Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 939 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 —_—— - Ka-ristopher Ko-lumbuss Bandy—the only original Kit Bandy. Why? Well, as I told you, once I was married, butnow, alas! who am {?whatam l?why am? I bave been rent and torn and seamed and left for dead, as it were, | i Hot water, skillets, sad-irons and other domestic | and culinary implements my wife used on meto | persuade me that she was a power in the Bandy bungalow, I recognized that fact and fled to the haunts of the grizzly, the Indian and the outlaw, disfigured for life. ‘* Mine, sir,” was the evasive reply of Jean Ballé. ‘** Would you mind telling me who you are?” the stranger asked, though it was clear to Ballé that the fellow was assuming kis air of surprise, | ‘* My name, sir, is Jean Ballé.” ** Jean Ballé,” repeated the impertinent, drop- ping into a chair that stood on the porch, and | tipping his sombrero back upon his head; ‘‘ well, But, Danny, as | soon as I can obtain the proper amount of | moisture, Vill wash away all signs of Jaguar Head, that you may look upon the Ruins 0’ a San Gabriel Mission, a dismantied Alhambra, a storm-battered and broken monarch o’,the forest, the downfall o’ the Roman Empire. Boy, let me give you this bit 0’ advice—” But he never gave the advice, for at this mo- ment his words were cut short by a piercing shriek from the direction of the hacienda, It was a female’s shriek, and was immediately followed by a fierce, savage yell from the same direction, ‘Great horn o’ Joshua!” burst from Old Bandy’s lips, ‘‘ Danny, the Desert Pirates have found Paradise Vale, and it willbe drenched with blood! Come, lad; if we would save them gals, we must do some fierce, red work!” CHAPTER XX, JEAN BALLE HAS A CALLER, Arter Kit Bandy and Desert Dan had left the hacienda, Jean Ballé and his household -seated themselves in their spacious sitting-room to await the return of their guests and pass the hours until bedtime in conversation, reading and prayer. Zulita and Lucille both noticed that their fa- | } Iam Judson Lowry—better known as—Captain Sanare !” If the villain had expected this announce- ment to strike fear to the heart of Jean Ballé, he was sadly mistaken, for, without the least emotion whatever, the recluse mildly asked: ‘* Are you the leader of the Desert Pirates, so called?” ‘*The same, sir,” was the answer, ‘‘and I have called here for information, I’m an in- quisitive sort of a fellow, and sometimes imper- tinent. But as I came around here I run up against a horse-corral, and inside ths inclosure I found a very noble black stallion. Would you object to telling me when and where, you ob- tained that horse?” ‘* 1 assure you I did not steal him, sir.” ‘*Certainly not, but when and where did you get him?” “My scout caught him on the plains,” re- sponded Ballé, ‘*?Way up east of the Trinchera Mountains, years ago,” added the outlaw, ** Is he your borse, Captain Sangre?” ‘** That depends,” ** Upon what?” ‘* A sear on his left shculder.”’ ‘* Dhere’s such a scar upon that shoulder, sir. ** Caramba! good! do you know what made ther seemed troubled and uneasy of late. He | that scar?” talked but litiie, walked the floor with knitted brows, ever and anon giancing out at the door, ‘* Father,” Lucille finally said, ‘‘ the coming of Kit Bandy, I fear, has disturbed your peace of mind. Surely you have no fears of the old aman?” ; **'None whatever, daugbter,” replied the fa- ther, ‘* but the presence of so many outlaws and Savages within ten miles of Paradise Vale I dis- like to hear of, You see there has been no wind strong enough to drift the desert sand for two days, and | am afraid the tracks of Zu- dita’s and Juan’s horses, as well as those of Kit Bandy, may be the means of leading the Desert Pirates down upon us.” ‘* Father, do not worry,” said the brave and scourageous little Zulita;*‘ God has protected us in this valley for years. Hehas kept dangers wide of our quiet, happy home, Let us unitein earnest prayer that He will continue to watch over us and keep usfrom all harm, Juan, our faithful friend, will guard well the entrance and see that—” ‘¢ But, my dear girl,” interrupted the father, ** he could not keep back a score of murderous outlaws and red-skins if they