CHAPTER XI.
IN THE WILDS.
If ever a man was astonished, when he responded to that after midnight signal at the mouth of Dead Man's Hollow, it was the outlaw, Persimmon Bill.

He came from his place of concealment expecting to meet the Texan with news, and found instead Addie Neidic, and with her, on a pack horse, all the wealth and apparel she had in the world.
"Addie, love, what does this mean ?" he cried, as she sprang from the horse and threw herself into his arms.
"It means this, Bill.

I have come to stay with you, go where you go, live as you live, and die where you die!" "Addie, dearest, did I not tell you to wait till I could give you a home in peace and quietness!" "Yes, Bill, but there were those that would not let me wait.

To-night, had it not been for thy Texan friend, most likely I would have been murdered by a mob of drunken ruffians led on by Wild Bill.

Warned in time, I escaped with all that I had worth saving, except my house and furniture.