Beadle's Dime Library No. 490: 'The Lone Hand in Texas' — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

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F e A all aL aa? he # ee iy * ~ a? _ iw 10 ' ity that the gang have spies in Pedroville, be- cause I have heard that is the way these fellows do business,” the Lone Hard replied. ‘‘ You appear to be pretty well acquainted with the habits of these outlaws,” Moreno ob- seryed, just a little bit sharply. ~ Wall tone of the other or the insinuation conveyed in the speech. ‘**T have lived a good while on the frontier though, and, of course, have heard more or less of the doings of these outlaw gangs; and this one particular band—these Red Glove Raiders of the Rio Grande, as they call themselves—I[ heard all about when I was in El Paso some three months ago. ‘““They had been operating pretty freely in that neighborhood, and at the time I came to El Paso, the Texan Rangers on our side of the river and the Mexican troops on the other had been after them, hot-foot. ** The band was said to be a big one then— some thirty men, and they showed fight. They whipped the Mexicans and they cleaned out the rangers in a couple of pitched battles, but suf- fered so severely in the encounters, that when the soldiers and rangers were reinforced the gang were forced to disband, and at the same time if was supposed that, as a band, taey would mever be heard of again, but it appears they have come up smiling. **The way they worked their game up there , no, not particularly,” the adventurer | answered, apparently not noticing. either the | vice, [am from the upper Red River district, and am making a littie trip down this way in the hope of striking some good speculation, as I am considerable of a speculator. “This gentleman”—and he laid his broad, muscular hand upon the shoulder of the Bos- tonian—‘‘ must answer for himself, for he isa stranger tome. [ met him on the trail from Buckner just about balf an hour before the time when you came along, and if we had not bap- pened to stop in the shelter of the pines by the spring to eat our lunch, we would not have been was to have spies in the various towns, who | posted them in regard to points which it would be worth their while to attack, and gave them able to interfere with the outlaws’ little game.” ‘*T am called Leonard Webster, and Iama clerk by occupation, and bear a letter of intro- duction from Jonathan Briggs, of ~ ,Or whom I formerly clerked, to Mose Oppenheim, the storekeeper here,” the Bostonian explained. ‘‘Gentlemen, I am -pleased to make your acquaintance,” the mayor said, and he shook marae in the most hearty manner with both of them. ‘*Of course you are aware that I am the mayor of this burg of Pedroville, and my name is Jack Hamilton, and both as mayor and private citizen [ bid you welcome to Pedro- ville, and I assure you I will do my best to make things agreeable while you stay with us,” The two made suitable reply, thanking him for his courtesy, and then the mayor introduced the others. ‘* This is our marshal, Ben Jackman,” Hamil- ton said, introducing that official, ‘‘and every- body that knows him says that he is the right man in the right place.” The marshal grinned and shook hands with timely warning too, when any attempt was | the two. made to attack them,” ‘“*Mr. Miguel Aldama, one of the good old ‘**Oh, but I don’t think it is likely that the Spanish stock,” continued the mayor with a outlaws can have any such arrangements as that wave of his hand toward that gentleman. in our town here!”? Moreno exclaimed. | ‘*Mr,. Aldama owns the biggest ranch that thar ** Ob, no, ’tain’t at all likely!” the marshal de- | is in this section, and has the prettiest gal for clared. ** It doesn’t seem to meas if the thing is proba- ible in this case,” the mayor remarked, ‘‘There are a few strangers in the town, but none of them appear to be the kind of men to be | a a that ever stepped foot on Texan soil! ‘* Well, I don’t know about that, Jack,” the old gentleman remarked with a smile of grati- fication, ‘I think your Cordelia would run my in league with such outlaws as these marauders,” , Mercedes a pretty close race.” -Aldama remarked with a wise look, ‘*That is so!” the mayor asserted. ‘** Sure as you’re born!” the marshal declared. **Of course you must take into consideration _ ‘the fact that these fellows play a mighty good game, and they are not fools enough to send a spy into a town whose appearance will cause him to be suspected,” the Lone Hand remarked. He saw that the tide was setting against him, ‘but, as long as he had begun, he resolved to ee his explanation. ‘** Then these fellows play the game of the old- time brigands, They never trouble a poor man, but always pitch upon the richest one they can find, and then, as they always pay in the most liberal manner for anything they want, they get all the poor class