Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

“+ whe —~ Zz ~~ ~ 1 we RF rr : ie ‘ he eo . . en iad INIA At le MERE ASS eo oe remanent ene thee Ee br es" agree hear as te ee ht tion, for it was intelligent, handsome and noble in expression, while his bair, dark brown and waving, was worn long, falling ie his shoul- ders and softening bis look until some might vonsider him effeminate. His physique was a fine one, and in his dress of velvet jacket, white pants stuck in cavalry boots, silk shirt and gold-embroidered sombrero, there was the suspicion of a dandy, although his attire was picturesque. [he cabin was a large one, of heavy logs, - neatly whitewashed, as were also the fences in- | closing the yard of acouple of acres and the outbuildings. There were flower beds, shade trees and alto- _ an air of thrift and comfort resting upon The house stood upon a hill that sloped down to a crystal stream a hundred yards away, and commanded an extensive view of prairie lands, here and there dotted with other ranches, and with many hundreds of cattle and herds of ponies feeding upon the plains, watched by the cowboys of the respective owners, Coming toward the ranch were two horse- men, one a mile ahead of the other—the latter one leading an animal carrying a heavy pack, The horseman in advance turned into the gate and soon dismounted and took a seat upon the piazza with the youth, who warmly wel- coimed him, The visitor was aman who at first glance would be considered to have passed his three- score years, for his hair and beard, worn long, were snow white, but his sunburnt face showed no lines of age, and his tall form was straight and commanding. Something besides years had whitened his hair and beard. He was dressed in a neat homespun suit, top- boots and sombrero, and looked like a man who had plenty of this world’s goods at his com- mand, His face wasastrong one, kindly and sad; sacha smiled pleasantly as he took his seat, and said: ‘* Well, Ray, you are to be congratulated up- on your able management, for in the year that on have been home your place does not look ike the same one. You are a born ranchero,” ‘*Thank you, Major Mabrey, for your praise of my work, I not only enjoy the life I lead here, but [am anxious to improve the ranch and make a fortune.” ** Ah, yes, I see, you wish to have an elegant home, and a fortune, to share with that pretty girl, Mattie Carter, the daughter of the com- mandant of Fort M——, of whom you s0 con- stantly talk.” ‘True, sir, she is everin my thoughts, I ad- mit, and I have mentally vowed that she should one day be my wife. ‘“'You see, [ met her so strangely, saved her from a fearful death the day the herd of wild steers broke out of the corral in the fort. Some- how, that made her very dear to me,” ‘** And do you expect to accept this lieutenancy which her father, Colonel Carter, obtained for you in the army?” “) hardly know, sir, for if { do I will have to give up the life of a ranchero. Here I study hard each day to improve my mind, take care of my place, and am doing well, so, if contented, why leave it for life in the army? ‘The truth is, my three years’ roaming in search of ye 4 poor mother and yourself, when you were the prisoners of the fiend, Captain Coyote, the outlaw chief, gave me a fearful ex- perience of wild border life, its dangers and its borrors, ‘*T look back upon my life as a Government ny-rider, my wanderings as a detective, trail- ing Captain Coyote from here into Mexico, thence into New Mexico, California, the Rocky Mountains and the Overland Trails as a fearful dream, a nightmare, ‘* What an experience it was for a mere boy! and now that Iam almost on the threshold of manhood, I shun any more wild life.” ** You are right, my son, and I am glad to hear you speak so wisely about it, for [feared you were about to accept the offer of a commission. That would be to go again upon the wild frontier in active service, ‘* Here you have your home, a fair bank ac- count, your herds of cattle and ponies, your books and out-door pleasures, ‘‘ Tt is true that you have not your dear mo- ther with you, as in the olden time; but she is at rest under the shadows of the Rocky Mountains, and you nobly did your duty to find her and track down the villain who kidnapped her. “In your grief for her I have my full share as vou know she alone was the one woman nt ES A | | gt — wrt loved, and, captured with her as I was, by that same fiend, Captain Coyote, you may feel that her sufferings gave me untold sorrow, so that I forgot my own woes, ‘*She died of a broken heart under hersor- rows, and my brain was well-nigh turned; had you not visited your mother’s grave and found me there, there where I had made my home af- ter my escape from the outlaws, I am sure I would have gone mad. ‘‘ But we are home now, and both your ranch and mine are prosperous, while I[ have wealth invested that brin me a_hand- some income, and all, ay, all that I have is yours, for I have made my will leaving all to you, the son of my old sweetheart Helen Ferguson, whom I lost in the long ago, who was forced to marry for ricies, and thus bring a cloud tpon her heart forlite, But, here comes a visitor,” Major Mabrey turned to look at the man who had been following him and who just then en- tered the gate, ‘* He looks like a peddler; but, tell me, Major Mabrey, do you believe that Captain Coyote is still alive—he and Yankee Kit?” ‘* Well, yes; but be must have left this coun- try, to live on the fruits of his stolen plunder.” ‘*Tf I felt that I could find him I would take the trail to-morrow, for with that man dead by my hand, my poor mother would rest better in her grave,” and the face of the youth lighted up dangerously. ‘‘As for Yankee Kit, I do not know if it is true,” continued the major; ‘“‘ but I did hear a rumor that he was none other than the Mexican robber chief Sanchez, who has become such a terror the past six months along the Rio Grande,” ‘Tf I thought so I would hunt him down, for if any one knows where Captain Coyote can be found, that man Yankee Kit is the person.” Just then the visitor, who had