Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 500 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

ey ERE gee eg gE oe ee The True-Heart Pards. ———E — —— + — ~ — - 23 who might not be attainable in any other way. He had too, that which is so rare in young men of the present day, the courage which leads us, for some higher end, to defy the world’s opinion, to brave the consequences of its censure. And having this the greutest quality of the truly great he could see and appreciate it in others. He had begun bya feeling of gratitude to- ward the beautiful one who had been the one light in the gloom that for a time had shrouded his mental vision. He had gone on toa feeling of a sense of completeness in her presence, which was lacking at all other times. He had grown to worship, with the full force of his sesthetic yours either, for that matter. nature the beautiful, perfectly poised woman of | the world who was little more than a girl in ears. In short he bad fallen in love as he fully elieved for the first time, in his life. He had now to see and appreciate in his soul’s idea a depth of truth and devotion to principle, which though it might end in removing her for- ever from all chance of becoming his, placed her upon a pedestal above all that he had ever dreamed of in woman. ‘You will then leave New York at once?” Dare asked. ‘‘T shall ask to-day at all costs, to have my engagements canceled. I shall plead family reasons of the most serious and painful nature, In short, I will not be refused.” ‘* And once in Texas, Miss St. Evremont?” ‘*T shall seek out my husband.” Dare Davenant winced: ** And then?” he inquired. **T shall declare myself to be his wife. I have kept the proofs, tnough many a time of late I have been tempted to destroy them. I shall claim him now, wretch, murderer though he is” —she shuddered visibly as she uttered this resolu- tion. ‘‘Itis the only way to prevent the crime he bas in contemplation. olores Davenant must be saved.” ** And you?” queried Dare in admiration. ‘‘ 7?" she said with a laugh; but, oh, how un- natural. ‘‘I shall be again Mrs. James Endi- cott.” ‘* And then—oh, Rose!” he cried. “God knows! God only knows!” was the bitter response. CHAPTER XXIV. THE FOXES OF THE FRIO. THE band of which the mysterious Captain Quevedo was the leader was at one time the terror of the country to the west and southwest of San Antonio, but had of late met with mis- haps which had greatly depleted its numbers and lessened his importance, Of late its existence had been thought by many to be a thing of the past, as nothing had recently been heard of their depredations; and a general impression seemed to prevail in and around the Alamo City that this once formidable gang of road agents had either disbanded or else taken themselves off to the othér side of the Rio Grande. The connection of Quevedo with the bandits, was, of course, neither known or suspected, for that grave and rascally senor was keeping up his incognito with all the airs and sober dignity ot a Hidalgo. Monte Max was indeed the one man in San Antonio who was in the bandit chief’s confidence, The young Creole, in reality more weak than wicked, was well aware that he might be run- ning his head into a noose by this intimate com- panionship with a man whose true character was liable at any moment to be discovered; but his vanity bad been tickled by this singling out of him by the haughty and dignified Spaniard, and once in the position of confidant, he had a wholesome fear of trying to escape its conse- quences and responsibilities, The remains of Quevedo’s band, on account of a want of vigilance on the part of certain United States troops, were now lurking in a cavern not many miles from the city, and occa- sionally communicating with E] Capitan, some- times in person, but oftener through, Maximo Legere. Eyni it Te have seen that the bandit chief, on being apprised by the latter of the expected train from the East, and the plan of Endicott for having let Monte Max into which, the gentleman from Boston had suddenly seemed to repent, referred to the fact that a couple of his men would be in the city presently in the guise of cowboys, and with their aid Endicott could be completely cir- cumvented, and the train, with the. mysterious young Jady, the possession of whom was evi- dently Endicott’s first object, would fall into their power, Prompt as the evening itself, the two bandits were on hand, and with the utmost noncha- lance, put in au appearance at the Menger douse and inquired for El] Senor Quevedo. The dignified gentleman whom they sought came tothe office when summoned, and, after some business conversation in regard to his cat- tle ranch on the Rio Grande—a conversation LS ens —— conducted openly, and without any desire ap-- pore for concealment—they were jomed by on A The latter soon suggested cards—it was a way he had—and the quartette adjourned to E Quevedo’s apartment, ostensibly for that pur- Once there the game, which we will take the liberty of observing unperceived, was begun without delay. ‘* You will be glad to know,” was the first re- mark of El Capitan to his men, as soon as they were seated in his room, ‘‘that there is a good show for business in a day or two,” *“Tt’s none too early in showing itself,” said one; ‘‘for things haye never been so dlue with the Foxes in my time.” ** No show for booty, eh?’ said Max, ** Well well,” was the reply of Quevedo, a lit- tle petulantly, ‘‘that hasn’t been my fault or But a flock of geese is now on