Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 597 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 ** But oh, senor! death and destruction alone greet you here,” ‘*What does it ail mean, Merida, for my father is dead, and you, and the others are—” * All Rone but me, senor, and I am dying.” ‘* But I may be able to save you, Merida,” ‘* No, no, senor, do not move me, for I am shot through and through, and all will soon be over with me,” The truth of this Edgar Dumont at once real- ized, and, anxious to get all the information he could as to the perpetrators of the fiendish crime against him, he asked: ‘** But, Merida, are all your people dead?” ‘* Yes, senor, all, men and women too, all six of us,” ‘* And the cowboys?” ‘*Were led off under false orders, Senor Edgar, and your father was thus entrapped and I heard the chief say he was dead.” ** Who was the chief?” ‘*T heard the men call him Captain Brandt.” ‘* Ha! the Black Bravos did this deed then?” ‘* Yes, Senor Edgar, they came to-night, sur- rounded our cabin and held us prisoners fora long time. ‘*Tben I heard a pistol-shot, it seemed, and soon after the chief rode up to the door and told bis men that be bad killed the colonel, so to set to work and let none of us live to tell the tale, and to be in a hurry, as he wished to get the plunder and be far away before dawn, ‘*They shot us down, senor, shot us down as though we had been mad-dogs and I ran out and fell here, and they believed me dead, so left Te. ‘There were a number of them, senor, all dressed in black, and wearing marks, and they rade black horses too, for by the burning cabins [ saw them distinctly. ‘* They loaded the ranch horses with plunder, sei the cabins on fire and rode away to the northward, and-I heard the chief say: ‘* Now for New Mexico, men, for this night’s work will make Texas too hot for us,” Tne peon had spoken in a low, labored voice, gasping between many words, and he seemed to be growing weaker and weaker. ‘To New Mexico?” said Edgar Dumont, more as though repeating the peon’s words, than ask- ing the question, ‘* Yes, senor.” ‘** They can sell the cattle and plunder there, they know, ‘* Well, [have no home now, nothing left to me but misery,” was the sad remark, Suddenly the: dying Mexican raised himself on his elbow, and said in a deep, quivering voice: ‘* You have revenge, senor!” and with these words, the peon fell back dead. ‘Yes, [ bave revenge, and I will seek it, for the man who has done this deed I will track to death!” and the voice of the young Texan rung out clear and firm, He felt no fear for himself then, for the enemy had’ gone, and so he walked back to where. he had left his worn-out borse, and. taking the saddle and bridle off, staked him out to feed and rest. Then he paced to and fro by the side of his dead father until the dawn broke, for there was no rest for kim. At last the gray of morning was visible in the east, and the youth, faint with hunger, cooked his breakfast from his store on his saddle, and then set to work to bury the dead. A spade and shovel were fvcund, and a grave dug for his father by the side of his mother, and the body was laid to rest. Then the bodies of the peons were buried on the bank of the stream, and as it was now sun- set, the young Texan ate his supper and threw himself down to sleep, utterly worn out with want of rest and his hard task, For several days he camped about the ruins of his home, hoping for the return of the cow- boys, for to the nearest ranch was half a day’s journey, end be did not wish to leave the spot, fearing some one might come. He had found his father’s splendid horse stroll- ing about with saddle and bridle on, as though he bad escaped from his captor. Then he found a number of useful articles scattered about, more provisions, bedding, and a belt of revolvers with a repeating rifle, which had been his father’s, He remembered that beneath the hearth in the gitting-room there was a vault, or safe, where his father had kept his money, so he dug away the ashes, opened the place, and found himself the possessor of something over a thousand dol- lars in gold, with a leather case of papers yel- lowed by time. The Young Texan Detective. a Using his own horse for a pack animal, Edgar Dumont mounted the one he had caught, and the fourth morning after his arrival, started on the trail of the raiders. ‘‘T will find that man, Brandt, if I have to track him to the ends of the earth,” he said, aloud, as he struck the broad trail left by the Black Bravos, CHAPTER VI. AN AMBUSCADE, A HORSEMAN was climbing up a steep moun- tain trail in Colorado, several months after the burning of the Ranger’s Rest Ranch, and be- hind him followed a pack-horse, which showed that he was on a long trip. The horseman dismounted at a steeper place than usuai, and led his horse on up to the top of the ridge. He was about to remount and continue on his way, when he beheld, on the other side of the ridge, something that riveted his attention. What he saw was two men going along ina erouching position, toward a group of rocks which stood at one side of a trail running up the valley. The men had hitched their horses back ina thicket, and the animals were also visible to the one on the ridge. The attitude and movements of the two men indicated that they were trying to head off some kind of game, And the game they sought was also visible, and it was human game, too. A horseman was riding up the valley, follow- ing the trail that led by tbe group of rocks, be- hind which the two men had ambushed them- selves, The horseman was clad in a miner’s garb, sat his horse well, was armed with a belt in which were two revolvers, and wore a broad-brimmed sombrero, His form was wiry, indicating strength and activity, and his face strongly stamped with in- telligenee, resolution, and fearlessness, and yet which did not mar the expression of kindliness in bis countenance, He was all unconscious of danger ahead, and rode along at a rapid walk, his splendid horse seeming to care nothing for the weight. he bore, Nearer and nearer the horseman drew to the ambush