Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 939 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

——_- ses id ‘See — _~ . - —_- . 7 Pm ght git onto my racket. I wasn’t ready yit to throw up on my Jaguar Head commission. | Kit Bandy’s “Star” Engagement. had been twelve years ago. The colt was two years old then, and would now be fourteen years I’m ‘starring’ New Mexico on an open engage- | of age. The oldest horse-hunters claimed the ment, and when I got my eyes on that black | black horse had appeared at the head of a large stud there, I thought I'd hit something immense, | herd about one year after the Black Arroyo but I war mistaken.” ‘Why something immense?” queried Desert Dan. Black Robber, the famous black wild hoss that has been defying the wild-hoss-catchers for years. I war told that Black Robber carried, it war supposed, in his shoulder, a secret that would reveal a black and damnable crime, as well as the whereabouts of a secret gold mine of great value, It war to run down Black Robber that Jaguar Head and his warriors—waugh !— are here on their way toward the Rio Hondo, and the first day out we fell in with Blood and his outlaws, and as the Mescaleros and the Desert Pirates are hail fellows well met, we had to sojourn together, inasmuch as Spring Basin was to be the stopping-place of both parties, I war terribly afraid Blood’d recognize me, and if he had he'd not been slow to avenge tbe death of Captain Vulcan, the old leader of the Lesert Pirates, whom we everlastingly bu’sted up in Arizona, In fact, 1 found out that Blood was here to intercept and destroy Tom Rattler and a ir o’ youngsters named Mead and War- field.” Yes,” exclaimed Ben Mead, ‘he really is Jacarilla Jim, whom a friend sent to Camp Bo- nito to conduct us to the Rio Hondo.” ‘lt war a bad break on the part o’ yer friend, Cap Clarke, to have anything to do with Jacarilla Jim, I could ’a’ give him points on Jim—I could!” **Do you know Captain Clarke, Mr. Bandy?” eagerly uestioned Ben Mead. “‘Should say I did, boy, when he’s the man that put me on the track o’ your father’s mur- derers!” CHAPTER X. JAGUAR HEAD IS WANTED. Nort oniy was Ben Mead, but his companions, also, astounded by Kit Bandy’s unlooked-for revelation. ** Kit,’ Ban exclaimed, ‘‘how did you know my father was murdered?” ‘Cap Clarke, your father’s friend, told me all about it, and that he had sent for you to come down to the Territory at once to assist in bringin’ the murderers to justice. I didn’t know which way you war to come in, as Cap didn’t tell me.” ‘* He told me to come to Camp Honito by way of El Paso,” answered Ben, ‘‘and said ke would meet me there, but when I reacke* camp we were met by Jacarilla Jim with a .etter from Captain Clarke, ee he was cémpelled to leave at once for the Rio Hondo valiey and in- forming me that Jacarilla Jim, a famous guide and ranger, would conduct me to the Hondo ranch, But we took such a dislike to Jim that we could not trust ourselves in his care, and so dismissed him and employed Tom Rattler, and thereby incurred Jim’s enmity.” ‘‘Not that alone, boy,” responded Old Kit; ‘* I think he’s here on the way to try and catch Black Robber, as much as to get even with you. I think Ae’s workin’ one string o’ the murder- and-mize mystery for all tnere is in it.” ‘* But Black Robber is in my possession,” said Desert Dan, *‘ at the present time, at least, And if 1 ever get him to Don de Vaca’s ranch, I'll get a thousand dollars. But, I'd like to know what the stallion has to do with tae secret of Ben Mead’s father’s murder and the secret mine.” “And so would I,” added Ben, ‘* for Captain Clarke simply wrote that he had a clew to my father’s and step-mother’s death. He gave me no particulars, but said he would tell me all when he met me about the dying confession of one Carlita Bond.” **Tll tell you, boys, how Clarke got onto the clew,” said Old Kit. } And then he narrated in dctail the story of the fugitive woman, Carlita Bond, as given in the opening chapter of this story. The story filled the breasts of the boys with sadness as well as surprise. Ben Mead breshed the tears from his eyes when Kit had finished his recital, murmuring: ‘* Poor father! poor little Dolly!” Ben’s father had left him in