Beadle's Dime Library No. 490: 'The Lone Hand in Texas' — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Se of Fue: F 6 ; — f = _ sete = ee ast 2 The Lone Hand in Texas. “A “But you will be - to hear enough of them within the next mont **Do you notice the red glove upon the left hands of these fellows?” The others nodded. ** That is the badge of the Baney that is where they get their name, the Glove Raiders,” **?Tain’t so!” the lanky man declared. ‘‘ These here red gloves are jest some monkey business of that cussed Greaser!” **Oh, come now! there isn’t the least bit of use of your attempting to lie out of it!” the Lone Hand exclaimed in contempt. ** Myself and pard here overheard the whole of the talk between you and your pals when you were making preparations for this attack. **You two gentlemen are the victims of a deep-laid plot,” the Lone Hand continued, greatly to the astonishment of the horsemen. ‘*There were only three men detailed to at- tack you because it was arranged beforeband to tamper with your weapons so you would not be able to make a fight. If you examine your re- volvers you wild find that they are of no more use to you than so many sticks.” “* Ah, that accounts for our not being able to fire the weapons!” Aldama remarked as he pro- ceeded to test the truth of the statement. ** It isso, by heavens!” he exclaimed in a mo- ment, ‘The cartridges have all been doctored!” ** Exactly! a regular trap laid, and the idea was to carry you off and keep you a prisoner until a heavy ransom was paid.” “I have heard of such things,” the old gentle- man remarked, soberly. ‘* But nothing of the kind was ever done in this section.” ‘* Yes, and now that these fellows are secured we will be able to makesuch an example of them that they will not be apt to try anything of the kind again in this neighborhood,” the young man declared. An avnouncement that tended to make the outlaws appear decidedly uneasy. CHAPTER VII. THE TOWN IS AMAZED, THE pair exchanged glances and then the lanky man cried out, **You are all barking up the wrong tree, I tell you! I don’t know nothing "bout no Red Glove Band, and this fool business was the Greaser’s say-so. He fetched the gloves out of his pocket and said we had better wear them cos it would kinder frighten our game. Mebbe he war one of this here band that you tell about but we don’t know nothing about it, hey, pard?” and he nodded to the half-breed. “No, we don’t know nuffin’ ’bout it,” the other declared. *““Oh, you are a pair of innocent ducks, be- yond a doubt!” the Lone Hand exclaimed, sar- castically, ‘‘ But I don’ttake any stock in your yarn for I know better. You are botb members of this outlaw band and if you are wise you will make a clean breast of it.” *“T have told you the truth andif you ain’t willing to believe it I can’t help it,” the dis- comfited ruffian replied. **It is a most mysterious affair,” the old gentleman, Aldama, observed at this point.. ** How on earth the scoundrels managed to get at our weapons so as to render them useless is a uzzle, Can you see bow it was done, Moreno?” asked addressing the young man, **Upon my word I cannot, I have been rack- ited brains to account for it,” the other re- lied. ‘*My revolver bas not been out of my posses- sion, | am sure of that, since we left Pedroville, and I was careful to put fresh charges in it just before we started on our journey, so I know t was all right then.” “That was exactly what I did,” the old gentleman observed. ‘‘And that is why I am so perplexed in regard to the matter.” *“T have it!” exclaimed the other, abruptly. The scoundrels must bave got at our weapons while we were asleep at the hotel last night!” “Yes, yes, I never thought of that,” the old tleman remarked. ‘*No doubt that was the way the trick was done.” | “To be sure! And as I had put my revolver in order before I started I did not take the trouble to examine it to-day.” **Neither did I, for I had not the slightest een that there was any mischief afoot,” Aldama remarked. * Wal, all [£ have got to say is thatI didn’t have no hand in the job!” the lanky man ex- claimed. “You kin jest blame it onto that durned Greaser for he was the cuss that did it!” ** Yes, yes!” chimed in the half-breed. “You will have a chance to tell your story in a court-room pretty soon, and maybe the judge who presides over the trial will take more stock in it than I do,” the Lone Hand remarked, ificantly. ‘ AllT ax is a fair show for my moaey!” the outlaw responded, doggedly. **That you will have most assuredly in Pedro- Wille,” the old gentleman exclaimed. _ “There is no squarer man in Texas than our mayor, Jack Hamilton, and as