dismounted and hitched his horses at the rack, came forward to- ward the cabin, He had a stoop in bis walk and a long red beard and black hair and eyes, giving him an odd look, while his form was stout and awk- ward, A slouch hat shaded his face, and he looked like one who was a traveling tradesman and a shrewd one at that, ‘* Good-afternoon, gents, and let me _ inter- dooce myself! I am Joshua Ledbetter, itin- erant merchant, picking up honest shekels as I journey through life.” ‘* Hands up quick! you are Yankee Kit and I want you,” sternly cried Ray Royal the young ranchero, and, quick as a flash, he had drawn a revolver and covered the stranger. CHAPTER Ii. YANKEE KIT CORNERED. THE action of the youth was so sudden and unexpected that it brought Major Mabrey to his feet in excitement, while the man under the muzzle of Ray Royal’s revolver was seen to turn an ashen hue, But he put up his hands with a promptness that seemed to betray a thorough knowledge of the border method of bringing a man to terms. Still he said in a tone of remonstrance: ‘*T obey you, young man, but you are all wrong,” “Yes, yh I think you have mistaken your man,” said 3 me red Mabrey, ‘* Not J, sir, for I know this man well, though I have met him but twice before.” ‘*T never saw you before, pard.” “Well, give an acconnt of yourself, and we shall see,” ‘‘T am a traveling merchant, as I said, and my name is Josh Ledbetter. ‘*T am from the East, but have been on a tri through the country, and my pack yonder is full of goods.” , ‘** Such is your story, and Iam surprised that you play the same game in this country that you did four years ago, ‘* Then wor were a peddler, and went by the name of Yankee Ross, and you acted as a spy for Captain Coyote and his Wolves of the Rio Grande, and after your departure from the set- tlement we were attacked one night; this gen- tleman was captured, and for two years was my prisoner, and my mother was carried off by your chief and died of a broken heart.” ‘‘ This is all Greek to me, young man.” “T will make it plain enough before I get through, so don’t worry. ‘* Now, I shot your horse that night, and left two men to make you prisoner. rrr errr TE a” xeon a ALLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL mi Go ahead, young man. “They did so, and I came upon them as they fic had to kill Percy Sloan, — were about to bang ‘*T interfered, an one of the men, to save your neck. ou. ‘*They hadswung you up, but I shot the lariat — in two and cut you down. ** You fell heavily, and we believed your neck had been broken, when suddenly you sprung to your feet, mounted my horse, and escaped.” ‘* Not me.” “Yes, you; for I noted, when I saw you asa peddler, that you had a peculiar scar upon your face, and again, the Gay you came so near being banged, I saw that your left ear was slit 1n a pe- culiar manner, ‘* Major, I will pull trigger if he moves while you take off his hat and push back his hair and find the scars,” - The mun uttered a curse, but dared not mov while Major Mabrey took off the man’s hat, an a wig was revealed, a curl of which fell over the crescent-shaped scar upon his forehead. ‘There is the scar, Ray,” said the major, and he pushed back the hair from over the ear. ; You are right, Ray, there is the slit in the ear, ‘* And remove the wig of black bair, and you will find that his hair is red.” ‘*A fact! This is your man, my boy,” ‘*Major, [have some irons in the house, so "gory keep this man under your revolver until get them; but first disarm him,” ** You shall rue this, boy,” hissed the man, ‘“Tlltake all chances, Yankee Kit,” was tne cool response, and, taking the belt of arms which Major Mabrey took from beneath his — coat, Ray Royal entered the house, and soon re- turned with the manacles, ‘¢ Put your bands behind you, Yankee Kit!” **T’ll die first!” But the revolver muzzle was jammed hard into his face, and he obeyed, and the irons closed ou his wrists behind his back. ‘‘Now, Yankee Kit, I wish a talk with you, and a life will depend upon your answers, for 1 am in deadly earnest, for did I tell the Ranchero Rangers that Sanchez, chief of the Wolves of Mexico was my prisoner, they— Why, what is the matter, man, for you have turned to the hue of a corpse, and you are weak-kneed, too? Sit down, and lll give you a glass of whisky!” The man did indeed show a sudden emotion at the mention of the name of Sanchez, the Mexi- can outlaw, and he sunk into a cbair, his face wet with perspiration. A glass of whisky was brought him by the young ranchero, and he dashed it off quickly when Ray Royal held it to his lips. ‘Tt will do you good, for you were unnerved by my recognizing you as Sanciez, the Mexican olf. ‘‘ Well, as you see that I know you, it will show you how honest you have to be with me. ‘‘ Now I know you are up to po old game of . playing peddler, to spy out in the neighborhood, and get points to aid you in making a raid upon us. ‘But you are a prisoner, and mark my words, Sanchez, Yankee Kit, or whatever you call yourself, 1 intend to give you up tothe Ranchero Rangers to hang unless you tell me the truth, ‘‘But if you do tel] me what I would know, then I will set you free.” “Will you do this?” “Yes, if you will tell me the whole truth; so if you value your life, you bad best not deceive me.” , ‘‘T value life,so I will tell the truth; but you swear not to kill me if I do?” ‘* And will give me my liberty?” ‘‘ Yes, when I am certain that you have not deceived me; and, mind you, aJl that you tell me against yourself shall not weigh any more in my mind than what I already know of your evil life,” ‘‘ Well, what do you wish to know, young man? ‘‘- You have decided to answer all questions?” té Yes.” **-You are wise,” was the laconic response of of the Ranchero Ranger, and the major added: “Yes, very wise,” CHAPTER IL A STARTLING DISCLOSURE. ““Y Gugss I’m wise, para replied the pris- oner, in response to the remarks of the boy ranchero and Major Mabrey. ‘ Well, we will see how well you will show ur wisdom, by answering my questions,” | ak hl t* 4 i : . 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