undertook to ride into the valley. Moreover, enemies on foot could easily gain admission here at various ints pert the bluffs, wholly unobserved. ut we will hope and pray for the best, and, in the mean time, be prepared for the very “worst,” As he thus spoke, the old man took from a ‘scabbard hanging on the walla slender, rapier- like sword, which he laid on a table, and placed alongside of it a brace of revolvers, In io of the cheerfulness of his daughters, Jean é seemed to have a strong presenti- ment of coming danger, and he had scarcely placed his they gy of defense upon the table when the tread of. a booted foot on the porch in front of the hacienda was heard, and thinkin dt was Bandy and Desert Dan returning, he ad- ‘vanced and unbolted and opened the door. To his utmost surprise and consternation, he ‘found himself cénfronted by a sirange man dressed in a suit after the eof the Mexican ‘ranchero, with high-top boots and white (as ei his waist girdled with pistols and knives. The moon had just come up and its horizontal rays fell full upon the stranger, in whose rough, bearded face, and the covetous gleam of his ‘fierce, cruel eyes, Jean Ballé recognized in an instant the outward signs of a villain. ‘* Good-evening, sir!” the stranger said, mani- ‘festing an assumed surprise; ‘* you’ll on my ‘intrusion, I hope. By accident we—I tumbled into this valley, and, seeing your light, came to make an investigation. I confess I’m knocked map to find a human habitation and fair women _ and brave men dwelling here. Whose ranch is this, anyhow?” { ‘ ’ 4 ATA Shy 1 * to : - } » i gs . : ’ ? t P fae : i a A Pi 4, : : : 4 + - p> et Sepa rea Male, Pad SBE Se rh ear BS IIe a — ae | ‘It’s the result of a wound, I presume, of eourse,” ‘Yes, scars usually come from wounds,” the villain repeated; ‘‘ but I see, Jean Ballé, you are uncommunicative, Let me tell you that, while I never met you before—know not why you are livin’in seclusion herein a place I never knew existed untilan hour ago, you do not desire to tell me the honest truth regarding the manner in which that horse came into your on. At least, I think so; and ifIam right you or your man, Juan, or both, took from that horse’s shoulder a secret, and, perchance, a girl-baby of three years from his back. And if that be so, one of those fair girls in the room there must be that little waif, and. again, if that be true, her father’s name was Mead, and her mother, a half- Spanish lady, my sister /” ** Well,” was Jean Ballé’s only response. ‘“*If I am right,” the outlaw continued, ‘‘I de- mand of you the secret you removed from that horse’s shoulder and my niece that I may restore her to her people.” ‘* And if you are wrong, what?” “*I know lam not wrong, by your own ac- tions, Jean Ballé,” A low, subdued cry escaped Zulita and Lucille’s lips for they heard every word spoken; and the . gue and mild-mannered recluse, becoming:*<cited, confronted the outlaw, ex- claiming: ‘*Scoundrel! you are lying to me like the ade ny youare! You do not speak of what you now to bea fact, but are revamping some old story as a pretext to rob meof my children, Sir, I bid you leave here, and at once, or by the gods, you will suffer for this intrusion!” “Hold down toa calm, Jean Ballé,” advised the outlaw in a sneering, warning tone as he rose to his feet; ‘‘ Il know pretty nearly of what I'm talkin’ about, and if you refuse to give me the secret I believe you possess, and tell me which of those girls you took from the back of that black colt on or about twelve years ago, V’ll be compelled to take both of them to make sure of the right one. ** Villain!” cried Jean Ballé, springing across the room and grasping his sword, *‘ offer to touch one of these girls and this blade will find your heart!” The outlaw uttered a shrill, prolonged whistle of surprise. Wild with fear the frail Lucille gave voice to a terrified scream and shrunk back into the corner of the room, But not so with brave and lacky little Zulita, for, drawing a pistol from er pocket, she stood ready to defend her father, her home, her honor. A low, sardonic laugh burst from the outlaw’s lips, and was immediately followed by the rush of many feet outside the door, while a fierce, savage yell broke the long and peaceful silence of P