your case will be brought before him you can depend upon get- ting justice.” “That is all I want, forI knowI kin clear myself of this outlaw band business,” the wounded man observed, with an attempt to ap- pear very dignified. ‘*T don’t put in no claim to be any better than I ought to be,” he continued, ‘‘and I am Peeey to-own up that I am in the hardest kind of luc and *bout ready to turn my hand to anything.” ‘** Save your talk until you come to trial,” the Lone Hand advised. ‘‘I haven’t no doubt the mayor will give you every chance in the world to prove that you are not as big arascalas I take you to be.” The outlaw scowled at these plain words, and the lanky man remarked: ‘** Oh, [ calculate we won’t git much show. It will be the old story, [ s’pose, give a dog a bad name and hang him.” ** Now, don’t you worry,” the old gentleman observed. ‘* You will have the fairest kind of a trial, for Jack Hamilton is not the man to strike a fellow when he is down, But, I say, sir,” and he addressed the Lone Hand, ‘‘how are we going to get this fellow to Pedroville? I do not think he is in a condition to ride.” | ** Ride! blazes, no!” White exclaimed, with a | groan of pain, as though it was wrung from him by the very thought. ‘*Tf you galoots are anxious to send me head- long into my grave, you want to put me on a hoss and [ calculate you will fetch 1t!” ‘Ob, Treckon you are not so badly wounded | as all that,” the Lone Hand remarked, proceed- | to examine the outlaw. The fellow groaned with pain every time tbat the other touched him, and although the adven- turer did not believe the man was half as badl hurt as he pretended, yet, as he had lost consid- erable blood, he thought it was possible he might not be able to bear the journey. **Tt will be the dead of meif ye trv any sich games as that!” the man protested. ‘‘ You might jest as well put a rope’round my neck and string me up to one of these here trees, as to try to carry me to Pedroville on a hoss, I calculate I am done for anyway, and you ought to let me die in peace.” ‘* Suppose you go on to the town with the other fellow, and I will remain here and keep watch of this man,” Moreno suggested. ‘‘ When you arrive at Pedroville you can send a wagon to bring this prisoner.” ‘Yes, yes, that is good idea!” Aldama ex- claimed. The Lone Hand shook his head in a doubtful St Ss litte ee aie ee ay. cf There is only one objection as far as I see,” he remarked. ‘* What is that?” Moreno inquired. ‘*Tf this man is a member of the outlaw band who call themselves the Red Glove Raiders of the Rio Grande, as I firmly believe, the Mexican who fled will be certain to warn his companions, and they will be apt to returnif they are in the neighborhood, and itis likely that they are not ma off, for the purpose of rescuing their com- rades. “‘T tell vou that thar ain’t no sich band ag [ | knows on,” the wounded man protested. ‘* And this Red Glove business was all a fool idee of © that darned Greaser!” ‘Oh, I am nota bit afraid but what I can hold my own!” Moreno declared. ‘‘I have a box of cartridges in my pocket, and with my revolver in order, I can stand off a balf-dozen outlaws, for such fellows only fight bravely when all the advantages are on their side,” and then he proceeded to remove the worth- less cartridges and put fresh ones in their places. ** Pedroville is only fifteen minutes’ ride,” the old gentleman remarked, ‘‘and within half an hour we can return with the wagon.” “T calculate I will pass in my checks afore that time,” the wounded man muttered, and then he groaned in a dismal way and closed his eyes as though about to faint. ** All right!” the Lone Hand replied. ‘‘I do not see any other way to do it, so it will have to answer. . * Let us be off as soon as possible so as to get back before this rascal’s pards can come to his assistance,” The half-breed was assisted to his feet and then helped to mount the lanky man’s horse. ‘‘ You had better take my beast,” Moreno said, to the Lone Hand, ‘‘ He isa stout brute, and will easily carry both you and your friend, as the distance is a short one.” ‘*Much obliged,” the adventurer responded, and then he vaulted into the saddle with ease and bestrode the steed in a manner which showed him to be an expert rider. The Bostonian got up behind. » The Lone Hand addressed a few warning words to the half-breed before they started. ‘* Don’t try any foolishness,” he said. ‘‘ There is no chance for you to escape, for upon the first indication of any such thing I will drive a ball right through you.” The half-breed glared in sullen rage, but he spoke not, _ go y's ; In his heart he was satisfied that his captor