upon their side. They rob the rich to give to the poor, and by working the trick in this ingenious way, they fix it so that when the authorities get after them it is almost impossible to get any information in regard to them, for the people who profit by them will not reveal what they know. ‘*Of course I am not certain that the fellows have spies in the town, but if they are here, it is not likely that they can be easily spotted.” The words of the Lone Hand did not convince ‘the others, though they all agreed that it would a8 pee to keep the lynch matter as quiet as pos- sible. lt did not take long to arrange the details, and then the meeting came to an end. The agreement vas that the lynch party were to meet in an old corral, just in the rear of the jail, promptly at twelve o'clock that night. CHAPTER XII, | | ‘* That is a question which is not easily settled, for it is all a matter of taste; but I will go my pile that thar isn’t two gals in this State who can go ahead of them!” the mayor exclaimed with all a father’s pride. ‘*Mr. Maurice Moreao,” Hamilton continued, igosing the young man. ‘*Mr, Moreno is a limb of the law, who has settled down hyer in Pedroville to grow up with the country, and though he can’t boast of many clients, for thar isn’t, much business in his line as yet, it don’t matter, for he’s got the ducats, and can afford to wait.” The stranger shook hands with the rancher ia the lawyer and the introductions were com- eted. sat And now, gontlemen,” said the mayor, ‘‘ as you intend to stay for a while in Pedroville I hope you will take Up your quarters with me.” Oh, come now, Hamilton, I cannot allow that!” Aldama exclaimed, ‘‘ You forget that Tam deeply in the debt of these two gentle- men—I may almost be said to owe them my life and I cannot permit them to accept the hos- ogre of any man but myself. I claim the rst right to them.” ‘‘T was about to put in my claim,” Moreno remarked, *“‘but Mr. Aldama has taken the words out of my moutb. ‘Of course not being a married man with a ranch of my own, all I could offer would be what the hotel of my worthy host, Jacob Plun- kett affords, but at the Rio Grande Arms they would be well taken care of, and there is no mis- take in regard to that!” ‘* Really, gentlemea, you overwhelm me,” the Lone Hand replied. ‘*‘ And I trust you will not think I am discourteons if I refrain from | IT am on the ground, particularly as I came for er te esses see est et = SSS the express purpose,” Webster replied. **Oh, don’t try to discourage the gentleman, Hamilton,” Aldama remarked. ‘‘He and Op- penheim may get on verv well together, for you must remember that Mr. Webster is quite a different sort of man from the clerk that Oppen- heim has had.” ** Anyway, Mr. Webster, my house is open to ou at any time if you don’t get on with Oppen- 1eim. I presume from your appearance you are not used to ranch life.” ** You are right I cannot boast of any ex- perience in that line,” the young man replied. ‘‘That is a pity, for if you were I would be able to offer you a situation at good pay.” ** Ah, you can’t make a cow-puncher out of Mr. Webster: he ain’t built in that way!” the mayor remarked. ‘* Well, you really cannot judge from my a earance just now,” the Bostonian pat ig ‘for | have risen from a sick bed and am not like myself at all. Iam a fair rider, and do not doubt I could soon make myself at home ona ranch: but I will try Mr. Oppenheim—for a few weeks, if I can succeed in making any arrange- ment with him, and if I don’t like the work, just as soon as I recover my normal strength I will come to you.” ‘*- You will be heartily welcome!” Aldama ex- claimed, ‘*T fancy toa man like yourself, though, the life of a rancher would be exceedingly disagree- able,” Moreno remarked. ‘‘I tiied it once, and a very short time indeed satisfied me.” ‘*Oh, come own up, Moreno, you were too durned lazy!” the mayor exclaimed. ‘‘ Moreno has got the ducats, and so is not obliged to hustle round like a fellow who has his fortune to make, He would rather sit with his feet cocked up on a desk, with a cigarette between his teeth wait- ing for clients that never come than to sweat on the back of a bucking mustang.” There was a general laugh at this sally, in which the young man joined. “Well, I reckon you are about right,” he ad- mitted. ‘‘I do not believe I will ever take a orize for industry. In fact, I believe I was orn tired.” There was another laugh at this, in which the Lone Hand joined, but as he carefully surveyed the young lawyer, without apparently taking any particular notice of him, he noticed that, al- though he was not above the medium hight, yet was magnificently built, evidently possessed of more strength than commonly falls to the lot of men of his pounds and inches, the thought of a tlger immediately came into his mind. oreno was a tiger of a man, as far as strength, grace and quickness