ise Vale! ee LF NS 4 A le Es Kit Bandy’s “Star” Engagement. CHAPTER XXI, THE BLOW OF THE INVADER, UP to the door of his hitnerto quiet and happy home Jean Ballé saw a score of forms crowding like a pack of hungry wolves and heard their demoniac cry that sent a shudder to his very heart, Captain Sangre advanced and stepped inside the door, his face aglow with devilish triumph, ready to despoil the quiet, hidden home and the pure and gentle lives of its inmates. ‘‘You see, Jean Ballé,” the bandit said, ‘‘ I am fully prepared to enforce my demands, I have no desire to spill a drop of human blood so, if you will therefore give me “he secret I crave, [ will suffer my little niece to remain with you at least awhile longer.” ‘* Villain!” resolutely persisted the old man, ‘*T have no secret for you, and | warn you to come not one step nearer or you will receive this blade!” In the mean time, Lucille bad fled into an ad- joining room and was soon followed by Zulita, who heard a noise as if some one was trying to force an entrance therein, Captain Sangre did not crowd upon the old man’s steel, but stepped aside and admitted a low, heavy-set Mexican with an abnormally large head and a face that had in it more of the animal than the human. The burly wretch came sliding into the room a hideous grin upon his repulsive face, an stopped just in front and to one side of Captain Sangre. Then a third rson entered and stopped by the Mexican’s side, This person was an outlaw Apache, There were a few moments of silence, which was broken by Captain Sangre, saying: ‘* Gorilla-Hand, we will have to make the old gent a prisoner,” The Mexican monstrosity uttered a hoarse grunt and fixed his black, snakish eyes on the face of Jean Ballé, Just then a lithe figure glided into the room from the back way, and, pausing by the side of the recluse, said: ‘¢}]l take a hand in this affair!” It was Desert Dan, the Boy Prince of the Sad- dle. Again the Mexican uttered a hoarse snarl, showing his white teeth as he slowly lifted his knife from its sheath, his body swaying slightly for a spring upon the ar But Dan seemed to divine his intentions, threw up his hand, im which he held a revolver, and fired point-blank at the Mexican’s short, hairy throat, The outlaw staggered back, threw out his long “aetna arms, gave a coughing mhan and fell ackward, blood gushing in great mouthfuls from his lips, So sudden, so unexpected and so daring was this shot, in the very face of a score of outlaws, that Captain i ge could scarcely realize for a moment what had really happened. At the same instant that the Mexican went down, the sharp, clear ring of Zulita’s revolver was heard in the adjoining room, followed by a dull, heavy fall and a groan, And to still add to the excitement of that mo- ment and the consternation of See Sangre, as well as Jean Ballé, another frightful yell sud- denly burst upon the night and was followed by the crash of fire-arms, the ring of steel upon steel, heavy, sodden blows, cries and groans—in fact, all the horrible din of a fierce hand-to-hand conflict. Desert Dan’s shot, the shot in the ye paren. room, and the burst of battle outside, came within the space of a few moments—so close to- gether and so startling that Captain Sangre and the Indian at his side manifested greater sur- prise than Jean Ballé, Glancing out at the door the outlaw saw his followers disappear from the porch, and turn- ing, he left the room, followed by the Indian, neither of them daring to avenge the death of Gorilla-Hand. ‘* We've friends out here!” exclaimed Desert Dan to Jean Ballé, as he bounded past the old man and out at the door, The recluse ran to the door and looked out. On the Plaza, in the moonlight, he saw a fierce and deadly conflict raging. Who the contest- ants were he knew not. saw Indian against Indian, with white men and Mexicans surging to and fro. He saw the flash of weapons, swinging bludgeons and flying tomahawks. He - he cries, groans, curses and shouts, and in the midst of all he thought he saw the tall form and heard the voice of Old Kit Bandy urgin Se his friends and dealing deadly blows harchiint m, ; Thirty men at least were engaged in the con- flict, and Jean Ballé knew none of them unless 900 Cc = 7 \ N ~ f] inf X hi = od } . i = ~ Fi "