Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 154 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 —and now it has! Carmela Felix, you were the cause of my being treated thus, and you shall pay the first installment of the black debt!” With indescribable fury these sentences were uttered, and the ruffian ceased only when the lack of breath forced him. : It was a dark and sr gate leaf of the past which was thus recalled, and one that could hardly have happened in any ‘than Mexico, at least on this continent, Black Lopez, three years before, was ac- counted one of, if not the very best vaquero on the Felix estate. His one great fault was an inordinate love of strong drink, which grew stronger as he grew older. One day, while in- toxicated, Carmela, then but a child, chanced to encounter him some little distance from the house. Really meaning no harm, Lopez caught her up in his arms and repeatedly kissed her. She .was frightened and screaming, struggled so desperately that she slipped from his uncer- tain grasp and fell to the ground. She received some bruises, but fear prevented her from feel- ing them, and still shrieking for help, she fled for the rancho. Black Lopez was partially sobered by the accident, and in his desire to re- assure the child, he hastened after her, shout- ing for her to stop, just as Don Felix and a number of his friends rushed forth from the building, alarmed by the shrieks. At first glance the case looked black enough for Lopez, and he was at omee seized. In vain he tried to explain. He was judged before a word was me en, and the wine-excited ran- cheroes lost little time in executing the bar- barous sentence. The lash was applied until the drunkard’s back dripped blood. The knife of the butcher shaved off both ears, and then horses and hounds were brought to hunt the wretched criminal to death. But, maddened by pain and a sense of his horrible doom, Black pez tore the knife from the executioner’s hand, buried it to the hilt in the heart of the nearest ranchero, leaped into the saddle of the dead man’s horse, and rode away at top speed, knowing that capture meant death. It so chanced that the horse he appropriated was the fastest one of the lot, and finally Black Lopez succeeded in making his escape. And until this day, Carmela had never since heard of the man who had suffered so terribly through her fear. Stunned, her very brain benumbed by what she had undergone during the past two days, Carmela could only shrink away from that hideous face. Black Lopez saw the motion, and a hard laugh was his only comment. He saw that she was comparatively helpless, and again leaped upon the rock, peering through the vines that depended from a scrubby bush, eager to learn what the dare-devil rider was doing. He saw Joaquin Murieta dragging aside the body of the horse ridden by Carmela, then saw him hastily scanning the ground around the carcass, ‘* He is no fool—so much the worse for him!” muttered the outlaw, his bleared eyes glowing. ‘‘ Ha! he suspects the truth—he is taking the back trail—now for it!” Breathlessly he watched, and a curse grated betwixt his teeth as he saw the rough-rider strike the trail that led to the hill. ‘*T’"d rather have him for a friend than a foe! He may smell mischief—curse the dogs! why don’t they lie closer?” he growled, for the mo- ment forgetting that his elevated position enabled him to see much more of the ambush than was possible from the same level with it. ** She must know who he is— Ha!” as a sudden thought struck him. ‘‘He was after her—he risked his neck a dozen times over in his haste to rescue her from those four—he must love her intensely. One glimpse of her now would make him blind to all else—ha! ha! she shall be my decoy duck, to lure her lover to death!” t was a diabolically cunning scheme, and laughing maliciously, Black Lopez leaped down from the rock to put it into execution. Grasp- ing Carmela, he lifted her to the top of the rock, then followed after. Holding her so that he himself was invisible to any one below, he pointed out the young Sonorian and de- manded if she knew him. The eyes of true love are very keen, and a wild cry burst from Carmela’s lips as she recog- nized her lover. Her arms were outstretched toward him. She forgot al! else—forgot that danger must surely lurk in his path. Black Lopez laughed malignantly as he saw Joaquin look in that direction, for he knew that, his cunning scheme was a success, He saw that the maiden was recognized—saw Joa- quin leap upon his horse and dash furiously to- ward the hill. No fear of his suspecting an ambush now. He had eyes, thoughts only for his loved one, whose outstretched arms called to him even louder than her voice. ‘See! and his voice sounded more like that of a devil than aught human. ‘“ Your lover is riding straight into the snare, and yow