laid for him, not even the instinct of his horse scenting danger. The two men arrived panting at the rocks, after a sharp run, having evidently scented their prey afar off, and determined to reach the point where they could strike a deadly blow. They crouched down not far apart among the rocks, wholly sheltered from the view of the coming horseman, until he should ride almost upon them, and yet within sight of each other. They got their rifles ready, and said a few words in a low tone, when they were ready to kill the victim riding all unconsciously upon his fate. Nearer aud nearer he rode to the rocks, and another mument would have ended his life when suddenly came the stern command: ‘‘ Hands up! or you are dead men!” The two would-be assassins turned quickly, one to fire upon this unexpected foe; but a re- volver flashed a second before his own, which exploded from the convulsive clutch of death upon the trigger, for a bullet had entered his forehead! As though sure of bis aim the revolver of the dead-shot was now leveled at the other man in ambush, and sharply came the words: ** Surrender, or die!” ‘*] cave, pard!” was the reply, and the am- busher’s hands went up quickly. Not six seconds had transpired in this action, so rapid had been the movements of all, and, as the man’s hands went above his head, the horse- man spurred into full view. The picture presented to his gaze was a thrilling one. There lay one of the men who had been lying in ambush for him, and the mark in his fore- head showed where the bullet had ent€féd that cost him his life, Not ten feet away stood his pard, a villainous- faced fellow, with his hands held above his head, a rifle at his feet, where he had dropped it, and with two revolvers in bis belt. A few paces from him stood a beardless youth, tall, handsome, cool and determined, and with his revolver covering the intended as- sassin’s head. ‘¢ Weil, gentlemen, a lively picture this, I must say. What is it all about?’ demanded the borseman with grim humor at the situation. ‘I was on the ridge, sir, and beheld these two men leave their horses back yonder and run to these rocks, as though to head you off, for [saw you coming along the trail. ‘‘T slipped down the hill and beaded them off in their little game; that is all, sir,” was the cool reply of Edgar Dumont, for he it was. ‘*'You are a cool one, for a youngster, and you have saved my life, my friend, for these fellows I recognize now, and they have vowed a dozen times to kill me. ‘‘They have tried it before, but this time would have called in my checks sure, but for you, as I suspected no danger here. Your name, please.” ‘¢ Rdgar Dumont.” ‘*' Where from?” “* Texas.” ‘* Ah! which trail are you following?” ‘¢To find General Dave Cook, Chief of the Rocky Mountain Secret Service Men.” ‘You have found him, my young Texan, for Iam General Dave Cook, Chief of the Rocky Mountain Detectives,” was the reply of the horseman, ‘““You are General Cook?” cried the youth in amazement, and with an expression of pleasure crossing his face. “Yes, my young pard, and your attached friend, permit me to add, for | again say I owe you my life, as well I know these two fellows, one of whom you have saved from the gallows; but this one will not be so fortunate,” and turn- ing to the prisoner the detective chief had the irons upon him in an instant, ‘Shall I relieve you of him, sir, or will you accompany me to my camp, where, it is need- less to say, you will be welcome?” the general asked, ) ‘‘T was going to seek you, sir, for I have im- portant work to do and needed your aid.” ‘‘*You shall have it, so come with me to camp,” ‘“The horses of these men are up the valley, sir, a quarter of a mile, and I left mine yonder on the ridge.” ‘‘ Well, we will go for the horses,” and plac- ing the budy of the dead man on the detective general’s horse the party set off to where the desperadoes had hitched their animals when they had run to head off the lone rider. he borses were found, the body was strap- ped to one, the prisoner mounted the other, and the general and Edgar Dumont walked up the ridge, the faithful animal of the chief follow- ing. There Edgar Dumont’s horses were found, and mounting, all set off for the camp of the Rocky Mountain Detectives, a band of Secret. Service. men. who were a terror to evil-doers: upon the. frontier, and which under General Cook, had won deserved fame as daring hunters of desperadoes. CHAPTER VII. | BORDER DETECTIVES. THE camp of the Rocky Mountain Detectives was situated in a picturesque canyon in the heart offa range of mountains. Ic looked like a camp to stay, for it was most comfortable in every respect, and a more de- lightful spot to dwell in could bardly have been found upon the border. But appearances were deceiving as far as the frontier home of Dave Cook was concerned, for when he was considered permanently settled for months, the following day no trace of his men could be seen, for, with their equipage, horses and all. they had flown, disappearing in the night most mysteriously. Thus no one knew just where to find Dave Cook’s detectives. For weeks they were encamped in the moun- tains, then on the plains, and for a month or more no one seemed to see one of them. In the mining-camps and border towns they also dwelt at times; but just where to look for the mysterious Secret Service chief and his men no one could tell. This rendered them the more to be dreaded, and the outlaws of the mining-camps and prai- ries had to keep a close watch upon their foes, for fear of being caugbt and dealt withina manner that was an example to lawless men in general, It was just after twilight when General Dave Cook and those with hin entered the canyon, and soon after the detective’s camp came into view. ‘¢-You do not keep guards on post?” said Ed- gar Dumont, in surprise. ‘‘ Oh, yes, but you did not see them, though I did, and answered a signal given me by @a sen- tinel a mile back,” was the reply of the general. ‘‘ And you permit this man to know the way to your camp?” NCDOOKS.C ra _- a .' ° 2 2 *. * (pe § = 7 ~ ie ~ - 7 + = om! rae te. f om