“Pretended to be, captain? Why, he certainly seemed a sincere Christian. He came to supper with father last night, and was very entertaining, I assure you.” “As he knows how to be, for he is none other than Kent King.” “Kent King! That wretch! Impossible, for you----” and Mary’s face turned white as she paused. “No, I did not kill him, for he escaped from me before we reached Santa Fe. He was captured in Border City in disguise by Buffalo Bill and some of my men, and again escaped, through the love of a girl who had sought him to kill him, but changed her mind, and fled with him. In the disguise of a preacher he boldly joined the westward-bound train, though Buffalo Bill and some of my men were along; and he passed the girl, Panther Kate, also disguised, off as his daughter. “That poor girl he poisoned by degrees, she not even suspecting it, and she was buried on the side of the trail. At her grave Buffalo Bill found him, and recognized him by some means. Then Cody was forced to fly for his life, pursued by the Trail Bandits, who just then came up, painted as Indians.” “Can this be true?” gasped Mary Hale, trembling violently. “I got it from one of his own men, whom I recognized, and hanged an hour ago, knowing him to be a renegade and murderer.” “And where is Kent King now?” she asked, in almost a whisper. “He has fled. It seems he saw us hanging the man, though we did not then see him, and he took to the prairie, with his band.” “His band?” “Yes, he is chief of the Trail Bandits now.” “This is fearful, indeed.” “But I shall soon be on their trail. My Revolver Riders now number half a hundred, and we will bring back Bill Cody, or avenge him fearfully.” “And you start to-morrow?” asked Mary, her voice faltering. “Yes, I arrived in Denver a couple of days ago from Texas, where I had some business to attend to, for I am not altogether what you believe me, Miss Hale.” “What! Do you wear disguises, too, Captain Dash?” “Only when necessary to track villainy to the fountain seat; but I mean, I am the owner of a large cattle ranch, and not a poor man, as being in command of a band of herders would lead you to believe. I have a score to settle with Kent King. To find him, I joined the Revolver Riders, who made me their captain, and they are all now under my pay until I accomplish the task I have set out to perform.” “And God grant you may do it, Captain Dash.” “My name is Dudley Dashwood, Miss Hale; my men called me Captain Dash,” said the handsome young Texan, with a smile. Then he resumed: “When we parted on the trail, long months ago, I asked that I might visit you here, and you said yes.” “And I assure you I am glad you have come.” “Thank you; but I was so bold then as to say that I loved you, although we had met but that once; yet, in all the time that has gone by since then, I have grown each day to love you more, until you are now necessary to my happiness, and I have come to ask you to be my wife.”