Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 707 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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10 The Red Sombrero Rangers, He conducted her himself to his best room, ordered a special supper for her and returning to the office asked Neil: ‘“ Who is she, Neil?” ‘¢T don’t know no more than a fool,” ‘* She told me to register her, as Senora Dolo- res of Mexico,” ‘““Waal, I didn’t know that much, for I couldn’t see through that black blanket she wears, and I’m durned if I knows if she’s Injun, Mexican or pale-face.” ‘‘ Why has she come here?” ‘‘T give it up,” was the answer of Neil Burt, and so did the landlord, who, though hedid look something like a Mexican, and spoke English with a feigned accent, was really an American, CHAPTER XIX, ON A WOMAN’S TRAIL. THERE was a world of excitement at Devll’s Ranch, Never in its history bad it been so stirred up as by the arrival of the mysterious Vailed Lady who had come in on Neil Burt’s coach, and, after creating a great excitement, had as mys- teriously departed. Not a soul had discovered her identity, unless it was one man, Trent Baxter the Sharp from Texas, To explain ani get at bottom facts, I will state that the Vailed Lady in Black, after she had had her supper, sent for the landlord of the New Mexico and told bim she was anxious to play cards, if she could find a foe worthy her steel. As in duty bound he had escorted her to the gambling saloon, which was in full blast, and she had challenged the Sharp from Texas to a game, as she was told he was the best player in the mines, The Sharp from Texas was a tall man with a superb physique, Wore his hair in waving masses far down his back, and his beard full, falling to his belt, He dressed gorgeously, sported diamonds, wore his revolvers ready for use and was a man to command admiration and induce awe. He played for stakes no matter how high, and it was seldom he lost, while he had to often offer odds to get partners, But the Sharp from Texas had not seemed over-anxious to play with the Vailed Lady, yet dared not refuse. He was asked to name the stakes, but politely left it to the Lady in Black, whose sable vail no eye had yet penetrated. She had responded that she would play fora stake to remain unknown until one or the other won, The interest excited by the strange game was too intense for the Sharp from Texas to refuse, and the terms were agreed to, The game was won by the woman, and then came the startling assertion that the stake she demanded was the life of the Sharp from Texas. And more, then and there she would have claimed it, had not there appeared upon the scene one bold enough to strike up her revolver and save the gambler from instant death. That one was Redfern the Scout, or as he was also called, the Scarlet Sombrero, and the Gold Revolver Sharp. He had demanded a cee with the Vailed Lady for stakes he would name, and she had yielded. Redfern the Scarlet Sombrero had won, and he named the stake that for one year she was not to attempt the life of the Sharp from Texas, Tbe Vailed Lady turned and left the saloon, the Sharp from Texas quickly quitted the place ras Redfern the Scout went to his room in the otel. The next morning the Vailed Lady had left the hotel, going as she had come, on Neil Burt's coach. The Revolver Sharp had followed soon after, and the Sharp from Texas could not be found, and Devil’s Ranch was left to talk over the strange happenings, Several days after when Neil Burt came in on his run, he had something to say of importance, The story Neil Burt told was that when he had gone a few miles, with the Vailed Lady on the box, he had seen horsemen ahead and told her that Blue Jacket Bill and his band were waiting for them, ‘* You are mistaken, senor, those men will do you no harm,” was the reply. Upon coming up with the horsemen Neil Burt had discovered that there were quite a number of them, all mounted upon black horses, and that they were masked. Like trained soldiers they were drawn up on the side of the road, and saluted as the coach came to a halt. The Vailed Lady had then dropped into Neil Burt’s hand a purse heavy with gold, thanked him for his kindness and said: ‘¢T leave you here, senor. Adios !” Then she had thrown on the long skirt which one of -the men handed to her, sprung lightly into the saddle of the horse she had ridden the day before, and with a wave of the hand dashed away out of sight. Neil Burt was astounded, but drove on, to be halted at the pass known as the Blue Jacket’s Toll-Gate, by Blue Jacket Bill himself and a party of his men, Their first demand had been for the Vailed Lady in Black, and Blue Jacket Bill uttered oaths both loud and deep when he found himself thwarted in his attempt to capture her, and was about to content himself with robbing the coach of what he could find of value, when the clatter of hoofs was heard and the outlaws fled, driven off by Redfern the Scout alone, He was also surprised to find the Vailed Lady gone, and hearing the story of Neil, had wheeled bis horse and gone back on the trail. ‘And he’s gone on the trail of the Vailed Mystery, I'll bet this purse of gold,” said Neil Burt, handing the gift of the woman to Senor Du Val to look at, and adding: ‘‘There’s ten golden onzas in there she gave me, landlord, and I does hope the Scarlet Som- brero means her no harm, for she’s a lady, and no mistake, if she is on the shoot gambles and hides her face.” CHAPTER XX, REDFERN. Ir was a long time before Redfern the Scout returned to the Devil’s Ranch. The Vailed Lady was still the subject of con- versation among the miners, but the excitement of the affair had blown over. The Sharp from Texas bad been seldom seen in the ranch since; and when Redfern arrived it was at night, and he went direct to bis room, Thither