a rr ns , would not hesitate to do exactly as he said, if he was provoked to it. On went the party at a brisk pace, leaving Moreno to guard the wounded man, In fitteen minutes Pedroville was reached. Only a few remarks were made during the journey. When the distance was about two-thirds cov- ered and the town appeared in sight, the Lone Hand shook his head, and said: ‘*T am afraid we have made a big mistake in leaving only one man to guard that wounded scoundrel,” ** Oh, I think not,” Aldama replied. ‘**] am afraid that when we re.urn we will not find either guard or prisoner.” ‘*Of course it is possible, but I do not think it is probable,” the old gentleman observed, The people of Pedroville were amazed when the cavalcade entered the town. As it happened, there was a group of the leading men of the town standing in front of the post-office, which was located in the principal store of the village, quite an extensive establish- ment, which bore on its sign the name, Moses Oppes heim. here was the mayor of the town, Jack Ham- ilton, a big, brawny, brown-bearded gentleman, one of the Jeading cattlemen of the district, Ben Jackman, the town marshal, a broad-shouldered fellow, with long, light locks and a scrubby beard of the same hue, rather undersized in stature, the sort of man who suggests the de- scription of being as broad as he is long. Jacob Plunkett, the landlord of the hotel, which was dignified by the bigh-sounding title of the Rio Grande Arms, but which was but little more than a drinking-saloon,although it had a few rooms for the accommodation of travelers: | the bar though was tbe main support of the hotel--was in the group, conversing with the old Jew storekeeper, Oppenheim, who wore the typhical Hebrew nose, beard and all, and Doc Alee Mortimer, the proprietor of the ‘‘ shebang” known as the ‘‘ Big Texas Sandbank,” which was a gaming-hell and saloon combined. A half-dozen other prominent men were on the street, and take them for all in all, the group was a truly representative one of the citizens of the town, And loud were the exclamations of amaze- ment which escaped from them when the caval- cade rode into the town. _ CHAPTER VIII. MORENO’S STORY. ‘¢ Heo! hello!” the mayor exclaimed, ‘* what: on earth does this mean?” “It looks as 1f Aldama had been having a skirmish,” the landlord remarked. ** Yes: and he has captured a prisoner, too!” the marshal observed. ‘‘Don’t you see that that dark-skinned fellow, who looks like a half- breed, has got his bands tied?” ‘Mine gootness!” the Jew shopkeeper cried, who always spoke with an accent, for he wasa German Jew Pps ‘dot mans earries mid him der look of a fearful villains!” ‘‘ But where is Moreno?’ Doc Mortimer in- quired. ‘‘He started with Aldama, and now he is among the missing. I hope nothing has happened to him, for that gentle youth skinned me out of fifty dollars at poker a eouple of nights ago, and he promised to give me my re- venge when he got back from this trip.” The party rode directly up and came to a halt in front of the post-office. ** We have work on band for you, Mr. Mayor and marshal,” the old gentleman remarked, as he reined in bis steed. ‘*So it would seem from the looks of things,” the mayor answered, bestowing a scrutinizing glance upon the half-breed and racking his mem- ory to recall whether he bad ever met the fellow before or not, ‘*- Yes; as Moreno and I came to where the brook crosses the trail, about two miles out, three masked men went for us, and through some hocus-pocus, which has puzzled me con- siderably, both of our revolvers bad been tam- pered with so that we couldn’t make any fight, and, undoubtedly, we would have been taken into camp if these two pentlessees had not hap- pened to. be in the neighborhood,” and the old gentleman bowed to the pards, who had mounted by this time. ‘*They went for the ruffians in a way that astonished them. This gentleman”—and he bowed to the adventurer—‘‘ and that reminds me that I do not know your name. Mine is Miguel Aldama, at your service.” ‘“My name is Hand—bL. Hand,” the other re- plied. ‘‘ And this gentleman ”—he laid his hand on the Bostonian’s shoulder as he spoke—‘“ is- called Webster—Leonard Webster.” ‘Glad to know you both, gentlemen,” the rancher responded, with all the eourtly grace of the old Spanish race from which he came. “Well, fellow-citizens, Mr, Hand dropped one of the road-agents with a builet in the shoulder, Mr. Webster shot the horse of the second man through the brain, and as the beast pitched down upon his knees, he threw the rider- over his head, and that laid him out; the third dis- . z «< oS? ie "> ae aod LD yo es WW are ————¥ be