Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

+ en eo Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. _ - had passed eight years in that wild and dashing life. As a bareback rider, he had few superiors, and his really wonderful gifts and acquirements had been seen and admired in every large city in the East, Finally, the gold-fever seized him, he jour- neved to California, bad enough of mining after a three-days’ trial, joined a small Californian shew, and then— It was notso much because they hoped to coin a great deal of money ia Mount Tabor, as that the circus-manager had once known Judge Edwards Austio, that they came to the foothills town; but it was the first step in his great ven- ture when the bareback rider, because of bis skill, was invited to visit the judge in company with the manager, le went, he saw the mound, and from that day the desire to open it grew apace, until it ‘became a passion, and he had deserted the arena to accomplish his end. Lying under the tree, he remained in deep thouzht for half an hour aud then arose ab- ruptly. ‘ I don’t feel like going to bed, so I reckon T’ll take a stroll around the judge’s quarters. Maybe Vil get a look at the fair Viola, and then, maybe, the big dog will come out and use my flesh as an instrument for extracting his teeth.” He Jaughed in his careless way and sauntered ’ down the hill toward the highway, He was about to step threugh the bushes which fringed the track, but a glance in that direction was enough to bring him to an abrupt halt, - On the opposite side of the road, half con- cealed by the bushes, was a horse and his rider. , There was nothing In this fact worth comment, but it was the appearance o of the rider, taken in at one sweeping glance, which | had caused the leader of the Triad to halt so suddenly. The darkness was not so intense but what he could see a man clad all in black, or some dark color, with a serape over his shoulders and an immense sombrero on his head, and it was this latter article which had so deeply impressed Wilder, ‘* Pll bet my boots it is Don Sombrero!” he thought. ‘* Pablo said the fellow wore a big ‘hat, and that would make a mighty fine tent for the N, E, and C, Circus, Js it he? If he is ‘an honest man, I don’t see why he should pull his topsails down over his nose so much, and— Ha! I believe he has a mask, too!” The spy peered sharply through his cover, ‘but, unable to decide on the latter point, re- solved to watch the unknown for a while. At the best, his course in hiding in the bushes looked suspicious, and Wilder began to have strong suspicions that he was awaiting to rob s0me one, , ‘* This is the highway of the gold-diggers,” he argued, ‘‘ and, if this is Don Sombrero, I reckon he to he will be able to scoop in a few nugge Several minutes passed. Wilder remained motionless and so did his neighbor. The ouly sound about the place was made by the occa- sional stamping of the black horse across the way. The Triad chief, in the meanwhile, had been trying to settle one question in his mind. If the unknown proved to be Don Sombrero, and any one should walk into his net, ought he, Wilder, to interfere? “If it should be a female,” was the ultima- tum, *‘I reckon I will; otherwise, let them fight it out.” Suddenly the sound of singing from up the road reached his ears, and, at the same moment the black rider showed sudden signs of life. _ “His quarry is coming! I'll see how he does it, for I may want to play the road-agent, my- self, some day.” The singer came nearer until his words were lainly heard, but they were as uncouth as was is time and tune. Plainly, Wilder was not to have the chance to. pity the knight-errant toa lady fair and imperiled. ‘Two miners on mustangs,” muttered the Triad chief, as he caught sight of the new- comers. ‘Now, for music!” They advanced unhesitatingly, but when nearly abreast the strange rider, that worthy suddenly emerged from the cover of the bushes, = Halt!” he laconically said. They did halt, and that, too, abruptly, and, as they forced their mustangs back on their hauuches, they looked and saw a horseman of formidable sizo berring their way, while, in each hand, be held a gleaming revolver, the muzz'es of which were covering their breasts. ‘*Hands above your heads!” continued the rider, sharply. One of the two promptly obeved, but the second began toslvly move his hand toward bis own weapon. He knew a quick movement to gain it would cost him dearly, since the stranger had the drop on him, but a little sleight of-hand work might turn the table. “Durn my cats! pard—” he meekly began, tnt the keen, cutting voice stopped him, a T — —— “Stop! Try to finger that revolver and you are adead man. Once more, and for the last time, hands above your head.’ The miner’s hands went up like a flash. He read the unknown’s mettle and did not care to try conclusions with him. ‘“‘That’s better,” commented the master of ceremonies, ‘ Only, mind you, you must keep them there until I give you leave todrop, If you disobey me, out go your brains,” ‘* 'W hat in tophet are you tryin’ ter do?” was the angry inquiry. “You'll see, directly, Dick Meeker. Or, per- haps you can guess when [introduce myself. I am Don Sombrero, at your service!” A simultaneous exclamation fell from the lips of the two men, and in a form rather too profane for repetition. Evidently, they had heard of Don Sombrero before and were not pleased to meet him. “IT see you know me,” continued the road- agent, politely, *‘so I need not waste any words. You know my business and I know yours. You have, at the present time, a quan- tity of gold-dust in your pockets which you propose to risk at the gaming table in the vil- lage. You are sure to lose it if you go there, so it will be no worse to give it tome. Fork over, gents, and thereby oblige Don Sombrero, who never forgets a loan.” ‘*T haven’t an ounce of the dust,” declared Meeker, who knew better than to think of re- sistance, ‘*Bah! Don’t lie, my good man, for if you hadn’t the dust I shouldn’t ask for it, I never make mistakes, Now, since you are so quiet and lamb-like in your way, I'll advance and go through you. In the meanwhile, keep your hands above your heads.” ‘‘T haven’t an ounce—” “That7ll do, Richard. We will call it you pam, and T’ll make the trump forty-one cali- rs.” The road agent moved forward, and Horace Wilder drew a long breath, . ‘* May I be shot if He ain’t the coolest chap I ever saw. He beats the tiger-tamer of the circus ajJl to pieces. Reckon L don’t want any finger in his pie,” The miners were in a fury, but, though they were two to one, they dared not resist. In cases of the kind, where men know the power of a revolver, the victory is usually with the man who gets the first nove in the game, ‘“Tll take your weapons first of all,” con- tinued Don Sombrero; ‘‘ but, as I am not in need of such trinkets, you shall have them back before I bid you good-by.” ‘You dare not give me achance to use them,” the miner savagely said. ‘Why should I? I could gain nothing by so doing, and I might lose a good deal.” While speaking he had deftly removed their revolvers and knives from their belts, and then they were wholly at his merey. ‘The dust of which I have spoken is in a canvas bag which you bave placed in an iaside pocket. 1 will now appropriate that,” ‘*Look here,” said Meeker, almost choking with rage, ‘‘ you had better draw off. You won’t find me like your former victims, and if “or persist in this business I'l] hev your life fur ‘‘That is a matter for future consideration,” was the even reply. ‘‘ We won't speak of it now. I will trouble you for the dust.” The road-agent’s hand glided inside. Meeker’s coat and the canvas bag came to light, while the luckless miner glared his impotent rage. “Tf you will look on the big rock yonder, five minutes hence, you will find your weapons un- barmed. I am sorry to have troubled you for this loan, but as it is only a loan I will pay you back some day. Don’t worry about the interest on it, gentlemen. Good-day.” And then Don Sonibrero rode slowly awa until the rock he had mentioned was reached, meg for a moment, glanced back at his vic- ims, who had not stirred, and then put spurs to his horse and dashed away. CHAPTER VIL. THE AMERICAN CAVALIER. Mount Tapor, at the time of which we write, was chiefly noted as being the gatewa for the gold dug in the foothills to the . There had been a time when it was the only industry of the neighborhood, but, among the people the mines naturally drew there, were some shrewd enough to see that the broad acres to the west of the mountain would make ex- cellent grazing and agricultural lands, and set- tlers were beginning to be quite numerous. Two years had passed since Judge Edwards Austin settled on a choice location, and, during that time, he had made rapid strides in a pe- cuniary way and built up a tremendous local reputation. e had been offered several important offices by his townspeople, who felt a species of awe for the man who had been a judge in Missis- sippi only a few years before, but he had de- clined all such honors and was so determined in his resolution to be merely a private citizen that he would not even give his opinion on law points, = Ee eee 2 ss) | 5 ' + The other mombers of his famil sister, Octavia, and his