Beadle's Dime Library No. 490: 'The Lone Hand in Texas' — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

we. “” a. oe . * ‘ a te eo * 2 supreme, with only a few mortals disobedient enough to dispute his power, And the majority of the mortals whe w ® not enjoying “Sleep that knits up the raveled sleev2 of care,” were of natures akin to the beasts who rest by day and work by night. With the stealthy cat tribe—which embraces the panther, tiger, and lion, all beasts of prey— six horsemen, who rode along the trail by the southeastern bank of Pedro Creek, might with justice claim kindred. Toey were men and not animals, yet in their natures they ‘were as ferocious as any wild | beasts which had ever, in search of prey roamed through jungle or wood, or over a great prairie’s vast wastes. ‘They were birds of prey in search of plunder! The greenest tenderfoot who had ever trodden Texan soil would have been able to tell this at first glance, for they wore the disguise common to the men who make.robbery their trade. Tuoeir faces were hid by black masks, through holes in which their eyes gleamed. They wore the usual rough dress common tuo men who dwell on the frontier and spend a good part of their time in the saddle. Rough woolen pantaloons, big boots, into which the pantaloous were tucked, flannel shirts, and for au outer garment, the first two—they were riding in pairs—wore a blanket coat, and a hunting shirt of buckskin; the second couple wore Mexican jackets, and the two who brought up the rear, were habited, one in a coat rudely-fashioned out of buckskin, and the other sported an odd sort of a garment, whicn looked more like the pea-jacket so dear toa sailor’s heart than anything else. Upon their heads, one and all wore the broad stiff-brimmed hat of the Mexican—the sombre- ro, with its gaudy trimmings. The horsemen were well-armed, for every man carried a pair of revolvers in his belt and a ten-inch bowie knife. Apart from the black masks there was not anything in particular about the men to excite attention, excepting that each rider wore upon his left band a glove—and that glove was bright red in color. This strange circumstance would of course have attracted immediate attention; and thena good judge of horse-flesh, would have detected at a glance that al] thé men were mounted upon superior animals, Some of them were not par- ticularly prepossessing steeds in looks, but the speed and the endurance were there. All the men were good riders, ahd sat their steeds as though they were a part of the animal. The trail the horsemen were riding led down the southeast bank of Pedro Creek which rises in the foothill of the Pinto mountains in Kinney county, Texas, flowing southerly, with a slight trend to the westward, and runs into the Rio Grande—the * Brave River of the North,” as the grandiloguent Spaniards originally termed the stream, _At the time we introduce the party to the notice of the reader they were rapidly approach- ing the point where thecreek joined the river, and, by rising in their saddles, could distinguish the ripples caused by the moonlight on the broad fosoin of the Rio Grande. ‘I say, cap’n,” said one of the foremost riders addressing his companion, ‘isn’t that the Rio Grande over yonder?” The speaker was tall, rather thin and spoke with a somewhat squeaky voice. . Quite a contrast was he with his angular bony frame to the man he addressed, who was splendidly built and evidently young. This fellow bestrode his horse with all the ease and grace of an accomplished cavalier, and had a dashy, commanding way like a man used to authority. He was evidently the leader of the party, this fact was apparent, not only because “he rode in the advance, but on account of his ap nce, for in this respect he was a good head and shoulders above any of his companions. “Yes, that is the Rio Grande,” the other answered. “Wal, cap’n, I don’t want to appear too pesky curious, but what is our little game to- night?” the bony fellow asked. heept you at all acquainted with this coun- ‘* Not a mite! I have never been as far south as this on the Rio Grande.” ‘* This little stream that we are now following is called Pedro Creek.” es So I heered Yaller say when we first struck i ‘‘It runs into the Rio Grande, and a little ways below the Per gi there is a small settile- ment known as Pedroville.” ‘*T knew there was sich a place, asI heered one of the boys talking ’bout it this afternoon at camp. ‘Tt isn’t much of a town, only twenty-five or thirty houses, but it is destined, in my opinion, to be considerable of a place one of an days, for the