were concerned, He might be of an indolent nature, but there was nothing about the man to suggest the fact, and the Lone Hand—an excellent judge of his feilow-men—did not believe the statement. ‘‘ Well, gentlemen, I am sorry that you can- not accept our hospitality,” the mayor remarked, in his frank and jovial way. ‘‘ But don’t forget that while you are in town the latch-string is always out and you are heartily welcome at any time.” The two pards made a suitable reply and then a sudden thought seemed to occur to Moreno. ; ‘‘T suppose, Mr. Webster, you will go to the hotel and secure accommodations before calling on Mr. Oppenheim?” he said, The Bostonian had just opened his mouth to say that he shonld call upon the storekeeper first, as he was more anxious to secure a place than to see about the hotel, when the Lone Hand broke in with: ‘Oh, yes, he is going with me!” Webster had sense enough not to dispute this statement, for he guessed that his pard had some good reason for making it. | “Yes, Il am going with this gentlemen,” he a Se, Se ie ME. Om ~~ ee P — ns sees A CORDIAL INVITATION. accepting any of your kind offers. I fully ap- | said. ‘WHEN the consultation ended and the door | preciate them, I assure you, but for a man of “So I i an and [ was going to say that , ‘was opened, the crowd without, who had waited | the world, knocking around in search of oppor- | I would call upon Mr, Oppenheim,” Moreno re- ft . patiently for the end of the conference, came | tunities for speculation, as I expect to do while | marked. a _ @gagerly forward to learn what had been decided | I sojourn in Pedroville, the hotel would answer “The old Jew gets a good deal of trade out of | . wpon. : my purpose much better than a private resi- | me, although Iam nota family man, but I buy == “We did not do much of anything, fellow- | dence.” all my cigars, tobacco and liquor there and he rt citizens,” the mayor explained. ‘You can come and go from my house just | has always professed to be a friend of mine, and 2% ‘« Y calculate to have the copper-colored scoun- | as free as the wind!” the mayor declared. | maybe a few words from me in regard to you mn 2 drel brought before me to-morrow, and you are | ‘* But I reckon I ain’t really got any call for to | will not do any harm,” * ‘Pinger 4 -. all invited to be present at the examination. try and take you away from Aldama byer, for ‘‘ Certainly not! and I shall feel he if you : H _.__** Maybe I can scare the rascal into a confes- | he most certainly has got a better claim to you | will take the trouble,” Webster replied. HE. 4 gion, although I am rather afraid that it can’t | than anybody else.” ‘Oh, no trouble at all, and, as for an obliga- + | “ be did, for he seems to be a mighty hard case,” ‘‘T shall be proud and happy to entertain both | tion, the boot is on the other Po € hs This announcement satisfied the crowd, and it | of you gentlemen,” Aldama observed. ‘‘ But, of With this the party separated, the mayor and ‘ ; _ began to slowly disperse, course, gentlemen, I understand that in such a | Aldama to their homes, Moreno to visit the Jew te e-3 ¢ : en a sudden idea occurred to the mayor. matter the man himself can judge best, but the | storekeeper, while the Lone Hand and Webster i: = ** Now I come to think of it, Mr. Aldama, you | invitation is freely tendered.’ roceeded to the hotel, which was only a few : have never introduced me to these two gentle- ‘‘T fear that like Mr, Hand here I shall have | hunared yards away. mre? men,” he said, nodding to the Lone Hand and | to decline,” the Bostonian remarked, ‘* although es ie : the Bostonian. feeling highly flattered by the kind offer, but if CHAPTER XIII. rae a % ‘That is true, and strange as it may ap-| I strike a bargain with Mr. Oppenheim, which A MYSTERY. 0 es pear, I do not know the names of these two gen- | is probable, I sball, 1 presume, commence my Wo words passed between the Lone Hand and Al Gee _ tlemen who came so timely to the rescue of my- | duties at once.” Webster until they were well out of earshot of Hew self and Mr, Moreno.” . ‘* You'll find old Moses a tough customer,” | their late companions, and then the Lone Hand ~ S "ue ‘Tt is rather odd,” the Lone Hand remarked | tke mayor remarked, with a shake of the head. | after glancing around to be certain that there Te : with a smile, ‘‘ but we have been vo busy from | “If I were you I would try for some other job, | was not any one near enough to hear bis words, | x our first meeting that we have neglected this | for the old skinflint wil! try to get you for noth- : Seyi) ae _ . dittle formality. ing and then work you to death afterward.” ‘Well, partner, I reckon you are going to — ei pir | Well, I suppose I will have to try it now get your clerkship with the Jew all right.” os i aan _ . “My name is hand—L. Hand, at your ser- ks. Eboo . > a * - © ie < hy ae , (E(0) ds