Beadle's Dime Library No. 490: 'The Lone Hand in Texas' — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

OND i scene mamma i = ” 7 _ 4 The Lone Hand in Texas. 5 are one of the worst bands that have ever been known along the Rio Grande,” Webster was silent for a moment, deep in thought, and then hesaid, abruptly: — ‘*Mr. Hand, can we not playa part in this affair, this picnic, as these scoundrels térm it?” ‘*f reckon we can,” the Lone Hand replied, in his a way. ‘* We can rescue the man, or men, whom they intend tocapture,” Webster declared. ** You bet! and we will doit too. This fellow spoke of a surprise party; and evidently thinks the springing of this trap upon the victims will be a good joke; he will be apt to laugh on the other side of his mouth though when we intro- duce our surprise party to him.” **'Yes, that is true.” ‘Well, we must arrange our programme,” the Lone Hand remarked, ‘ For when the time for action comes we shall have to move quickly. { suppose it will be best to allow these fellows to go ahead with their game—make their capture, before we attempt to interfere,” ‘© Yes, I think so.” ‘Well, as 1 presume I have had more expe- rience at this sort of thing than you, I suppose I had better be the one to give the signal for the advance.” “Oh, certainly, you must take command!” ‘Webster exclaimed. ‘I will be content with the role of a high private.” ** By the way,” said the Lone Hand as a sud- den idea occurred to him, ‘‘I never thought of it before, but is it wise in you to get mixed up in this thing?” **T fear I do not exactly understand you,” the other remarked. “*Tt is probable that you are not thoroughly acquainted with the manner in which these out- law bands are organized and run,” ‘ “That is a fact; [ am not well posted.” ** As a rule a band is composed of two sections; one, the outlaws who do the plundering, the other, men who have their abode in the towns and act as spies, giving warning to the marau- ders when there are any attempts made to cap- ture them, and also looking out for opportuni- ties for the outlaws to do a good stroke of busi- ness, “It is the story of the old world brigands over again.” the young man observed, ** Exactly; these modern robbers have taken a jeaf from the past, “ Well, what I was hinting at is, considering ‘that these fellows have allies in the towns— possibly right in Pedroville where you intend to ‘take up your abode—will it be wise for vou to an- tagonize the scoundrels? These bandits have ‘long arms, you know, and they strike hard when they strike,” ‘** But you do not appear to be troubled by this consideration,” Webster remarked. ** Oh, well, Iam a kind of an adventurer, any- way, tised to hard knocks, and all that sdrt of ‘thing, and a fewenemies more or less doesn’t ‘matter,” the Lone Hand replied, carelessly, but ‘with no trace of boasting in his speech, ‘Tam not anxious to make enemies, of course,” ‘the other remarked. ‘* But in a case like this, a ‘man, who is anything of a man, cannot hesitate, Tam not any braver or more disposed to rush into a quarrel than the majority of mankind, but under such circumstances as these I cannot refrain from ealns a part in the affair, even though I[ do so at the risk of life,” ‘‘ All right, you and I are pards then and we ‘will see if we cannot astonish the weak nerves of these Red Glove Riders. Lay low until I give the word. You take the red fellow and I will attend to the other two, **Drop your man, if you can, at the frst fire, 30 that he will not have any chance to do ary fighting.” ‘* I will do the best [ can.” ** Well, mortal man can do no more,” and ‘then as he finished his speech the Lone Hand held up his en, to warn his companion to ‘silence and bent forward his head to listen. Webster also pricked up his ears, The acute hearing of the Lone Hand did not deceive him. a ’ Horses were approaching on the trail from ‘the north. “Tt is the game the outlaws seek, I reckon,” the Lone Hand remarked. ; “Tn a few moments the fuss will begin. Don’t forget that the revolver is a self-cocker, and that a single pull fires the charge, and, if you are not used to double-acting weapons, bear in mind that nine men out of ten in using a self- cocker will be apt in the excitement of the mo- ment to move the pistol a trifle to the right, thus destroying the accuracy of the shot; bear this in mind and aim a little to the left of where you wish to strike.” “ All right, I will remember,” Webster re- plied, his cheeks flushed with excitement and his eyes sparkling. Quite a contrast to the Lone Hand, who was as cool