaping" cried Belle ex-
citedly, "what shall we do?"


''You ride back to your fathers as fast as you
can, and send help after me | am off after him,
They can easily follow my trailin The soft ground
as can do his ~


| The girl needed no second bidding. In her
| sable riding habit, mounted On her coal black
horse, she was flying down the road, the Jetty
| plumes of her hat waving above her brow, bound
on her mission. On and on she dashed, the
hoofs of her horse striking fire from the tiints OF
the road over which she flew. On they went,
horse and rider dashiug through lonely forest
road, whose trees dropped lovingly over her fair
brow, then out again into the open country faster
and faster they flew, the noble horse seeming to
realize the necessity fer urgent haste. On they
went the brave heart of Belle never quaied as
she realized the distance yet to be traversed, but
with an encouraging word to her steed she spur
red him on. She reached the rancho safely, told
her story quickly, and soon three riders, includ-
ing her father, set out on the chase.


They rode wildly, following the path at the
point where Belle and Conan had met Bert and
then easily tracing the trail of the pursuer ana
pursued. hard ride of dozen miles, and Just
as darkness was beginning to hide the trail, they
suddenly came upon Bert. His horse had stum-
bled and fallen, and in his still weak and ex-
hausted condition, be had tainted from the fall.