locationis g and it has a splendid back country to draw upon.” **Nice ting ranches and plenty of rich stock- ,e The Lone oa oe ee ee ee a is ee ee ee ‘“ Yes, that is the lay-out, and as Pedroville is the most convenient point to procure supplies, the town is bound to grow.” ‘“‘ But, Cap’n Vermilion, I calculate we ain’t much interested in booming towns,” the other remarked, ‘‘Very true, but we are some of the men who help the town to boom,” the leader answered. ‘** You are right there, bi-gosh!” “Oh, yes. and Pedroville can boast of quite a number of citizens who are pretty well fixed.” “Yes, yes, that is the kind of cattle we are in- terested in,” the lanky man observed, with a chuckle. “ Prominent among these well-fixed fellows is one Peter Raymond, usually called Pete Ray- mond for short,” observed the rider, whose com- panion had addre sed him by the strange name of Captain Vermilion. ‘* Well, this same Pete Raymond is one of the best known men in this section. a sp a general coungry store, bub that is only avloak to his real business which is that of a money- lender and usurer.” ‘““That is a mighty profitable business in this section, I should calculate,” the bony man re- marked. ‘* Well now, you can bet all you are worth that it is!” the other exclaimed, emphatically, ‘This Pete Raymond has been skirmishing along the Rio Grande now for about five years and I reckon he has corraled 1 good hundred thousand dollars in that time.” The lanky man gave vent to a low whistle, evidently intended to express vast astonish- ment, ‘* Wal, wal, he is well fixed and no mistake!” ‘* Yes, he is just the kind of a man that gentle- inen of our kidney like to do business with, for when we come to ‘clean him up’ be will be apt to pan out rich,” observed the leader of the band, using the old mining expression. ‘* Yes, yes, that is so, but i ‘should calculate that such a man would be rayther difficult for to get at.” ‘* Asa rule they are, but in this case our man isnot on his guard. It is a remarkable fact that this section has never been troubled by toll-gatherers of our class. ‘* Bands like our own have ogra up the river and down the Rio Grande, but this section has escaped, and tor that reason there is not much doubt that we will find the best of pickings.” By this time the riders had reached the Rio Grande and the settlement of Pedroville was be- fore them. The village consisted of a main street extend- ing along parallel with the river, the houses fronting the stream, and a road running at right angles from the other, the means of access to the back country. The house of Pete Raymond was situated on the main street in the outskirts of the town; in fact it was the first house encountered in ap- roaching Pedroville from the northward, com- ng down the Rio Grande trail, t was a one-story shanty with a store in front and a living apartment in the rear, after the fasbion of the frontier. The house was rather isolated, being a good hundred yards away from the next building and about the same distance from the house on the other side was a small grove of scrub- oaks, When the band reached the trees the leader gave the si to halt, ‘*Now, boys, our game lies before us in yonder ranch,” he said, ‘‘ Dismount!” ane he set the others the example as he spoke. When they were on the ground the captain gave his commands. : ‘‘ White, Black, Red and Blue will go with me.. You, Yellow, will remain here in charge of the horses. Take them into the grove which will afford concealment, for although it is uot likely that any one will be abroad at this late ee yet still we must be prepared for such a ng. The outlaws nodded, for they all believed in being on guard, ** T say, captain,” said the lanky man who had been examining the house of the usurer, ‘I hope you will not be offended at my speaking, but it seems to me as if we had a pesky hard nut to crack here. I calculate that this cuss has got both his doors and windows well served with bars, mebbe, and it is not going to be an easy matter to get in.” ‘Oh, that is all right, White,” the chief re- lied. ‘‘We are not going to try to break in, or the old scamp is armed, and would be sure to make it warm for us, Everything is all cut and dried, as you will seeanon. Forward! With the stealthy steps of the panther the outlaws advanced. — CHAPTER II. THE MONEY-LENDER. THe desperado chief led the way to the rear door, and when he came to a halt before the portal he said—speaking low and cautiously: ‘*Black, put your shoulder to the door, give one vigorous shove and it will yield; then all ¢ . ae $s >." Hand in Texas. enter as