Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 725 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

rem A) | , i CS Ye an # P of > \ if Daring’ Dick, Pawnee Bill’s Pard. 4 woman—or, it so, being paid for his silence— the unfortunate man was led out and shot to death, A victim the officials must have; so the jailer suffered, while Gabriella Garcia returned to her home witb her father. It was a cruei,a bitter blow to Gabriella to nave the jailer the sufferer, yet she felt that injustice had caused it, and she had to submit. As for herself, she became indeed a heroine, inen loving her the more, and women envyin her for what she had done for the one she loved, The beautiful girl did not hide herself, after her act, for she seemed to crave excitement, and went more than ever into society, until it was candidly admitted that she was the belle of the City of Mexico. Six months had Andrea Garcia been gone; then came strange rumors of his doings; some declared that he had gone to Texas and become a Ranger: others that he had turned gambler and was dwelling in New Orleans, while by an- other report he had allied himself to a band of outlaws of the Rio Grande and become their chief. Efforts were made to find out if Don Despera- do, the noted guerrilla chief of the Rio Grande, was indeed the fugitive officer, Andrea Garcia, @ yet no one seemed to be able to tell if it were so, Of course Gabriella beard these stories, yet never spoke of her fugitive lover to any one, She had given the cottage to Jose, and he had married the pretty Nina, no one suspecting that the gift of the heiress was more than through friendship for her maid. One day Nina came to the elegant home of the Garcias, and handed to Gabriella a note, Eagerly she broke it open when she learned that it had been left at the cottage by a vaquero who said he would call for an answer upon the following day. The letter was as follows, and written in the characters of the secret alphabet, in which the notification on the cake sent to his cell had been. Eagerly she read it, her face flushing and paling by turns: “‘T shall hold you to your promise to become my wife. Iam now ready and in position to give you a home, which, if you love me as I do you, will be a DADDY one notwithstanding its surroundings. you will come to me, tokeep your pledge, I will send a guide to conduct you toa certain ha- cienda where there will be a priest awaiting you, and I will arrive about the time you do. **{ shall live in the fond hope that you still love the man whose life you saved.”’ Such was the letter, and pressing it to her lips Gabriella Garcia said fervently: ‘* Love him! Yes, with all my heart and soul “ love him, be he what he may, and I will go to im. | The letter was answered, also in the cipher _ alphabet, and it was dispatched by the mes- senger who had brought the one from the man she idolized, The answer came before long to the cottage of Nina, and she at once sought the home of Gabriella Garcia, and placed it in her hands, with the words: ‘The messenger will be at my home, senorita, just after nightfall, and be ready to guide you whither you would go; but, oh! my dear, noble lady, pause ere you take a step which may brand your whole future life with sorrow, and perhaps shame!” © ‘‘T have decided, my Nina, and I will be at your home to-night. I will also send there, as t to you, some things I though it were would take with me.”. Nina left with a sad heart, for she knew just what her mistress meant to do, and her hus- band, the serge, had told her that there was not the least doubt but that ey Bonodel bad become leagued with a band of Rio Grande out- ws. At the appointed hour Gabriella was at Nina’s home, She had proceeded there, mounted upon her best horse, and had left word that she was going to the home of a relative for the night, The next morning a letter was to be handed to her father, telling him just what she had done, The uide was at Nina’s little house at the ap- poinced time, and the two set off together on the road, Gabriella’s luggage being carried on a led horse, which the map had brought for that pur- pose, Thus did she start upon the life before her, led only by her deep love for the man whom nothing could turn her against. With streaming eyes Nina bade her farewell and that night, when Jose came, she told him o ‘her sorrow at the going of one who had been their dearest friend. The next morning the letter was left at the home of the Senor Ghircix telling him all. « a i * i . ys — :- \ ~ ‘ . : ‘ & 4 , ‘ ~ ‘. 4 ca aif ly Aa te ' 4 ’ : 2 ' at eer: Cady ee , aa. Se : ¢ a ' The proud, strong man was hurt terribly at what he read, and he groaned: **Sbe has gone to become an outlaw’s bride, for I bave the proofs, alas! of just what Bonodel has me, “My God! itis fearful, but it is too late now to save her; but, by Heaven, the world shall not know hershame! No, no! I will say that she has been kidnapped, and have instant search made for her, offering large ransom for her re- turn to me, ** No, the world must not know,” and calling up his servants Senor Garcia spread the alarm, soldiers were called out, and the whole city soon rung with the news that the beautiful Gabriella Garcia had been recently decoyed from her home and kidnapped by a band of outlaws, who looked for a large ransom. for her restoration to her father’s arms, CHAPTER IV. DON DESPERADO, THE ‘‘ Robbers of the Rio Grande,” as a des- perate band of outlaws were known, had their retreat in a_mountain range of Mexico, amid fastnesses where they defied dislodgment from the soldiers. In fact, as they operated mostly upon the American side of the river, the Mexican author- ities made no strenuous efforts to hunt them down, They had been under the command of a chief who was said to be an American, and who was known as Don Desperado, The band was largely composed of deserters from the Mexican Army, and all were held under military discipline by their chief. But one day their American leader disap- peared most mysteriously. It was supposed that he had been slain, It was also thought by some that he had been captured, and a few believed that he had desert- ed them, for he had left nothing of value in his cabin