Beadle's Dime Library No. 490: 'The Lone Hand in Texas' — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 a-dozen houses, rude cabins all of them, scat- tered along the road. : The town of Pedroville and the country adjacent to it along the bank of the Rio Grande could not boast of many trees, and the few that grew in this tract were small. There had been some good-sized timber in the neighborhood, but the settlers had cut it down for the purpose of building their cabins, Down the road though in front of the third cabin on the right hand—on the same side as the calaboose—was a fair-sized oak which had been struck by lightning and killed. Nearly all the top was gone, but some ten feet from the ground a withered branch, about as big round as a man’s arm, projected. “That will be the tree,” the Lone Hand re- marked as he called Webster’s attention to it. 2 **Tt will surely be selected for it is the only -_ one in the neighborhood that will do.” - And then the keen-eyed adventurer pointed out to his companion that the nearest cabin on the other side of the street was a deserted, tum- ble-down affair, and around it a regular jungle of shrubbery had grown up. “That is the very spot to serve the outlaws for an ambush,” he said. ‘‘Covered by that shrubbery they will be able to approach within a couple of hundred yards of the lynchers before the latter will have any suspicion of their pres- ‘ence. Then a bold dash, accompanied witb plenty of pistol-shots will stampede the lynchers and send them howling into the town as though the very devil was after them.” **Oh, yes, the game can be worked easily enough.” ‘Yet if I should explain to the mayor and marshal as I have tc you, the chances are big that I could not get them to believe the trick could be done. But by explaining I should spoil the picnic, for the Red Glove Raiders have plen- ty of spies in the town I am convinced, and if they knew their game was suspected they would not play it that way but try some other dodge, so you see we will be forced to play our game _ without assistance.” ‘* A couple of lone hands, eh?” “ Yes, that is about the idea, and this cabin __ here will answer our purpose fully if we get into it to-night without exciting suspicion.” * Suppose we go for a drink of water and so have a talk with the occupant?” ‘That will do, first rate!” And odd old fellow—a regular southwesterner _ —kept bachelor’s hall in the cabin, and when the pair passed around to the rear so as to get atthe well, they noticed that the rear wall of the building displayed a liberal assortment of skins _ placed there to dry. Reference to these skins developed the fact that the old man was a hunter by profession, and ashe boasted, made a good living by his skill mm that line. Every night he spent in the woods and rarely returned until the gray light of the morn began _ to line the eastern skies. This left the coast clear for the pair to occupy the cabin, as the Lone Hand remarked to his pompanion as they retraced their steps to the _-—_ a Ne « -— otel. ** So when the Red Glove Raiders spring their little surprise-party on the citizens to-night, we will be able to astonish them fully as much as - they will astonish the citizens,” the Lone Hand _ remarked with a deal of satisfaction. -» ‘The outlaws will owe you a heavy debt be- fore vm get through,” Webster remarked. Tf fT succeed in my designs, I will destroy the - outlaw band root and branch!” the other replied jn a tone of firm determination. ™*'* They will have cause then to regret the day when you struck in upon their trail.’ T shall try my best to convey that impres- sion to them,” the Lone Hand remarked in his quiet he ~~ When the hotel was reached, Webster arrang- ed with the landlord in regard to his board, and - then taking leave of his companion, set out for _ ‘the store of the old Jew. _ The Lone Hand sat down in the office, which ‘was both office and bar-room combined, as is - commonly the case in all the taverns along the es Grande, took up a newspaper and began to rae. Pe As he had expected, the Jandlord soon came _ over and took a seat by his side. _ ** How do you like this section?” he asked. “Well, I have hardly been here long enough to be qualified to pass an opinion.” _ “Tt is a nice country for business; I sup Rp ere looking fora chance to get an open- ¥ ng. 4 _ “Tn the ranca line?” *“T have run a raach.” ‘*The ranchers are all doing very well down this way now. Old Aldama, the man you res- _ cued from the outlaws, you know, is worth nigh onto a million I reckon, although he had a big pile of money left him by hic»father, who was one of the old-fashion Spanish Dons, still he has - mac paheep of money out of his ranch, then the me Jack Hamilton, is well fixed, and the ‘shal ain't badly off. If you understand a ‘millions in the business,” as ct eee eee ee _s,; ct lt A life and can get a good location, there’s | : F.