soon as possible, and as hsit as you can, with the exception of Red, who will remain outside on the watch.” The outlaws nodded, in order to show that the instructions were understood, “Go ahead, Black!” commanded the chief. The outlaw who answered to this name, a big burly, broad-shouldered fellow, advanced, put his weight against the door, and with one vigor- ous push forced it open, the stout oaken bar, which was placed across the door, breaking in two as though it was a mere latb. Within the room a candle burned uron the table, so that the apartment was illumir ated, Peter Raymond, the money-lender, was a rather smallish man, well in years, with a sharp face, ornamented with a mop of iron-gray hair, and a bristle-like beard of the same bue, He lay upon his bunk, fully diessed, and when the intruders rushed into the apartment and menaced him with their revolvers, awak- ened by the noise of the intrusion, the money- lender rose to a sitting posture, and gazed with eyes full of curiosity upon his unannounced visitors, To the surprise of the bandits he did not seem to be either surprised or alarmed, ‘Do not attempt to give an alarm or your blood wiJl be upon your own bead!” warned the outlaw ecbief in a hoarse, disguised voice, as be leveled his cocked revolver full at the heart of Raymond. ‘““My dear sir, you have no cause for un- easiness on that score, I assure you,” the money- iender replied in the soft, wheedling way pecu- liar to bim, and which had caused the denizens of Pedroville to affix to him tbe nickname of Soapy Pete. ‘| bave not the slightest idea of attempting to give an alarm. Lf trust I bave dwelt long enough on the border to be aware that a man seldom gains anything by being ugly when he is hoaored with a call of this kind.” The brigands looked at each other. They had encountered some cool hands in their time but Soapy Pete’s composure was mar- velous. ‘‘T am glad to see that you are inclined to lis- ten to reason,” the outlaw chief remarked. ‘*You are wise too forany attempt on your part at resistance would cost you dear, Weare the Brothers of the Red Hand and though we are merciless when our power is disputed, yet if the parties we visit are disposed to be reasonable and do business in a proper way, there is no diffi- culty in getting along with us.” ‘*) do not think I have ever had the pleasure of meeting any member of your organization be- fore,” the money-lender observed in a reflective way. ‘*NorcanlI recall ever having heard of our band before, but I have no doubt that it is sink as you say.” Again the outlaws looked at each other; such talk as this from the lips of a victim they had never heard before, and the idea came to the brigand chief that it might be possible the money- lender did not comprehend the object of the noc- turnal visit, although the thing seemed absurd, So the outlaw leader proceeded to explain. ‘‘T presume you understand our little game?” he said. ‘‘- Yes, I suppose so, I have heard of such things before, although I have no actual know- ledge ” the other replied. ‘“ Well, we are tax-gatherers.” ‘* Yes, yes,” ‘‘ Not for the county or the State but for our- selves,” ‘Exactly! I comprehend.” ‘* And we have called on you to collect your tax.” “T see,” ‘‘Tf you are prepared to pay 1t over immedi- ately we will be glad to take it,” ‘¢ And if I am not prepared?” ‘We shall be obliged toresort tosome un- pleasant means to convince you that you are prepared,” and as he spoke the outlaw chief tap- ed significantly with the forefinger of bis left and upon the barrel of the revolver held in his right. t Yes, yes, I understand. Oh, you will find me the easiest man in the world to do business with!” the money-lender exclaimed. ‘‘T am glad to hear it.” ‘“‘T have a slight request to make.” * All right, go ahead.” : ‘Would there be any objection to you and I talking this matter over tegether in private?” the money-lender asked in his softest tones. The outlaw chief hesitated for a moment and fixed his keen eyes upon the face of Soapy Pete as though he would read his very soul, but the money-lender bore the inspection without flinch- ing. a What are you up to—some gum game?” the brigand demanded, abruptly. ; “Ob, no, not at all! What put such an idea as that into your head? I am no fool! hat chance would I stand if I attempted to play any trick upon you?” ee ‘A chance to be struck by lightning!” ex claimed the other, grimly. “Yes, of course; that is it exactly, and I am not idiot enough to try any such game. I want to talk this matter over with you, and I have (ECOL ebooks. menemes et i $ry~teapess oe « *