A horse was soon secured, and a trusty man was found who was well acquainted with the road, and who was willing to accompany him.  Bidding farewell to the officer, whom he amply remunerated for his trouble, Manning, at ten o’clock that night, leaped into his saddle and set out on his journey.  He rode hard all that night, and at sunrise reached Boulder, having traveled considerably more than half the distance.  Here they stopped for breakfast, to feed their horses and take some rest.  His guide left him at Boulder City and returned to Helena, and about nine o’clock, Manning set off alone for Butte.  He pushed on without delay or accident, and about four o’clock in the afternoon arrived at his destination.

His first care was to provide quarters for his horse, and to make arrangements for his return to Helena by the stage next day, after which he sought the hotel for rest, and refreshment for himself.

How near he was to the object of his long search he did not know, but tired and hungry from his long ride, he mentally breathed a prayer that success would speedily crown his efforts, and that the weary chase would soon be ended.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Long Trail Ended—­Duncan Traced to his Lair—­Caught at Last—­The Escaping Burglar a Prisoner.

Butte City is a rich mining village in Deer Lodge county in the territory of Montana, and is surrounded by high hills, which contain rich deposits of gold and silver which are taken from the quartz rock, and in the city are situated the furnaces and other appliances for extracting the precious metals from the rocks in which they are found.  The population, although largely of a transient and adventurous character, is composed of a respectable, well-ordered community, many of whom have located permanently, and have labored for the advancement and success of the village.  There are several stores, numerous hotels, many very handsome private dwellings, and a newspaper.  Though not so large as Helena, by any means, it bids fair in time to rival her more successful neighbor, and the elements of success are found within her domain.  The local government consists of a mayor and a city marshal, while the deputies of the latter official constitute the police force who maintain order in the city and protect the persons and property of the citizens.  A substantial jail looks frowningly down upon one of the main thoroughfares, and altogether Butte City is as well-conducted and carefully managed a town as is to be found west of the Mississippi river.  Within a few months a railroad, a branch of the Union Pacific road, had been completed, which placed the city in communication, both by rail and telegraph, with the larger towns and cities located in the South and East.