Frank Merriwell in Mexico: The Search for the Silver Palace — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ volver. nell. - -mountains they will be here. - what she am, but yer wants ter under-| -- stand yer can’t monkey with this old cocn; advance. I hold the drop on yer,| country in the mountains! My people are’ 96 fingers grasping the butt of a revolver that - ‘was pointed straight at the stranger. “Stiddy, thar!” called the Westerner. “T hev ther drop on yer, an’ Pll sock yer| about it? _ full of lead ef yer wiggle a toe-nail! You| ~ hear me chirp!” . The stranger continued: smoking, his| - coal-black eyes being the only part of | him to move, for all of the threatening re- Hans sat up, gasping: ‘Shimminy Gristmas! caught us alretty soon!’ ‘At this Professor Scotch gave a oroan | of dismay, faintly gurgling: “Phen I’m a goner!’? Phat - the stranger was a half- blood ~ could be seen at a glance. “Drap thet derned cigaroot, an’ Der pandits haf: an account of yerself instanter ‘right off !?? ordered Bushnell, ‘Who in blazes be yer? ne The cigarette fell from the man’s lips, and he answered: ‘*T ain Rodeo.”? “Waal, who is Rodeo?” The brother of Pacheco.’? © ‘*Don’d I toldt you dot!’ pantea the| Dutch boy. _. Prafessor -Scotch groaned again, and rolled a little farther from the half-blood, but still made no effort to sit up. ‘*Wa’al, dern your skin!’ cried Bush- “Youve got a nerve to come hyar! threatenin gly. _. I-s’pose Pacheco an’ his gang of onery --varinints is within whoopin’ distance?”’ ‘‘Tam alone; there is no one within ~~ eall.”? — *"Walal, wat be yer hyar iis thet’s what I wants ter know ?”? - “Y found you asleep, and I. came to - warn you.’’ _ “OF what?” --. “Danger. The ladrones are on your trail - already. Before the sun sinks belfind the bore yer once jest fer fun,. ee | If you are | FRANK MERRIWELL IN MEXICO. Old Socks, an’ I may take a faney ter talk straight an’ Squar’, an “Vah,”? nodded Hans, threateningly, | ‘you petter peen in a plamed. pig muEsy lapoudt dot talking pusiness.’ ““What do you wish me to say, senors ?’” “Explain why you're hyar ter warn us. 1 eBecarise I’m the brother of Pacheco.” ‘“Thet don’t go down with this old coon.- Pacheco is ther leader of ther bandits.”’ ‘‘Ffe was the leader of the bandits. ” ‘"Was the leader??? _ , | **Si, senor.’’ : ‘An’ ain’t he now ?’” ‘‘No, senor.’ . ‘“How long since?”’ “At least one month.” | “Oh, say, thet thar -won’t do—I tells yer it won't, fer we know er blamed sight better! Rodeo, lying is dangerous with me ’round.’’ | “Senor, I do not lie; I tell you the truth. One month ago Pacheco was the leader of the band; now he is dead, and another is in his place. This other killed |him in a battle, and by that he won the right to be leader of the band. So ye’d best — be lively He has — taken my brother’s' name, and he calls — himself Pacheco. Senors, I swear to you I speak the truth—lI swear by all the saints! My. brother is dead, and there i is an 1m- postor in his place.”? — Frank was impressed, and his hand fell. on Bushnell’s arm. ‘“'T believe the fellow really speaks the truth,’? he said. ‘*He seems sincere, and his eyes are square and steady.”” “Ver can’t tell about ther skunks, r muttered the Westerner; ‘‘but still this one does seem ter be layin’ a straight trail.’ “T have taken my oath,’’ continued the half-blood, a ted light i in ‘his dark eves— not gone, you must all fall into net “T have sworh to kill the murderer of Iny’ A hands. uy | “ | brother, and I will keep the oath. That’s Bushnell looked doubtful and suspi- why Iam here. I have been watching the ‘cious, while a puzzled expression came| band for two weeks; I know every move ~ into his bronzed face. _ ‘Took hyar,’’ he said; some game, an’ I’m derned ef I know! - none whatever. they will make. I know when you leave oti ‘re up cer! Huejugilla el Alto, and I know they will follow. Iimake sure of that, and then, with my heart full of joy, I tide fast in At last—at last they go to my - COMICLOoL S (CO) iin