« he @ ¢ * a . ™ ‘Yes, but [am afraid that it requires more capital than I am able to command at present.” ‘Oh, I see,” and the landlord hitched his chair up a little closer to his guest, looked.around him in a mysterious way, and then remarked, sink- ing his voice to a low and guarded tone: ‘I know a speculation that thar’s a heap of money in, but a man will have to take big risks.” * Well, that would not frighten me—what is og) ‘* These outlaws!” ‘'Yes?” ‘‘Thar’s big money offered for their capture both in Mexico and in this State. I used to live in El Paso and know all about them, There is about a thousand apiece offered for the men perce. Si five thousand for the captain of the band.’ ** Who is be?” ‘* Ab, that is what nobody knows; but thar’s big money for the man who gets them, alive or dead,” “« Well, [ think.there is a little bit too much risk in that speculation,” the Lone Hand replied, with a laugh. ‘‘I got the best of the gang once, but I reckon they will never let me get the drop on them again. No, I want money, but I ain’t hankering to get it that way.” Then the eyes of Lone Hand fell upon the figure of a well-dressed, beautiful girl coming up the street. ** Hello! she is a beauty!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Mercedes Aldama,” the landlord replied. CHAPTER XVIII. THE BELLES OF PEDROVILLE. ‘Any relation to the old gentleman?’ tho Lone Hand asked. ‘* Yes, this girl is his daughter.” ‘‘ Ah, now I look at her closely, I think I can detect a resemblance, She is decidedly a hand- some girl. I presume she is the belle of the town.” ‘*Some people think so, but I prefer Mayor Hamilton’s daughter.” ‘*Ts the mayor also favored with a beautiful child?” _ * Yes, his daughter, Cordelia, is to my think- ing, the handsomer girl of the two; but then, that is all a matter of taste, you know. Shbeisa blonde, while this other is a brunette, and I pre- fer light girls to dark.” . ‘‘ A great many people do; as you say, itisa mere matter of opinion. I suppose the two young iadies are rivals.” ‘Oh, no, on the contrary they are the nearest and dearest friends, and one is seldom seen on the street without the other. I reckon Miss Mercedes is on her way to the mayor’s house now. The girl passed, and then the landlord turned the conversation into other channels, ~ In the most dextrous manner possible he en- deavored to lead the Lone Hand into talking about himself, where he had been, what he had done, etc., but the Arkansian was on his guard, for he guessed what the landlord was up to the moment he began, and so, after the landlord had wasted the better part of an hour, he was forced to give up the pumping operation, and could not boast that he knew much more about the stranger than when he began; and yet the other had apparently spoken in the frankest manner ~ had not manifested any wish to conceal any- thing. And now leaving the Lone Hand to enjoy his newspaper we will turn our attention to the darighter of Miguel Aldama whom we have been tardy in introducing to our reader's notice. Mercedes Aldama was a magnificent-looking girl of the pure Castilian type of beauty; black eyes, black hair, regular features, exquisitely cut complexion bronzed by the kiss of the eager sun- god, as graceful as a deer, seemingly as proud as a queen, and yet in reality soft and gentle in her nature, As the landlord had conjectured the girl was hastening to the house of her bosom friend. Cordelia Hamilton was as decided a contrast to the girl of Spanish descent as the day is to night. She was about the same size—both of medium hight and build, but a blonde with golden hair and great blue eyes, Cordelia had been expecting her friend and i quick to admit her when she came to the oor, ‘“‘T thought you would come or else I should have come to you!” the mayor’s daughter ex- claimed after excharging a welcoming caress with her friend. ‘*You have heard all the particulars about my father’s narrow escape from these outlaws?’ Mercedes said. ‘* Yes, and what a lucky thing it was that these two strangers happened to come so timely to the rescue,” ‘‘Had it not been for them my father would have been carried away by these outlaws and held for a heavy ransom. ‘* Mr, Moreno also had a narrow escape, and if both had been captured it would have been a dreadful blow to you—father and lover borne away at one fell swoop.” = fs = 7 ant > em 2 - as ‘ E A % ‘co f ‘ . ae The Lone Hand in Texas. . su ‘““Oh, do not talk like that!” Mercedes exe claimed. ‘‘ Mr. Moreno is not my lover!” ‘Well, he wants to be.” ** Possibly, but he is not.” * Tam sure he pays you the most devoted at- tion, ‘*T might with truth say the same thing in re- gard to the gentleman and yourself.” ** Yes, I know that,” replied Cordelia with a weary laugh. ‘‘For quite a time this dashing cavalier wavered between us two, like the don- key in the fable between the two bundles of hay, and for the same reason I think.” ‘‘He could not make up his mind which one of us he liked best?” ‘* No, I don’t think he troubled bis mind about thatatall. Although he pretends to be very senti- mental, I do not believe there is the Jeast bit of sentiment about him. ‘‘ All that he hesitated for was to ascertain which one of us wculd be apt to have the most money in the long run!” “Oh, fie, Cordelia!” exclaimed Mercedes, shaking her finger archly at the other, ‘‘ whata terrible character you are giving the gentleman, Why, you are making him out to be a regular fortune-hunter.” i “ And it is the truth, too: that is exactly what e is. ‘‘ Do you really think so?” ‘*T am certain of it!” the other replied, firmly. “7 will admit that I did not like the fellow from the beginning, and though for a time he paid the most devoted attention to me, and father was rather inclined to favor his suit, too yet thera was something about the man that I did not like.” ‘ *‘] confess I have the same instinctive dis- like,” Mercedes observed. ‘‘T very soon got the idea that he wasn’t any- thing but a fortune-hunter in search of a rich girl, and so I resolved to put him to the test.” ‘*Oh, is it possible?” the other exclaimed in amazement..- ‘Yes; then that is something which you would never dream of doing, eh?” ‘*No, Ido not believe I would,” Mercedes an- swered, in her sober way. ‘* Well, you see, you are not such a wild thing: as Lam; but to play a trick of that kind is just what I delight in. ‘* And then [ thought it was pare! fair, too,” the mayor’s daughter continued, ‘The gentle- man professed to be over head and ears 1n love with me, and when a man makes such pro- fessions as that, I think he has no right to com- pam if he is put to the test to ascertain whether e really means what he says or not.” “It certainly does seem to be only right,” Mercedes observed, thoughtfully. ‘““That certainly is my opinion. Well, the way I tested the gentleman was this, Heisa very cunning fellow, or he thinks he is, much the same thing, you know, and in a careless, in- — different way he tried to ascertain just about how much my father was wortb. ‘‘T am such a dear little innocent creature, you know, that he never even dreamed that 1 suspected what he was trying to find out the moment he began the operation.” ‘*Oh, you are a witch!” the other exclaimed. ‘¢ Well, I don’t know abont that; but Iam no man’s fool, though, that is certain,” Cordelia. replied. ‘‘ Well, I answered his questions just as inno- cently as a child of ten years—a dear little dar- ling, who hasn’t any idea that there is any guile in this bright, beautiful world.” “Oh, you mischief!” ‘“When he questioned me in the most skillful and adroit manner in regard to how my father was getting along, I told him some dreadful fibs.” “Oh, my!” ' he end justifies the means,” the mayor’s daugbter retorted. ‘* Here was a fortune-hunter, making love te me under false pretenses, telling me what a beautiful and cbharminp angelic temper, and ail such rubbish, while every oody who knows me, knows well enough that though I have a fair share of good looks, » yet my temper is decidedly vixenish.” “Oh, no, you do not co yourself justice!” . “Yes, I do; here. are you with your big black eyes and your delightful Spanish style, . just hke a tragedy queen, the kind of girl who would fly to poisons and daggers if she was - wronged, yet in reality you are as mild as mother’s milk, while I, with my mild, innocent | blue eyes and general cow-like aspeet, havea temper like a little demon.” ‘You neither do justice to yourself nor to. me!” Mercedes declared. ‘‘ Well, never mind that! When you tell a~ story you must always exaggerate a little, or else you will not make it interesting. ey ‘‘ But, to resume; I met my gentleman with his own weapons, and, little by little, I contrived to inform him, without apparently being con- scious that I was betraying anything, that my father had attempted to do too much on too lit-- SY tle capital, and though he had the reputation of being a very rich man, yet it was as much as. he could do to struggle along, and but for the fact that he got some old-time friends in South-- ERT es = ote \e 0 @) gir] I was—what ar . > . %. --* O- 4 . : 4 1 as j ae | | * t) —= 2 ; : ; ~~