Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 185 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

——_ = eee eae ee ——S eo * = -_ ~ - Bandits’ Roost. abt once, 10 the young lady. We two are old acquain- tances, and I wil see to her safety.” ‘‘You need not trouble yourself,” replied Evil Eye ina meaning manner. ‘The lady is to become my wife and I'll look afier her per- sonally.” Sanders smothered the oath that arose to his lips. CHAPTER XII. A HUMAN TORCH. SANDERS felt as if a knife had suddenly been thru:t into the heart. He could scarcely be- lieve that his ears had heard aright. Hs had been raised to the highest pinnacle of hope when first he beheld Winona Walters, for he felt certain he would have ths lovely girl in hs power. But, his hopes were dashed by the words of the powerful outlaw. In the brief space that followed this declara- tion Sanders allowed his imagination io run wild, and his th ughts and plans came rapidly as he stood regarding Evil Eye. ‘*So he wants her! I bave a rival in the per- son of this Mexican bandit! Am I to lose her? Shall I allow him to take her from me? No! I'll show him a trick worth two of that. Tl bide my time, and cheat him. If it comes to the worst I'll kill bim!” Sanders thus revolved his plans mentally and he gritted his teeth as he concluded his medi- tation. Evil Eye scarcely noticed the deserter, but issued a few orders in Spanish to his wild fol- lowers. Several of them conveyed Powell to- ward the base of the cliff. Evil Eye then placed Winona in the caro of two of his mo-t trusty men and she was als»? taken toward the The Mexican brigand and the new member of the league were thus left alone. “Sanders,” said the bandit in a firm voice, ‘if you ever bad any idea of making that girl yours you had better banish the tnought I have set my heart upon making her my wile, in order to gain the large estate and cattle ranch owned by her father. I don’t propose to bave you stand in my way. My word is law here; and remember, you are ex- pected toobey. Dare to cross me in my pur- pose and I'll retaliate without a momen?’s hes: itation. You fully understand the situation; do you not?” ‘‘T understand, captain! I had no idea that you held aprior cliim, and I withdraw mine. I would not stand in your way fora moment.” The wretch fairly quivered with rage as he spoke but he artfully masked his chagrin and betrayed no sizn of the intense hato that ran- kled in his heart. ‘‘This is my reward,” he said to himself, ‘this is my recompense for aiding him in the raids, and giving him valuable information, and often delaying my detachment in order to give him time to reach the Rio Grande. This is my reward for deserting to this side! Curse him; I]l bide my time and repay him for his threats and insults,” Evil Eye turned upon his heel and walked slowiy toward the secret entrance at the foot of the cliff. Sanders followed very much like a whipped cur. He muttered to himself as he walked along, and once or twice his hand rest- ed upon the hilt of bis dagger as if be was about to leap upon the unsuspecting villain and dispatch him. At the foot of the cliff Evil Eye paused and again faced Sanders. ‘* After seeing to the safety of. my prisoners I will l.ave the roost for a short time. I must attend to the division of the cattle brought over from Texas on our last excursion. If I am not present I »m sure that Cortinas will try to chisel me out of a big share of the plunder. Its dog eat dog with men in our Jine of business and I attend to this plunder in person. . The cattle are upon his lands hy this time. I will send you in command of the expedition that leaves to-nigbt for the Texas side of the river. Several scouts have returned and bring infor- mation of herds easily run off. You will com- . e- Evil Eye, King of Cattle Thieves. —_— mand the detachment detailed for that pur- se,” Sinders listened attentively to the Mexican, and finally replied: “Captain, why not allow me to guard the prisoners? I hate the American, and want to see him die a death of tortures. Grant meone wish, let it be my band that will inflict the death blow upon him,” Again was the wretch doomed to a bitter disappointment, for Evil Eye shook bis head, and cut short the deserter’s appeal by saying in an impatient manner: ‘‘ That is impossible; no hand but mine will send the American out of this world. I have reserved him to gratify a personal revenge. He loves the girl and she loves him in return. She shall witness how I dispose of a bated rival, and then, willingly or unwillingly, she becomes the bride of the King of the Cattle Thieves,” The bandit’s words eat into the very soul of the craven, who longed to vent his hatred upon the young lieutenant. He had not dreamed that Evil Eye would refuse him the office of executioner, and the Mexican’s reply burned into his heart as if the words were of the dead- liest venom. ‘“‘He even refuses me the pleasure of de- stroying my sworn enemy. This is ungrate- fulness indeed,” he said menta,ly, ‘‘ but [ll be even with him.” Then he exclaimed aloud: ‘When do I start out on the expedition across the Rio Grande?’ ‘“‘In less than an hour. The men will be ready by the time the sun Las disappeared be- yond those hills. Prepare yourself fur the raid. Remember you share one balf of the profits among you and your men. Follow me and I will give you further instructions and describe the locality you are to visit.” Evil Eye passed into the aperture in the base of the mountain of granite, closely followed by Sanders, They ascended the winding passage until they reached tho plaza on the level surface of the cliff. The Mexican outlaw led the way into one of the huts built within the inclosure, and seated himself upon a saddle. He drew forth a small map and explained the “lay of the land” to the ruffian seated before him. While the two villains are thus occupied we will follow our hero and his fair compsnion whom we last saw in the care of Evil Eye’s Mexicans. Leaving the two rascals, both dis- trustful of one another, both cordially hating each other, to their plans for a raid into the border counties, we will glance within a small rocky chamber below the surfice of the cliff. Powell, guarded by several scowling rancheros, lay upon a mass of blankets, unable to move hand or foot. Winona occupied another corner of the gloomy apartment, but the bandits had not secured her hands. A small table stood in the center of the room and an oil Jamp cast a sickly glare upon the occupants and their keepers. As the outlaw chief had given no instruction regarding the fate of the young couple, the Mexic:ins merely placed them in the strong room, guarding the only door and waiting the coming of their master. They never once relaxed their vigilance and they pre- vented the young people from ho'ding conver- sation with one another. But their eyes con- veyed the intelligence that words would have done had they been perm tted to speak. Wi- nona read the language of love expressed in the gaze cf her lover, apd he in turn understood every glance of her beautiful eyes. A heavy foottall aroused them from this semi-reverie. Toe forbidding countenance of the outlaw chief appeared inthe narrow doorway, aod he slowly aj:proached his prisoner. ‘‘ When I secured you in the vault, and left you to the tarantulas, I thougbt that no power could save you from the doom iu store for you, but it seems that, aided by an outside accom- plice, you baffled me, and my plan was thwarted. You sought to escape, but failed. You are in the meshes, and I will not trust to o-oo oe Lnrigiisiieememapyeapdnnsinahid anyone the fate I have marked out for you. No! I will attend to it personally. Pvepare fur the most excruciating terments tat you can pic- ture to yourself, for such will bs your aoom!” Winona arose and quickly appreached the outlaw. She ccst berself at his teet, and while the tears streamed down upon her c!-eeks, she prayed for the life of the man who hid won her heart’s first and only love. ‘* Kneel not to that monster!’ cried Powell. ‘‘ Arise, Winona; plead not for me. Let bim do his worst, and then let him beware of the day of reckoning.” Evil Eye glared upon the young man, and turned to the pleading maiden. ‘Cease your prayers for mercy, He dies. Every werd and ation reveals the love you bear him, and only inflames my anger a ‘hou- sand fold. You Jove this man ard I hate him forit. Much as I love gold, vo amount could induce me to forego my vengeance - and such a vengeance!” Tbe bandit chuckled as he uttered the word, and inan abstracted manner he removed the pistols from his belt, and piaced them upon the table, then, as he tightened the broad Jeather belt, be continued: ‘“T bave spared him from the fury of Ra- fael Sanders, who begged me to be allowed a chance to1etaliate for former ir juries rec: ived at the hands of yonder American, but Ic uld not rob myself of the infinite pleasure of de- stroying him personally.” ‘‘Wretch! cease your bombastic talk, I can die but once. Ihave the extreme pleasure of knowing that I have made several vucai cies in your robber league, and that is some conso- lation, at any rate. I can die much easier knowing this,” said Powell, in a tauuting man- ner. While he was thus occupying the bandit’s at- tention, Winona drew nearer to the tet le, and in one quick movement, she bad secured the brace ot pistols and concealed them within the folds of her dress. The movement escaped the lynx-eyed Mexicans at the door, and Evil Eye was in such a fit of blind fury that he tail d to notice the absence of bis weapuns, nor did he even miss them from his belt. The words of the youth made him oblivious to avght else but his rabid desire for speedy vengeance. He turned to the low-browed ruffians at the door, and spoke a few wordsin Spanish. Two of the number came forward and roughly grasped the young man and bore him toward the door. ‘Take him to the verge of the cliff. Call all the members of the league. Ili treat them to the greatest sight they bavo ever witnessed. You can follow and behold the awful fate of your Jover,” said he, turning to Winona. The maiden clasped the weapcns in a firm hand and followed after the group. Once upon the plateau the entire party passed out upon the ledge beyond the walls. A heavy upright beam stood upon the verge of the cliff. The lower end was iusbedded in the bowlders and gravel form ng the surtace of the elevated mass of rock. ‘““Perbaps it wiil be better to explain the meaning of this,” remarked Evil Ey<, ) ointing to the beam. “In the days ot the Roman em- peror, Nero, the early Christians were tied to the upper part of a tall post, and then, sur- rounded by inflammable matter, a torch was applied, and the victim burned while thus se- cured. Nero called them his human torches, and they served to light his gardens. | will also have a buman torch to serve as a signal from this clitf. Bind the American to the post and bring forth a torch and combustible matier. I will revive thes: orts of Nero.” Again Winona kneit at the feet of the outlaw. CHAPTER XIII. THE LAST SWOOP OF THE VULTURES Wuen Bryan Walters revived from the blow dealt him by the brutal Mexican outlaw, he summoned the frightened attaches of bis ranch, ' Ki EGomicbooks ~~