the care of an uncle when he was but eight years of age, and bad gone West. Being a widower, he drifted into Mexico and there married his second wife —a Spanish woman, Ben had never seen her nor bis half-sister, Dolly, whom her father had lashed upon the black colt and sent adrift on the plain. This LR eee | Massacre, ‘*Captain Clarke had the greatest faith,” Old | Kit went on to explain, ‘in Carlita Bond’s ‘** I recognized the hoss, or thought I did, as | story, and had hopes that the colt might be the | Black Robber now running wild on the plain. Of this I’d little hopes on account of the age of the horse; but I determined to try to get hold of the beast, if [had to shoot him, I havealready examined the critter, and find no deposit in his | Shoulder; in fact, he is not over six years of age, and so all kopes of obtaining the secret of which Carlita told the captain dies with the capture of Black Robber.” ‘* But, Kitsie,” said Old Tom, “‘ all you’ve told us doesn’t explain your bein’ a Mescalero— Jaguar Head, the Chief—the Great! the Horri- ble! Waugh!” ‘** Thomas, you shouldn’t poke your proboscis too far into other people’s private affairs,” was Kit’s rejoinder, ‘or you might get it bloodied. The fact is, I helped two Mescaleros to recapture ‘bout forty hosses some Mexicans bad stolen from the ’Paches and war runnin’ over into Ole Mexico. There was one splendid black stud in the herd, and I thought it might be the hoss I wanted ’stead o’ Black Robber, so .I walked in and put the lead to every darned Mexican thief and helped the Mescaleros run their hosses back home, whar I was received with shoutin’ honors and upon my own request ’dopted into the tribe, and at oncedistinguished myself ina hoss-stealin’ excursion over into Mexico. “1 war.then named Jaguar Head and madea chief for war purposes, and I war glad when I got on my disguise o’ paint and feathers through fear some Desert Pirate’d recognize me, My first object in goin’ into the vicinity o’ the Ingin camp was to see if thar were any white gal-captive there that’d answer for ‘Dolly,’ but I found none, nor had there been any there,” ‘* Bet you what, Carlita Bond's story war alla hoax,” said Tom, ‘‘ created especially for your benefit, You’re a victim, Kitsie, and you'd better go ’long with us and I’ll put you in a re- treat for antiquities and safe keepin’. You're too old to be starrin’ ’round in New Mexico,” “*Too old? That’s good!” exclaimed Kit, sar- castically, “‘ bein’ts Tom Rattler is a young colt —a frisky, prancin’, yeeriin’ steer! Oh! give me repose! Tom, you're so wearisome: but ‘for a’ that and a’ that,’ I’m always glad to see your ugly oid—” ‘* Friends,” suddenly called out Ben Mead, from the top of the sink, ‘‘I believe there is a band of horsemen coming this way from the south,” ‘“* Look sharp, lads! look sharp!” cautioned Old Kit, “If it’s*Jacarilla’s cut-throats—not my warriors, understand—they may give you haydoogins of trouble,” Followed by Old Tom and Frank Warfield, Desert Dan bounded up out of the sink to where Ben stood, Old Kit remaining in the sink, not wishing to be seen there, a willing prisoner, True enough, up from the south came a score of horsemen that all were satisfied were outlaws, both red-skins and white, ‘* By the great Rosycrusians!” Old Tom ejacu- lated, ‘‘ it begins to look as though we war goin’ to have some lively times, boys. *‘If they are the followers of Jaguar Head,” said young Warfield, pointing to Old Kit, “I should suppose he could keep the bloodthirsty devils from pouncing onto us again.” ‘‘l believe it’s the gang that chased me up the canyon today,” declared Desert Dan, ‘“‘and if so— Ah! they have halted! We're discovered |” He had scarcely spoken when the flash of a gun was seen, and a bullet whistled overhead as ~~ report of the weapon rung out on the night. “Get into the blow-out, boys,” ordered Desert Dan, ‘‘ and I'll watch the varlets’ move- ments,” Ben and Frank joined Kit Bandy in the sink, while Old Tom remained with the Saddle Prince to watch the foe. In a few minutes a single person was seen to ride out from the main y of horsemen to- ward the “ stranded” whites, Tom and Dan waited until he was about fifty ace’ from them, when Old Rattler stepped out nto A Sp view and demanded: ‘Who comes thar?” The horseman drew rein and at once re- sponded: ; ‘*T am Swift-Wing, the Apache scout.” te er ee ee “ e “= .