that they could find. Just then along came a man whom some of the outlaws had served under in the Mexican Army—Major Andrea Bonodel, and he came to throw his fortunes with theirs, He heard of the disappearance of the Ameri- can chief, and at once said that he would com- bat all claimants for the position. This he did, defeating those who sought the honor of leadership, and so effectually riddin the band of them that he would never artad their appearing again as rivals; unless they came in ghostly form, Thus did Andrea Bonodel step into the au- thority of the lost chief, and he took his name as well as his place, for he was pleased to be known as Don Desperado, The months passed away and the new chief had shown that be was a daring and able com- ssa a though he ruled his men with a rod of on. One afternoon the chief rode away from the stronghold, and alone. His direction lay toward the interior of Mexico, He was elegantly dressed as a Mexican cavalier, and mounted upona horse equipped with the costliest of st a It was just nightfall when he halted at a se- cluded hacienda, and was readily admitted and bade welcome by the Mexican host, who was secretly his agent for the disposal of booty. ‘* Has the lady arrived, Senor Feraro?” asked Don Desperado eagerly. s ie Yes, captain, some hours ago and she is now g. ‘* And the padre?” ‘IT sent over to the Mission to bid him be here per, senor,” “He knows nothing?” “No more than that you and the lady are friends of mine who have come at my invitation to be united beneath my roof.” “That is well, Senor Feraro. ** Now, when the lady is réady to receive me I will be glad, for we must take saddle again be- fore midnight.” ‘““Then you are not to remain my guests, captain?” , Sant I dere not trust myself so far from my “I shall go onaraid soon into Texas, and to leave the booty at the retreat on the river for you to send after.” ¥ Yes, Senor Captain.” And I believe you have a balance in your hands from the last sale?” * Yes, captain, I will pay it to you to-night,” was the reply, and the ranchero left the room to see if the lady guest under his roof would receive Don Desperado, The latter had not long to wait before Gabriella ! Garcia came into the room, ard with a glad cry she threw herslf into her lover’s arms, After awhile he said: ‘You are a noble girl, Gabriella, and in tak- ing this step you act blindly,” ** Love is blind, Andrea.’ ** And you have nothing to ask me?” ** Noth ng, for I love you and am ready to xeep my pledge.” Soon after Senor Feraro came in to announce the arrival of the priest, and half an hour after Gabriella Garcia, acting with utter blindness to- ward what the man she loved had become, was wedded to Andrea Bonodel., A wedding supper followed and at midnight the young bride rcde away from the hacienca accompanied only by her outlaw husband. The moon shove as bright as day, and at a gallop the outlaw went toward his mountain re- treat, A ride of several hours, and just before dawn a ringing hail came from a cliff above them, for pi | were passing through a canyon, he chief gave response, and it seemed satis- factory, for he was told to pass on, And up the steep trail he led the way, into a heavily timbered valley among the mountains. Other challenges came from unseen men and were promptly answered by the chief, and con- tinuing their way they came to a hamlet, a sore of rude huts plainly visible in the moon- ight. Up at the head of the valley was a larger. cabin than the others, and built evidently with an eye to comfort and convenience, A piazza ran across the front, and through the open door and windows a bright light shone. ‘* Gabriella, my wife, this is your home, for I bave had this cabin built for you, apart from the homes of my people, ‘* Here I will visit you, when my duties keep me not in the saddle and upon the trail, and here I wish you to reign as queen. ‘“*Come, let me welcome you to your new home,” He lifted her from the saddle as he spoke, and led ber into what was really a cozy home, There stood a peon woman, who bent in obeisance to the fair bride, while the chief said: ‘* Wanda, this is to be your mistress, my wife, and the «begga of my band,” Gabriella extended her hand in greeting, and said a pleasant word to the peon woman, Then she turned to ber husband and asked: ‘* And now tell me, Andrea, why this far-away retreat is your home?” ‘* Have you forgotten, Gabriella, that I am a fugitive, that you saved me from death? ** Have you ciel, ga that [am a hunted man by my own people? A conspirator under sen- tence of death? ; ‘“There was but one life before me, and that life I chose. ‘‘A lawless life, yes, yet I live in hopes of one day gaining riches that will enable us to go far from Mexico and live in peace and happi- ness, ‘*But now, my Gabriella, I will tell you the truth, for it is your right to know it, ‘*T will tell you that you are the wife of him’ who is known as Don Desperado, the chief of the ‘Rio Grande Raiders,” “Ah, Audrea, I feared it! but I love you, and nothing sball part us,” was the low reply of the unfortunate woman whose blind love bad wrecked her life, CHAPTER V. THE AMERICAN DON DESPERADO, THE name of Don_ Desperado had become a terror along both the Mexican and Texan shores of the Rio Grande, and a reward was set upon the head of the chief and each one of the rob- ber band, , The kidnapping idea which the pride of Senor Garcia had set ibe pt he mysterious disappearance of his beautiful daughter had been generally believed, though a few wondered that the kidnappers had never brought a claim for ransom, The old Mexican was thized with, and the real fate of Gabriella Garcia was set down as unfathomable, though a few suspected the truth when it was known that with Don Desperado was a woman, always vailed, yet said by those who had seen her to be very beautiful. It was known that Don Desperado was the conspirator Bonodel, but as he had captureda Government train, in which were papers con- gee some ugly secrets gio high rg no was reall made possession him, for with Certain facts in bis on he could be a dangerous Eemcoes indeed, Thus time went by and the Rio Grande ‘ » *y es a fo 2” pe eae ‘EOmIGc ‘ x Py) les . i Ts a... — Te od cae