as though figoting brigands was an every- day occurrence with him. e sound of the horses’ hoofs came nearer ‘and nearer, and soon the horsemen themselves came in sight, There were two of them, an elderly, gray- gentleman and a young, dashing-looking fellow, both ‘handsomely dressed, and from the style of both themsslves and their steeds it was ya that they were well-to-do. hey were coming along at a brisk gallop until the young man caught sight of the brook, rippling across the trail, and then he cried out to his companion to pull up for a moment so he could get a drink, And as the horses came to a walk, having arrived at a point right in front of the clump of evergreens in which the two were hidden, out from their ambush rode the outlaws, . With leveled revolvers they rushed upon the strangers, who, abruptly, pulled their horses to a stand-still. ‘*Throw up your hands, or you are dead men!” the bandit chief cried, Yor answer the travelers pulled their revolvers from the holsters and essayed to fire upon the outlaws, but although the hammers fell and the cylinders clinked around, the weapons were not discharged. ‘*QOho!” cried the outlaw leader, ‘‘it isn’t of any use for you to try that game! Your tools have been doctored; our pards have fixed that all right! Down with your weapons or we will drill holes right through you!” Satisfied that they could not beat off the attack, the horsemen threw down their pistols. ‘* Now, then, it is time for us to put in an ap- pearance!” the Lone Hand exclaimed, in the ear of his companion. ‘Don’t forget that the red fellow is your man!” pee BR CHAPTER VI. A, SURPRISE. Ovt from the shelter of the evergreens came the pair, and the moment they emerged from the pines they opened fire, The Lone Tand shot with the precision of a man in a pistol-gallery, but the young Bostonian was nervous and excited. The adventurer, as he had termed himself chose the lanky man for a target, and he tumbled tbe marauder from his horse with a well-aimed shot. Webster’s aim was not as true, for his bullet went wide of the man at whom it was aimed, striking the horse in the head, but as it happened, the result was fortunate, for the shot brought instant death to the beast. The brute pitched down upon his knees, the shock—so entirely unexpected—throwing the rider over his head, bringing him to the ground with such tremendous force as to knock all the sense out of him. The third outlaw was panic-stricken by this unexpected attack, and his horse, frightened by the discharge of the flrearms, bolted in wild terror. The rider did not attempt to restrain him, but allowed the horse to gallop away at the top of his speed, and te outlaw quickly disappeared amid the broken country up the trail. The victory was won, and with very little trouble. The rescued men were fully as astonished as the outlaws at the unexpected rescue, and gave vent to their surprise in joyful exclamations, ‘* Bravo?’ cried the old, gray-bearded gentle- man: ‘‘ that was nobly done!” ‘*Upon my word, sir, you came most timely to our relief!” the other exclaimed. ‘*' Yes; the rascals had you foul,” the Lone Hand observed: ‘‘and if we had not happened to be in tbe neighborhood, I reckon it would have cost you some money to get out of the scrape. But a miss is as good as a mile, you know.” “*'Yes; but I would rather be excused from taking part in any more affairs of this kind,” the old gentleman remarked, **T don’t blame you; the experience is not pleasant,” the Lone Hand observed. A groan from the lanky man at this moment attracted his attention, and he advanced to- ward him, addressing the young Bostonian as he did so, ‘**Pard, just take a look at the red-skin, and, while you are about it, take charge of his wea- pons, for he may be inclined to be ugly when he recovers his senses.” ‘*T will look out for him!” the young man on ta ti exclaimed, dismounting as he 8 e, ate Don’t trouble yourself,” the Lone Hand re- plied, Lg eerie ‘* He is my pard’s meat, and he will attend to him. Take his weapons away and bind his hands with this lariat.” The keen eyes of the Lone Hand had noticed that there was a lariat coiled on the horn of the saddle, from which his bullet bad so unceremo- niously dismounted the leader of the outlaws. The lanky man’s beast, evidently more used to firearms than the fiery steed of the Mexican, had not attempted to run away when relieved of his burden, but remained near the spot where his master had fallen, quietly cropping the grass by the wayside. And as the Lone Hand spoke he stepped to the side of the horse, removed the