*— e* - e> ec ¥ _—<— ee Oe ae? & > = “+--+ Lr eh Ns ee tees ev “ 5s Y ‘‘'You speak migkty good English for an Apache,” responded Tesert Dan; ‘‘sure you're not a fraud?” **T am a white Ingin,” came the answer, **and you know what that means,” ‘Well, what do you want, Swift-Wing?” Dan questioned. ‘* You have Jaguar Head a captive in your midst,” came the response, ‘* Well, what of it?’ Dan retorted. ‘*And you have Elack Robber, the wild stallion, in that sink,” ‘* And what of that?’ from Desert Dan, again, ** We demand that you release our chief, and that you send Black Rcbber with him, without delay.” ‘* You’re too modest,” shouted Old Rattler; ** don’t ye want ours kulps, too?’ ‘* We'll take them if pe refuse our demands for the release of our chief, and the possession of the horse,” Swift-Vi ing returned. ‘** Asfuras yer bicwsy ole chief’s concerned, we don’t care the prick o’a cactus what be- comes of him,” Old Rattier declared; ‘*‘ but as fur the hoss, you'll have to fight for him—you bet!’ ‘* Fight it is, then,” responded Swift-Wing, and turning bis horse te galloped ack to his waiting friends. CHAFTER XI, A MIDNIGHT? CONFLICT. ‘“‘ Boys,” exclaimed Old Rattler, “‘ by the Rosycrusians! we're in for it pow, and let every boy or for a lively scrap.” ‘* Tom,” said Ola Kit Bandy, approaching the veteran hunter, ‘‘ I think I’d better go out to them varmints, and, as Jaguar Head, convince them they’d better let you alone—tell ‘em there’s an epidemic lurkin’ in tbis sand-pit.” + ‘*But our surrenderin’ their chief, Kitsie, will be an admission of our weakness and fears, or so construed,” Rattler contended, ‘Thomas, trust me to arrange that,” re assured Bandy;‘‘if the varmints hav’n’t got onto my game, I'll scare ‘em outen attackin’ you here, It’s their beloved chief they want, but what bothers me is as to how they know Black Robber isin this scoop-out. They knew nothin’ o’ it when I left camp, and ‘less they war joined by the gaug that chased Desert"Dan - to-day, and that gang has kept a dead set on the boy up to this time, I can’t imagine how they obtained thie information they seem to have. But, boys, I’m goin’ right over there, and if my followers are there, you shall not be barmed a mite, Jaguar Head has spoken, Waugh!” Kit bid them good-by, and leaving the sink, ‘walked straight toward the assembled crowd, that was about two hundred yards away, plain- ly visible in the moonlight, , ) The little, dese: t-stranded party watched the old man until he was lost from view among the mar: uders, They heard shouts and exclama- tions from the gang as he joined them: but a few moments later they heard low, excited words that created uneasiness in Tom Rattler’s breast, Ten more minutes passed, when a single horseman was again seen to ride out from the assembled party toward the sink. Hecame to within thirty paces of tie quartet and called out: ** Say, over there: have you decided to turn over that black stallion to us? Seein’ you’ve give up Jaguar Head quietly, maybe you'll ork over the horse on the same terms, and save bloodshed?” ‘* Fetch on your blood if you want it shed!” retorted Desert Dan, putting on a bold iront, for both he and Tom had made up their minds wes the enemy was playing a big gume of uff. Without another word the horseman turned and went back to bis friends, and soon after- ard Rattler and his party discovered that the oe were in dead earnest, for, with a yell such as can only come from an Apache’s throat, the most of the band put their borses into a swift gallop and came thundering down upon the old bunter guide and his companions. ‘The devils are comin’, by the great Rosy- crusians!” Rattler exclaimed. ‘‘ Down into the pit, boys, and be ready to baste them in the prow! it’s victory or death! Kit Bandy has failed in his promise to keep them off, but fight fer yer altars an’ yer sires, an* bet yer life Old Kit will be around when the soup is U’ilin’.’ The four sprung down into their retreat and turned to meet the oncoming foe, Thev did not have long to wait. Old Ra ttler opened the ball by firing at the first head that comicbooks