Senor Du Val soon followed him, and while the young scout ate the supper sent up to him, the landlord. told him of affairs in the mines, In his description of the youth Neil Burt had not been wrong, for his face was one that might be called beautiful, yet it was stamped with manliness beyond his years. Perhaps seventeen, he yet might be older, for at times there was nothing boyish in his face, His remarkable dress, a most gorgeous Mexi- can suit, and his gold-embroidered red som- brero gave him a picturesque appearance tbat was most striking. ‘© Well, Redfern, I must say you are as great a mystery in the mines as is the Vailed Lady, for not a single man would have ever dreamed of your saving the life of the Sharp from Texas, when he is your avowed foe.” The scout smiled at the words of the landlord and said: ‘*T would not be a mystery, for I ama solver of mysteries, senor.” ‘Then solve yourself for my benefit, for you know how friendly I feel toward you.” ‘“‘ What would you know about me?” ** Who are you?” ‘© Roy Redfern.” ‘True; but Mexican or American?” ‘*T do not know,” ‘*Can this be possible?” “it me ** Don’t you remember your childhood?” ‘*'Yes, but too well. ‘‘T recall an Indian massacre of—I do not know whom, for 1 was in a wagon-train, and all were killed except myself. ‘The chief took me captive, carried me to his village, and there I spent years, I do not know how many. . ‘“‘ Then the Texas Rangers attacked the village, and I saw the chief and his wife, who had been kind to me, shot down. ‘IT then was taken by Captain Redfern the ranger chief, to his home, ‘ His wife, mother and child were all the fami- ly he had, and they adopted me as one of them. “In fact I loved them as I would my own parents and sister, and they were devoted to me, ‘They taught me to read, and, an educated man I learned much from the captain, studying each day with my adopted sister, ‘“One day when I was about fourteen I went on an errand for my father, who was ill, and when I returned, a week after, lsaw my home in flames, and father, brother, sister and grand- mother dead, ‘¢ The Comanches bad been there. ‘* Then and there that night I vowed ten-fold revenge, Senor Du Val, and | have kept my vow in the years which have passed since that night of horror. ‘*T joined the Rangers, and we recaptured the stock, regained the booty, and the settlers built my home up again for me. ‘* But Tleft it in good hands and went on the Comanche trail six months of each year. ‘‘T warned the fort of danger to a wagon-train, and so got an appointinent there as scout. ‘“You have heard that I always take.a scalp when I kill an Indian, ‘‘It is true, for I do, and they keep my count of tenfold lives, for those four dear ones slain. ‘‘T have completed my string now, and kept my vow, and when I have rundown Blue Jacset Bul and ‘1is band, I shall go to Mexico to live.” **To Mexico?” sc Yes,” ‘‘ Why there, Redfern?” After a silence of some minutes the youth answered ‘*T}l tell you frankly. ‘*] saved Trent Baxter from death because I am not ready to see him die yet. ‘‘] saw the Vailed Lady here in the hotel, after our meeting in the Gambling Hall, and do you know I was so strangely drawn toward her that I made up my mind to solve the mystery regarding her. * So I took her trail.” ** So Neil Burt said.” ‘*She was met on the coach trail by a party of masked horsemen, aud | followed them. ‘Others joined her at the Rio Grande, and crossing I followed until I came to ber home, a fort-like hacienda where only one of great wealth could live, for she has a hundred people fully about her, and cattle and horses in untold numbers, ‘““T was halted by guards, refused permission to see her, but getting a hint that a messenger was expected from the Government to her, I ambushed him, took bis uniform, leaving him bound and in hiding, and thus gained entrance to the presence of this most mysterious woman,” ‘* Was she still masked?” ‘¢ Yes, she wore her vail, and, recognizing me, I told her what I had done to see ber, ‘¢T could not tell ber why, and yet she asked me much about myself, and was most kind to me. ‘She gave me this pin to wear, and told me it might serve me well some day, and would gain me admission to her presence when I came again, for I pledged myself to hunt down for her Blue Jacket Bill.” The landlord took the pin, a solid gold one, representing a human eye. Upon one side, for it worked on a swivel, was a black eye represented by a dark onyx center, diamond pupil and pearls, Upon the reverse was a blue eye, with tur- quoise in the place of the onyx. ‘“This is a wonderful pin, and one of rare value, Redfern,” said the landlord. ‘* Yes, and one I appreciate most highly. ‘¢But pow let me tell you, senor, that when I have kept my pledge I shall return to the home of the Vailed Lady, that mysterious woman of Mexico. ‘‘She has told me to come to her, to be as a son to her, and somehow the longing is upon me to go, and I will.” ‘©T think you are wise, I must say, for she is no ordinary woman.” ‘““No, for she holds the rank of a captain of Lancers in the Mexican Army, and is known as the Lady Captain, in command of an outpost, her bome.” ‘¢ And you did not see her unvailed?” “¢ T did not.” ‘‘ Strange.” ‘‘ No, for I think she must be under some vow to keep vailed.” *¢ And she hates Trent Baxter?” ‘‘With the deadliest hatred, for she knows that he is not what he pretends to be. ‘But just what heisI shall one day know, ° senor, was the firm reply of the young scout. CHAPTER XXI. AS A SCOUT-DETECTIVE, THE commandant of Fort Blanco, at the time of which I write, was Colonel Martyn Rockwood a handsome man, a dashing cavalry soldier, an a genial gentleman, popular with officers and men alike who were under him. Since his assuming command matters hac been more peaceful than before in the distric’