lariat, and with a bowie-knife, which he drew from under a of his coat, cut the stout cord in wailn, He gave half of it to Webster, who immedi- ately proceeded: to carry out the orders which had been given, While the Bostonian was occupied in his task, the Lone Hand approached the wounded man, ** Well, stranger, how do you feel?” he asked. ‘* Mighty bad. I reckon I am plugged for keeps,” responded the other. ‘Oh, uo, { guess it isn’t as bad as all that, unless [ made some mistake about the matter. I did not inteud to wipe you out, for if I had I should have plugged you in another place, It was my game to disable, not to kill you. Ido not doubt that you richly deserve to die, but L did not feel called upon to act as your execu- tioner, so I merely put a ball in your shoulder instead of driving it through your heart, which I night have done es well as not.” This seemed a little like boasting, but there was nothing of the braggart in the Lone Hand’s manner. ‘¢ Let us see what you look like, anyway,” the latter continued, stooping and removing the mask from the countenance of the wounded out- law as he spoke, A thin, angular, hatchet-like face was re- vealed, lit up by shifting, gray-green eyes, full of low cunning. It was much more like the face of a petty shop-keeper than that of a bold and murderous bandit. The old gentleman and the young man peered earnestly at the countenance, when the mask was removed, as though they expected they would be able to recognize the man, It was to afford them an opportunity so to do that made the Lone Hand remove the dis- guise the bandit wore. ; He had no thought of being able to recognize the fellow himself, as he was a stranger in the neighborhood, 1 Neither of the horsemen knew the man either for after getting a good look at his face the old gentleman remarked: = ‘‘He isa stranger to me—does not belong in this neighborhood, eh,Mcreno? “Oh, no, I never saw the fellow. before,” the young man replied. ‘“*T do not live in these parts,” the outlaw said in a sulky way, as though he resented the inspection, ‘“T am a stranger, and hard up, or else I should not have tried this little game. Iwas led into it anyhow by that feller that dusted so lively without trying for to make a fight.” ‘““Ah, you were, eh?’ the Lone Hand re- onded, ‘‘ And Lsuppose this gentleman yon- er who bad his senses knocked out of him a the fall of his horse is another innocent party?’ By this time the balf-breed’s wits had re- turned to him and he sat up, staring around as if he did not exactly know what to make of it. : ‘“Yes, that durned galoot talked both of us into it,” the lanky man replied. “Take off his mask so we can see what he looks like,” the Lone Hand commanded, Webster removed the mask. The man was a half-breed as the pards had suspected, a dull, brutal-looking fellow, and. he glared at his conquerors with eyes full of rage, De Ge know him, gentlemen?” the Lone Hand asked. : The horsemen shook their heads, ‘* Another stranger, eh?” *« Yes, he does not belong in this section,” the old gentleman answered, ‘* Oh, they are both strangers, sure enough,” the young man observed. ‘*Mr, Aldama here is an old resident and he would know them if they were not strangers.’’ ‘It is jest as I tell you, pard,” the lanky man declared, endeavoring to assume an ap- pearance of great frankness, ‘I met this here loot this morning asI was hoofing it along . — th bad a little chin together. “5 the road, and we He was broke, like I was, and we made up our — minds to strike a ranch for to see if we couldn’t © et a job; jest then ‘long came that durned Sreancr with his hosses, and he talked us inte this job. ‘‘Where’s your captain? demanded theLone Hand, abruptly. ay ‘Hey?’ and the lanky man put on a stupid look. ‘‘ Where is your captain, I say?’ exclaimed the other, sternly. ‘‘ Don’t you try any monke business with me. enough!” “That Mexican cuss is the man you mean, I s’pose?’ the conquered outlaw responded, sul- lenly. “Oh, no, I mean the fellow who calls himselt Captain Vermilion. the cbief of the Red Glove Raiders of the Rio Grande.” The horsemen looked astonished and the out laws scowled. “Do you know of any such band?” the Lone Hand continued, addressing the elderly man, who had been called Aldama by his come — panion. = ‘No, Ido not. Nosuch band, ated in this neighborhood.” " ‘They are new-comers then; that they were,” the adventurer observed. You know what I mean wel Oe lig ve : : f Call ” yi : my oP , i. oie) st a ‘oo 7 7 AQ * 5 © ve 4 aa . . an eg PA : , ha ' b > * rs Rh 2 «ai . oe . 4 ¢ a. ee JOOKS + lige»)