daughters, Viola. To avoid a possible false impression, let us say, right here, that Miss Octavia was no super- annuated maiden lady—sbe had not,at the time of our story, reached her thirtieth year, but she had fine executive abilities and was some- thing of a mother to Laura and Viola, who were respectively twenty and eighteen years of age. he three ladies, born and bred in Mississippi had at times found life rather dull aroun Mount Tabor, and though usually contented with their lot, they were thrown into a femi- nine flutter of excitement when it was known that a stranger, ae , handsome and single, had purchased a lot of land directly south of their own ranch. A house went up es though by magic, but, though the sisters, who were very fond of rid- ing, often rode past when the men were at work, the new owner had not appeared to their vision until the building was finished and fur- nished. Then came the occupants—the proprietor and three servants—and the ladies had obtained distant views of the former, whereat they pro- nounced him a prince of men, but his business was not yet settled in other localities and none of the Austins had had the pleasure of speaking with him up to the time when we open our story. Bus, during the month since he had started the first fire in the new house, they had learned that his name was Theodore Rivers, and, to that romantic one, they had added a sobriquet + superior romance—‘‘the American Cava- ier, Not that they knew him to be an American, but he looked it, and they called him thus to distinguish him from the gaudily-dressed but, to them, disagreeable Mexicans, who had en- deavored at odd times to captivate the wealthy judge s daughters by a blaze of glory produced y sombrero, serape and velveteen calzoneras. AJ] this does not prove that the three young ladies had fallen desperately in love with Mr. Rivers, for the fair minded male reader knows that these feminine flutters are usually all smoke, were his ura and On the MOT ANg. Anton the events of the pre- - mounted a fine toward the mountains. He was as fine-loo ing man. as ever trod the soil of Mount Tabor. Slightly above the aver- age hight, with a compact, well-rounded form, brown hair, mustache and eyes, a smooth, well- roportioned face and upright carriage—he ooked handsome enough to strike the fancy of any maiden, romantic or otherwise, as he rode away on the clean-limbed pey- He rode straight toward the Western Rome ceding chapter, Rivers ay horse, and rode awa mine, and it was not long before he was among . the cabins the men had erected for their occu- ancy. . It was Rivers’s first visit to the place, and not knowing how to proceed to find the man he had come to visit, he rode toward the only person who was visible. This was a man of large frame, who was seated on a bowlder cleaning a revolver, but he was Considerably past his prime and the stoop in his shoulders was in keeping with the gray- ness of his long hair and beard, He had rather a benevolent look, moreover,’ and Rivers felt that he would receive the infor- mation he wanted. ‘* How do you do, sir?’ he pleasantly said. “Can you direct me to the office of Mr, Win- ship?” bere was a pair of keen eyes behind the shaggy brows of the ol | man, and he seemed inclined to ‘‘ size” the visitor as much as possi- ble while he had time. “I reckon et I kin,” he answered, in a slightly hoarse voice. ‘‘He don’t keep ther place no secret, an’ Iam one o’ the galoots thet walks up ter ther pay-desk ev’ry v eek.” ea | suppose you are a veteran miner?” ** Vet’ran? rd love ye, yes. Thet is, ef forty y’ar will make a man thet. I’ve swung ther pick ever sence I war fifteen year old, an I’ve be’n in Californy sence ’49., es, sir, ’ma ’Forty-niner.” " The speaker arose, placed his arms akimbo and stared at the visitor as though to impress him with a full sense of his Cignity “Those were big days, am told,” said Rivers, who could not fail to see that his com- en had only to be humored to be extremely ocue. ‘Big? Why, stranger, that don’t begin ter — express it. We see’d times then— But, look hyar, I’m a-keeping you from ther boss, an’ ve got work ter do myself. Some other time, mebbe, I'll give ye a synopsis 0’ what them days was. Ef you see me ag’in, call me Joe Pike. That’s pte I got ‘cause I struck Pike’s Peak es gon as any on’em. My proper name is Smith. D'ye mind ther shanty up thar with a red flag at ther door?” : ‘¢ Ves,” Rivers answered, " ‘Bt don’t mean small-pox, but thar is whar you kin find Mr. Winship. Good-day.” Rivers returned the adieu and rode on. ‘Pll remember the name, for I have a de. . 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