Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 707 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

**'You will write us an order on your bankers for the sum, and you will remain a prisoner with us until itis paid, or—” ‘Or what?” ‘We'll take your life,” was the determined response, ‘“*T am at bay, men, and [ll fight for my life before I vield it to a lot of coward cut-throats,” and the colonel whipped out his sword like a flash. But just then a horseman dashed into view. ‘Oho! in trouble, senor!” he called out, and he dashed upon the scene, a revolver in each hand. Then came several sharp reports, cries of ter- ror as two of the bandits dropped, and the other two who had fired without result upon,the rescuer turned to dash away when one of them was cut down by a blow of the colonel’s sword, But the fourth bounded over the rocks into the mesquite bushes, and though hotly pursued by the stranger, made his escape. As he gave up the chase, with a bitter male- diction, and returned to meet the officer, he found him standing in the trail brushing the dust from his purse and morocco case of jewels ; which he had taken from the dust, after having turned the pockets of the dead bandit wrongside : out and recovered his watch, chain and ring. ‘* Senor, lowe you my life, for those devils would have murdered me. : : *“*T am Cortez Eldoro, Colonel of Mexican : Lancers, but you area stranger to me, senor, and if I mistake not, in Mexico.” ‘* Yes, Senor Colonel, [ am an American, _ ‘trayeling for pleasure in your beautiful land, and’my name is Hammond Hughes, and I con- gratulate myseJf upon having been of service to you, ‘*[ claim you for my guest, senor, so come with me to my hacienda a league away, and I will send men to bury these dead bandits,’ Thus met Colonel Eldoro and the youth whom @ young girl’s threat had mado a fugitive from his own land. ; | tier pe aber 2<—O— x CHAPTER IV. THE WOLF IN THE FOLD. THE hacieuda of Colonel Eldoro had been the home of his ancestors for half a dozen genera- ‘tions... Beautifully located, for it stood upon a hill ising out of a rolling prairie, with mountains inthe background, it had been built of stone, and fashioned more after a castle of olden times than the house of a Mexican. There were forests about it, flower gardens, jawns and fruit trees without number. __ An outer wall surrounded the hacienda, and ' in the rear, overhanging a swiftly flowing _ stream, were the outer buildings of the ranch. $) Cattle by thousands roamed the prairies under Mexican cowboy guards, there were droves of ponies and many other evidences of the great wealth of the gallant colonel of Lancers, - Within the hacienda proper, which occupied over an acre of ground, were large halls, sitting- - rooms, a library, art gallery and ascore of bed- _ chambers, } ' There was a plaza with fountains and flowers, _ and a promenade upon the roof with several r ss towers as points of observation. ;‘ It was to this house, Buena Vista, that Col- ~ onel Eldoro took his new-found friend, the man _ to whom he believed he owed his life, for he had > felt that the four bandits would kill him in the 0 struggle he had made. _ The man who had come to his rescue against d =~ such odds won his admiration and respect and d he felt drawn toward the handsome stranger by the kindliest feelings. Fa 8 He saw in Hammond Hughes, as he had called himself, only a gentieman of wealth and Jeisure, fond of adventures and wandering alone through a foreign land dangerous in the ex- ‘treme for a stranger to venture in, ML: _ _ The stranger had told him that he had traveled for years simply for pleasure, possessed moder- ne Gate means, and no home ties, so roamed through er —s the _ world as suited his humor best. e— § . Hespoke Spanish well, was educated, witty, a fe _ brilliant talker and the colonel was delighted in having found such an acquaintance, and intend- ’ fie Pe keep him a guest as long as he would re- rs Arriving at the hacienda, the guest was shown most charming room, and the colonel bade ‘ " a a, him rest until supper. bes, as I shall call him, oe 7 But Hammond did not seem fatigued in the least. it aN __ He gazed from the different windows out upon ped. "the plaza upon one side and the varied scenery _ from the other views obtainable from his cham- / ys } gh ale Poin i Pe ee S oD ah ah: 2 hs 2. aad Me as OC a Se The Red Sombrero Rangers. ‘* A very magnificent house! ** A vastly rich man he must be,” So he mused to himself. Then he began to regard his chamber, It was luxuriously furnished, the walls were hung with pretty paintings, and all about it was an air of refinement. As he turned again to the window and gazed out over the cattle-dotted prairies toward the distant mountains, he mused aloud: ‘* Well, that was a master stroke of mine in- deed. ‘*l am sorry that one of those four rascals escaped, but he will hardly dare to report me, ‘* And if he does, it will bea simply his word against mine, ‘*He is a cut-throat, I an American gentle- man, ‘* What a good thing it was those scamps took me at my word as being a poor vagabond, and did not search me, ‘*Egad, they’d have gotten a cool five thou- sand in Mexican bank-notes, “If I'd have met the colonel I could have ordered him to stand and deliver, and it would have paid me well. ‘“* But rescuing him will pay me far better. ‘Yes, he is the richest man in Mexico, and his daughter is an heiress. ** Well, ’'ve knocked about and seen hard times, but I’ve learned much of men, and I have been high up the ladder and down at the bottom round, ‘“* Fortunately, my last gambling venture won me money enough to play the gentleman here for awhile, until [ can win a larger stake—in an heiress, ‘* Well, as the rescuer of her father, [ start in with flying colors.” And so the daring adventurer mused on until time to make himself presentable. The colonel himself came to the room after him, and led him to the plaza, where Senorita Dolores awaited them. As she arose to greet the stranger, he beheld the most beautiful creature before him upon whom his eyes had ever before rested. A form above the medium height, slender, graceful and perfect in outline, while her face, wa its rich olive complexion, was radiantly ovely. 