are the lure! Look again. Do you see my men yon- der in ambush on both sides of the trail he must follow? I stationed them there, and bade them care for all who creme, to take them, dead er alive. If he is slain, you are the cause of Joaquin, the Saddle King. other country ’ — = ———— his death. If captured alive, then he shall suf- fer all the tortures your accursed father in- flicted upon me—you shall stand by and wit- ness his bitter agonies, and that will be my first blow for revenge. After—bah!” and he laughed malignantly as the poor girl, realizing now the fearful mistake she had committed as she saw the armed men in ambush awaiting the coming of her lover, frantically motioned Joaquin to turn and flee, c-ying out a warning that was wendered inarticulate by her deep anxiety. ‘‘ As wel! try to choke off the fam- ished jaguar when it has tasted blood, as to think of checking him, now that he has caught sight of you! Jtis almost a pity—for he isa brave fellow—but you love him, and through him [ can punish you most deeply.” Again Carmela shrieked forth a warning, and fearing lest her words should be understood, now that the mad rider was. drawing near Black Lopez forcibly dragged her down behin the leafy screen, holding her prostrate with one hand while he eagerly peered down upon the level. And then, as Joaquin was hurled neoe ne from his horse, he laughed like a de- mon CHAPTER XXIV. A MAN OF BUSINESS. No sooner did Black Lopez witness the down- fall of the dare-devil rough-rider than he rose erect on the vine-wreathed rock and uttered a clear, far-reachi:g whistle. lt attracted the attention of his fellows, and he bade them, by motions, bring their prisoner up tke bill. Satisfied that he was understood, the outlaw descended from his perch, and raising Carmela in his powerful arms, bore her rapidly away. Only for a See eaoma gape short distance, how- ever, for a level sort of plateau was reached, surrounded by a wall of stone and thorny bushes. Here and there were scattered rude buts of brush and grass wattled together. Beside one of these little huts Black Lopez aused and lowered the maiden to the ground. ith the contents of a leather liquor-bottle, he began bathing her face, as though eager to re- store her consciousness, but ceased as several of his men entered upon the scene, bearing the soiled and blood-stained form of the Young So- norian between them. He motioned them to lower the nerveless body, then bent over it and curiously scanned each feature, as though seek- ing to recognize some one whom he had known in the past. ‘“The face is a strange one to me,” he mut- tered, then adding, as he turned to bis fellows: ‘‘ Have none of you met him before? Can you tell his name, or what he is?’ Simultaneously the men shook their heads. They could give their chief no information con- cerning the rough rider. ‘“‘ Afterall, it don’t matter much. to her, and I havesworn vengeance— Ha! you here yet?” he exclaimed, in a louder tone, as he no the curious glances with which his men were regarding the insensible maiden. “ Awaiting your further orders, captain,” re- spectfully replied one of the men, a tall, fine- looking fellow. ‘Return to where you captured this fellow. There are more riders beyond, and they may incline to make us trouble. Send out one or two scouts to learn who and what they are. Tell Cagatinta to on no account allow any one to reach the hill, but not to open fire until he is sure they are our enemies. Go—lively!” | Black Lopez was clearly a bit of a martinet after his own fashion, for the men obeyed with- out a word or the slightest hesitation, hastening back the way they had come, Scarcely had they disappeared when the oung Sonorian began to show signs of return. ing consciousness, and Black Lopez quickly re- moved the weapons from the person of his cap- tive, then dexterously bound his hands and feet. Rapidly as this was performed, there was scant time to , for Joaquin made a desper- ate effort to arise, all his powers of both mind and body seeming to return instantaneously. ‘‘Do not be impatient, my dear sir,” uttered Black Lopez, with a mocking laugh. ‘ You have already taken too much severe exercise for the good of your health, and as your physi- cian, I have taken measures to insure your quiet obedience.” Joaquin glared at him fiercely, but then Car- mela uttered a low, gasping cry, throwing ber- self beside her lover and tearing frantically at his bonds, Swiftly the outlaw’s muscular arm shot around her waist and drew her forcibly away, while he laughed in grim derision alike He is dear’ at her futile struggles and the desperate efforts | which Joaquin made to burst his bonds. ‘Release that Jady, scoundrel, or Pll tear you limb from limb!” snarled the young Sonorian. ‘“‘ Will you not grant me time tosay my pray- ers before you annihilate me, Senor Don Furi