Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 279 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

“The senorita has run away, cap’n!” was the reply. Eo Georgie—gone!” gasped the herder, as his hand darted at the Mexican’s throat. “Traitor, why didn’t you stay away and not be the bearer of your own double dealing?” ‘*By the Virgin, cap’n—”’ “ Boough! thousand oaths wouldn't save you! The girl gone, eh? Her beauty captivated you. and you have hidden her. Never mind! will find her, Carlos, but you will never prove false again!” A revolver was presented to he Mexican’s gaze. He recoiled witha cry, but the ranch- ero’s arm was the length of his tether. A second later a loud report followed the ressing ef a trigger, and the human figure that ell from the Magzeppa’s merciless hands rolled down the roof and dropped to the ground, If Red Carlos was a traitor, he had betrayed his last trust. ‘*T mig t have forced a confession from his lips, but who could have believed it?’ muttered the ranchero as he turned wat ‘Tf he bas concealed my prize his slaves shall unearth her forme. Iwasa fool for trusting the traitor, but he is outof my way forever.” With a glance at the blood-staims on the win- dow sill, and placing a fresh cartridge in the heated chamber, the slayer left the room. CHAPTER XI. PEDRO THE MERCILESS. Captain Ros had discovered, when too late, that some men could be trusted too far. {f Red Carlos, the man who lay dead under the trees with a bullet in his brain, had come to him with a well coined lie about Gold Georgie’s pias one thing was certain—he would never deceive again. Relying on the assertion that thieves are true to their mates, the ranchero had borne Old Winch’s proteges to Red Carlos’s estancia after his success in the little pass. He feared that it would not be safe to take her at once to hisown ranch, for Red Star and his band, with the old grizzly hunter and Roy, would be likely to beat him to the place, where they would doubtless lie in wait for him. Red Carlos’s estancia lay fifteen miles distant from bis own grazing grounds, near enough to recover Gold rgie within a short time when he should want her. But now the girl had es- caped, so the trai or said, and he had to inaug- urate a quest which might interfere with other plans lately formed. “The girl first.” he said to himself, as he reached the ground floor of his dwelling. ‘The more I think about the affair the more confident I become that the little Mexican died with a lie on his lips, His ns, or slaves, shall divulge her hiding-place at the revolver’s muzzle. Gold 6 1s @ pearl worth winning. She looks Ike the Diamond of Sonoma did when she was the beauty of the mountain camp. Her. eyes ra flash when they regard me, and she shrinks whenever I touch her. But never mind, my beauty. I will win and wear in the end. This love affair of mine will have a pleasanter ending than the other one did,” and the ran- ehero ended his prediction with a laugh as he on upon the porch, 8 own horse s where he had left it, and near by stood a number of steeds belonging to the men of Eldorado, the most of whom were at that moment giving sepulture to their com- es. Ranch Rob knew that instead of pursuing the trio from the mining camp, the rough had made their way to his ranch, for a terrible suspicion relative to the identity of the masked Mazeppa had entered the heads of several. If they found him at home the whole band would have hunted Old Winch and his friends with cocked pistols and ready ropes. “* Hello, cap’n!” exclaimed a man who sprung forward from the group of horses as the ranch- ero reached his own steed’s side, and pat one foot into the broad wooden stirrup. ‘ Ye’r’ not in’ off afore the boys git through with the Caryin’, ar’ ye?” Rob recognized the man. ‘I am going off,” he said, ‘‘ but not for long. Daylight will find me back here. If you want to stay— ms Sta ? Lasso Dan’s not one ov ther stayin’ kind when thar’s several hangin’s in prospect,” was the response. ‘* Who are you going to bunt?” ‘* Red Star, the old b’ar-fighter, ef he’s livin’, an’ the boy.” ‘‘Not the Injun! he belongs to