4 aks so glad to meet you, Senor Hughes, to thank you for saving the life of my father, for he has told me all. . **T owe you a debt of gratitude, senor, that I can never repay; no, never.” ' She had, in her impulsive way, taken both of of his hands in hers, and looked straight up into his handsome face. He replied pleasantly, and said that it was sheer love of adventure which bad caused him to go to the rescue, and he was the one to be grateful in having made thereby two such friends as her father and herself, The evening passed delightfully to all, for the guest bad a voice of rare melody, and sung many songs of his own land, accompanying himself upon the guitar most skillfully. When at a late hour he retired to his room, he muttered in a determined way: , ‘The Senorita Dolores shall be my wife—J swear it |” CHAPTER V. DOUBLY A TRAITOR, ** SENOR, a word with you.” The one addressed was a horseman who had halted at a spring to water his horse. The water gurgled out of a narrow pass, with rugged rocks on either side, and the horse had just raised his head after drinking, and his rider taken the reins to turn away, when the words fell upon his ears, By sheer force of cigcumstances he listened to whet was said to him, for a rifle covered his heart ! The rifle peered over a rock, not ten feet from him, and down the pass to the spring, so to dash by was impossible, The horseman knew that he was at the mercy of the one who said 8%» quietly a second time: ‘Senor, a word with you, if you please,” ** Well, be qnick with what you have to say,” was the stern rejoinder. ‘*There is no hurry, senor, and you must listen, though you arearich American gentle- man, and I only a poor Mexican bandit.” ‘* A bandit, are you?” | ' ** Yes, senor.” *“Tbhep you wish my purse?” ** No, senor, I wish for move.” ** You'll get no more.” 3 ‘*T am in a position to command, senor.” ** You have me under the muzzle of your rifle, so could kill me, no doubt,” ** T do not wish to kill you, senor.” ‘*Ab! you are kind indeed; but mayI ask what your intention is?” ‘* To go into partnersbip with you.” ‘* In what business, may I ask?” ** Money-making.” ‘** And who is it that I am to have for a part- ner, for I do not recall baving met you before.” a ' supposed your memory was better, Senor Hughes.” ‘You know me, I see.” . ‘* Very well, senor, so I will introduce myself as Felipe Soto.” ‘*T am just as ignorant now as before.” ‘‘Our last meeting may recajl unpleasant memories, senor; but it was only a league from this spot, and J had three other comrades with me then, who are now sleeping under the shade of the mesquites,” ** Still I do not recall you or your comrades,” ** What a memury you have, senor, or rather lack of it. ‘* Now I was sure that you would recall hav- ing been stopped by four mountain toll-gath- erers, and escaping from robbery upon the plea that you were a wandering vagabond, while your pockets were really heavy with old. ‘** You then entered into a plot with us to rob Colonel Cortez Eldoro. . ‘* Tt was a splendid plot, senor, but went wrong from the fact that you got us to unload our weapons Of ball, for fear we might hit the gal- lant rescue, and you also did the same, ** But you reloaded your pistols again, and the rescue was not a mock one, but a real one, for my three comrades were killed and my fleet heels and the close proximity of the mesquites saved me, ** Now, senor, after over a year I have re- turned to this part of the country to visit you. ‘*T am now the poor vagabond you professed to be, while you are the rich senor, the husband of the most beautiful woman in Mexico, and heiress to ber father’s immenye wealth, ; ‘*So, senor, I claim a handsome allowance from you. **{ wish to turn honest, to get me ara ch and some cattle, and live in comfort, and I will be then as silent as the grave.? ‘*Tf you do not get the hush money?” quietly asked Hammond Hughes, ‘* Well, I shall entertain the colonel and your wife with a very pretty story, and get an amnesty for what I will have to tell.” ‘* They will not believe you.” ‘Senor, I have better proof than you think,” ‘Your word against mine,” | ‘* No, senor, that would not be sufficient, I admit, for I am a deserter from the colonel’s regiment, and a bandit, or have been, rather, for I have partially reformed.” ~ ‘* Well, let me know your proof,” | ‘“*T was, before becoming a soldier, senor, a detective of the Goverment in the city of Mexico, ‘‘] killed a man under circumstances where the Government had to protect me, and so lL went on the list as dead, and joined the Lan- ceros, ‘* But my badges and papers as a detective I have, and when you turned traitor I held them to be revenged upon you, ‘*T dogged you so well, senor, that I know your career since your coming to Mexico. ‘**T have not been idle in the months that have , and I know that you landed in Mexico with a band of smugglers, and have been a card- sh and adventurer ever since, while a ranchero who left Vera Cruz in your company sy having a large sum of money with him, was found dead, and his gold gone. $ ‘“*Senor, as a supposed detective, I have papers for the arrest of a man answering your description. ‘* And more, senor, I have deposited duplicate apers and a full confession of my own, in the bande of a priest, who will act promptly, if aught should bappen to me. - Understand, senor, that you had better trade with me than the priest, for I am open to a proposition. : ‘*See, senor, I have won my game with you, so don’t be unreasonable.” c Hammond Hughes had listened with a sinister smile to all that the Mexican had said. He was waiting for a weak point at which to attack him, hoping to catch him off his guard. He had made up his mind that this man should die. But when the bandit told him that he had let a priest into his confidence the expression upom — ie é Tw i a" erg tor’, _ . by a’ eS ba AG , “4 Wide e opie he ts 0 ee ~~ et SQ tar) ey, Z a > a) ro | dao ah ~ 4, ve