oso?” grinned the outlaw. ‘Bah! silly boy— the powers of life or death lie in my hands, not yours. From the moment of your first crossing my path, you were doomed!” ’ ‘*Spare him—have mercy on him, and do what you will with me!” gasped Carmela, scarce realizing what she said, but Joaquin turned pale as death as he saw what a satanic expression - Sanchez. ales over the brutal countenance of the out- aw. ‘“No more, Carmela—plead not with that demon, Let him work his will upon me—but may the fiercest flames of hell blast him forever if he dares to harm one bair of your head!” Black Lopez laughed mockingly. He could afford to bear hard words while the game was so wholly in his own bands, when the vengeance over which he had so long dreamed was almost as good as acccmplished. “You two are lovers, if I mistake not,’ 16 said, his barsh voice softening, but with a ma- lignant fire in his eyes that gave the lie to his tones. ‘‘ You, I know, ere the Senorita Car- mela, daughter of Don Carillo Felix; but he— what and who is he?” “A man, as I will force you to admit, if you dare cut these bonds and set me at liberty. You may keep your weepcons—l ask onrly the use of my bare hands—” ‘Your death will come soon enough, foolish boy, never fear,” laughed Black Lopez, but as he was really a bold, reckless man himself, be could appreciate the same qualities in another, and there was something ot admiration in tke look with which he regarded the young Sonc- an. At this moment one of his men hurriedly approached. “Senor Capitan, an armed force has mace its appearance, and their leader has advanced with a flag of truce, requesting the honor of a personal interview with you.” ‘“Who and what is he?’ sharply demanded Black Lopez. ; ‘* An old acquaintance of yours, capitan, and if I mistake not, one who dabbles a little in cur own line. He gave his name as Sanchez, the one-eyed—”’ ‘‘ Ha! old Sanchez—and he demands an intrr- view with me. Well, escort bim hithe:—iut blindfold him first.” As the messenger departed, Black Lopez removed tbe long crape scarf from about his waist and with it bound Carmela’s arms to her side, paying no attention to the violent threats which Joaquin showered upon his head, then turned away toward the entrance to the little plateau. He was not kept long in waiting. One-eyed Sanchez, looking something the worse for his headlong plunge from the saddle into the thorn- bush, was led in blindfolded. Black Lopez made a signal, and the bandage was removed from the one serpent-like eye of the ruffian. ‘‘So!” exclaimed the outlaw, ‘‘ the devil Las not yet claimed his own!” ‘As you say—and Iam grarioy of to orce more meet my old friend in the flesh,” retor.ed Sanchez, with a low bow. Black Lopez laughed, nowise offended by the cool manner in which the adroit old rascal turned the left-handed compliment. ‘‘No doubt he hasa lien upon us both; but this is not business. You did not come here only to pass compliments?” ‘“No, but to claim runaway property,” and the keen eye wandered toward Carmela, who was now kneeling beside Joaquin. “You mean the girl?” and the face of Black Lopez darkened, | ‘Yes; she killed one of my men and made her escape this morning. We followed in hot haste—” ‘* But failed to overtake her, and J took her captive. Finders keepers isa wise old: maxim, Sanchez.” ‘*When it can be followed without losing one’s own life, Lopez—not unless,” was the ointed retort, but the outlaw only laughed arshly as he added: “Your force is hardly large enongn to justify threats, old comrade. You are within reach of my arm, and a single word from me would con- vert your gang down yonder into wolf and buzzard bait.” t ‘¢ All that may be true,” coolly replied San- chez, ‘‘ but there are more where I came from, and once let Don Manuel Camplido strike your trail, our death would not long go unavenged. Come, we are both men of the world. Let me tell you just how the case stands, and then you can answer.” In as few words as possible, the one-eyed rascal gave a clear synopsis of the rather complicated case, though of course he was still in ignorance of what had befallen Don Manuel Camplido, nor could he explain how Joaquin Murieta happened to come upon the scene. ‘Now you have a bird’s-eye view of the whole case,” he added, speaking with an assump- tion of confidence which he was really far from feeling, knowing Black Lopez so well. ‘‘ You must see that our claim is the best—” “You lost them—I found them,” doggedly uttered the outlaw. ‘‘Only for me, you would never have laid eyes on them again, unless when they came to witness your death by the gar- rote!” ‘‘ What do you intend doing, then?” ; ‘ First, to send word to Don Carillo Felix—” “I'd hate to be your messenger,” grinne} ‘*T tell you that the old man is (24 and scalped!” ‘“‘Then to Don Luis, or whoever may }.av. Eomichoo a y = sed yl _@ ’