me!” said the ranchero firmly. ‘‘ You will tell Lasso when comes up—I can’t stay tosee him myself—that Old Winch, the Rifle King. I will call to account the man or men who sheds that red-skin’s blood. You fellows can deal with Old Winch and the boy; I don’t care about them; but the Injun is my man—mine only!” The lips of the herder king met firmly benind the last word, and his eyes gave emphasis to his sentences, ‘*T’ll tell Lasso, cap’n, but—” ‘But what? Out with it!” ‘‘Itv’ll be hard to hold ther boys off ef they should git Red Star in a tight place.” Captain Rob looked like a man ready to burst with rage. He seemed about vo give utterance to some violent language, but restrained him- self, and answered in a milder tone. i ‘You will tell Lasso what I have said,” he said, addressing the representative of Eldora- do’s lawlessness, and then touched his horse with the spurs, and was off before the listener could reply. ‘‘Lasso Dan's a man of judgment,” be mut- tered. ‘If the message is faithfully delivered there’ll be no trouble between us; but I shall keep my resolution, for that Indian belongs to me just as much as if I bad purchased bim of a lawful owner. Vengeance has given bim to me, and woe to the man who attempts to cancel the pens which nobody has @ right to pay but Ranch !’ Ps, the man who ee him the masked Ze soon disappeared. Wis route led ns across his beatiful estancia, and the stars showered their wealth of golden light upon him, but the bewitching splendor of the night had no delights for him, The fifteen miles that stretched between his lands and the smaller but well stocked ranch of Red Carlos, were soon traveled over, and he at last drew rein before a little house along whose entire front stretched a porch where Red Carlos was wont to enjoy his cigarettes after a new pur- chase, or a successful raid, for it was said that the little Mexican was not much annoyed by conscientious scruples. Tho dwelling at first seemed deserted, but after a minute's inspection from bis saddle, Ranch Rob detected a glimmer of light beyond one of the windows. Without a word he dismounted and let bis an- imal stand with the reins thrown carelessly upon his neck, while he himself glided across the porch, revolver in hand, and his eyes fas- tened upon the window. An attempt to look into the room beyond through the rent in the greasy curtain proved a signal failure, so the ranchero crept to the door near by and listened. He heard the coarse voices of several vaqueros mingled with the clinking of tin cups; he could) see nothing. ‘‘ They’re just drunk enough to fight,” be said to himself; ‘‘ but Lam hereon business. . They must tell me what they know about Gold Georgie. I recognize the voice of ms . ie the little Mexican’s right-hand man. knows everytbing,” ) The next moment the rancbero put his shoul- der against the door and forced it oper. As it fell inward four men leaped up from a rough table in the middle of a room. and sprun bac wee pxelamationset astonishment, an revolvers drawn and cocked, ‘* No shooting till we understand each other!” said Captain Rob, straighteving up and dis- playing two ready navies, one in each hand, ‘Your lives hang on your own lips and not on the droppers in my bands. Iam here on busi- ness—business that we ought to be able to ae en ben pny HE his eyes on the © ranchero and fix — who ap het fous his size and looks to be the leader of the gamblers. This was the fellow be had called Big Pedro before entering the room. He stood six feet in his rough boots; he was broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, evil-eyed—in short, a giant in physique, a cunning devil, a man-tiger, in looks. ; ‘‘Where Senor Carlos?” he asked of the ranchero, in a voice that betrayed his mixed Sage. “T am the questioner—not you!” was the f Bye pepONRhs “‘ Now listen to me—where ts The four men exchanged quick glances; then a strange twinkle lit up the depths of the swar- thy giant’s eyes. ‘La aencuite run off, senor capitan,” he an- swered, “That's what the other liar stuck to to his cost,” retorted the ranchero, fiercely, ‘‘ I didn’t come here for a continuation of the | . truth—the or blood! _Do you I want the tr hear that?” , rs ‘We hear that, senor; but the little senorita did get away from Capitan Carlos.” ‘* Tell me about it.” ‘“You see, senor, Capitan Carlos him git pretty full of liquor; then he go to Ja senorita’s room an’ brag about his estate.. The girl told him she no b’lieve be have so many manes Or so many horns. Him sware by the Virgin that he has, and then be invites la senorita to ride out with him to look at his stock.” ‘* The idiot!’ hissed the ranchero, ‘‘ When 1 told him to give the bird no string he must es- cort ber round bis ranch. Go on, Pedro,” ‘\ Well, la senorita ready to go, ov course, so Capitan Carlos hav’ the big white mustang fetched to the door an’ helps her on, Away they go." ** Alone?” “Alone, senor. By’mby Capitan Carlos him come back all over mad, an’ swear that la senorita give Lim theslip, We mount an’ go with him to the place, an’, sure enough, we see that the big white mustang carr L off to- ward the mountain. No foolin’ this time, senor. Capitan Carlos did not lie.” Ranch Rob could not discredit the nt’s story. Although it bad not been spun inelegant language, it did not fail to impress him with its truthfulness. His thoughts went back to the man he had adjudged a traitor and slain. ‘*Carlos knew better than to act as be did,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ After all, if he was no traitor, he got bis deserts.” ‘* Where is Capitan Carlos?” suddenly asked Big Pedro. ‘“At my house. He will never come back. Senors, this estancia is yours,” ‘* Carlos is dead, then?” ‘*‘ He is dead!” Big Pedro’s eyes did not flash, but his lips met firmly behind bis last word. ‘‘He eame to me with the cloak of treac on his shoulders,” continued the ranchero, ‘“ saw that be was glad that the girl escaped from his hands. Senors, I am going away, Sta hereand enjoy yourselves. This estancia, wi all its hoofs and borns, belongs to of ae i The three men who stood behind the giant ut- tered exclamations of satisfaction, but Pedro himself did not unseal his li aa : “The giant.isn’t satisfied. I mud watch him,” flashed across the ranchero’s mind. ‘‘I didn’t do him a service when I dropped Red Carlos. The others Cy he pet gy ia At that moment ro orward, picked up a tin cup Vricening Fal of liquor, and extended it to the ranchero, ‘Drink, capitan,” he said ‘‘We are going to part. Drink peace to the soul of Capitan Carlos. “Certainly, I can do that,” said Ranch Rob, and a moment. Jater be had ed the cup to the sparkling of the giant’s e BR ihe an wet ‘‘Now I’m off! Take care of the estan senors. There’s gold in its thousands of hoofs. ee and horns. on rect will not de to a possess you. I w prize you mist show me the trail.” salen ‘* Benz will go, capitan,” said Big Pedro. One of the peons stepped briskly forward and ar the ranchero, is was the most honest ace in the group, and Raneh Rob approved of the apni selection, A brief time sufficed to place a steed beside the ranchero’s, and the two men rode AWAY. They did not see he Sages bound that carried Big Pedro across the little room, nor hear the vengeful threat that fell hissing from his lips: ' There may be two dead capitans in Califor- nia, senor, when the sun comes up,” he ex- claimed, whirling upon his associates with a coiled lasso in his swarthy bands. ‘A life for a life. Sacrissima! The blood of Capitan Carlos burns Pedro's ton Co senors, or vi tS, Bs elated eat te oor stride the - to the door, and'n fow bounds 3 the eetanints Mate 3 When he appeared again in the starlight, he was mounted on a dark horse, and ied the lasso at his saddle. bow. Fs ; The two men left behind at the house had not followed him. ’ Away went the big fellow in the direction taken by Ranch Rob and the , or He looked like an avenger—ike one of tireless trackers to be found among the wild hills of the Mexican States. 4 It was not long before Ranch' Rob turned his saddle and looked at his companion, » “Hark!” hesaid, “Anhorse? Benz turned his head toward the house and listened with a significant smile at the corners of his mouth, —_— Eomichboo (E <Si (E(0)