the wing in this direction; and the fattest of all and the most worth plucking, if I mistake not, is close at hand.” ‘‘ But that is to come later,” said the Creole, ** Now, Juan,” continued the captzin, ‘‘ this is not much of an outfit, as far as strength goes, and I think we are quite equal to them as we stand, “It will only make delay, and very possibly create some little danger of detection, if we send out for some more of the Foxes to join us. ‘* What I have decided on is this, andI have only waited for you and Jose to arrive and hear my plan. You two, with Legere and myself, will start out in the morning fora ride. Jet me see. Oh, yes, Max and I can be accompanying you a short distance on your way back to my ranch, ; ‘** About twenty miles west of the city—you know the spot—we can ambush them, and the rest is easy.” ‘‘ How many men ia the lay-out?” asked Jose. “Only one, and a negro,” was the reply of Quevedo; ignorant,'as was Endicott, of the presence of the scout with the train. ‘** Caramba !” exclaimed the two men. ‘*There are a couple of boys,” added Monte ax. ‘* But neither of them,” explained the captain, “of an age to handle a rifle. Was not that what the Gringo said?” turning to Max. The gambler nodded assent. This estimate made by Endicott rather has- tily, from the slight mention that had been made by his Indianola correspondent of the composition of the immigrant train, was hardly a just one. hose youthful Bilberries, Buck and Bud, however much their education might have been neglected in other respects, were quite up to the Texas standard in this particular. **So you see,” Quevedo went on, ‘it is only child’s play that we have to prepare for.” ‘*This Endicott has his plans to attack or rather cause to be attacked the train some miles nearer—about ten miles, so Legere thinks, from the city. The infernal fool is getting up an Indian scare—I would just like to see a genuine Apache, for example, come down on him—and then when bis men have taken the train, and secured his especial prize, a young lady who is along, the sneaking hound is to come and rescue the senorita at the risk—so she is to suppose—of being scalped himself.” ‘* And we want to prevent the poor fellow’s running that risk,” suggested Max, ‘‘ Precisely,” said the captain, in his most suave manner, The two bandits laughed. ‘* Then,” resumed Quevedo, ‘*‘laving helped ourselves to all that is worth taking, including, of course, this priceless young lady, we must take the back trail for some miles, and then, quartering around, join the Foxes as soon as possible, ‘*Once at the cave and the senorita comfort- ably disposed of, I shall return at my leisure to San Antonio—you too, Legere, unless you feel a vocation to take an agency in my company— and there arrange to make terms through some of you with Senor Endicott for the lady’s ran- som. ‘*Té looks easy enough, El Capitan,” said Juan. ‘*Tt is easy—all plain sailing,” replied the chief. ‘*I have thought so ever since | first got wind of it.” ‘* But, captain,” queried Jose, ‘‘ how did you find this out from the Gringo?” ‘*Oh,” said the chief, with a grim smile, ‘‘ he thought of taking my friend Senor Legere into the affair with him—to play Indian you know and all that—but Max was incorruptible. In the interests of law and order, he felt it to be his duty toinform me at once. And I, seeing how the land lies. feel constrained to interfere a trifle with Senor Endicott’s little game.” ** In the first place, as you have just remarked, Juan, the Foxes need game at present, and my first act of charity ought by right to begin at home. Then secondly, as a Christian, I feel that I must prevent this beautiful senorita from falling into the hands of such a scoundrel as Endicott—just at present.” It certainly seemed, as Captain Quevedo said, that be and his men now held the key to the Situation in their hands. Endicott had let fall sufficient in his ill-judged half-confidence with Monte Max to give that delectable personage the key to it, and he was keen enough to find a way of using it to his advantage, © nn—_:,——— an ee They knew that the Bilberry “ outfit” must be now nearing San Antonio, and the arrange- ment of Endicott was that his ‘* Indians ” should waylay the party about ten miles beyond the city, and, after amusing themselves in any way they thought fit with the Bilberry family, should seize Miss Davenant and ride off for their sup- posed camp. Then that young lady’s dire ex- tremity would be his opportunity. Endicott would ride down upon the braves boldly and, single-handed, rescue the young lady, bearing her off in triumph to San Antonio, after which feat, he. flattered himself, he need apprehend no difficulty in his successful siege of her affections, a ‘*He’s a strange mixture,” said the bandit chief, referring to the Bostonian, ‘‘He has some talents which are decidedly wasted for want of a peepee field. “If he knew the country, and the people on the frontier, with his brains and cussedness and disregard for consequences, banged if I don't think in time he might make a leader!” And Ei Capitan Quevedo began to reflect seriously if in some way, when the ransom of the young lady should have been satisfactorily adjusted, this sbrewd villain from the North might not be induced to cast his lot with the Foxes of the Frio. Some new admixture was needed, let it come from what region it might, if the band was to regain its prestige and have its numbers recruited, and it was by no means impossible that this unprincipled stranger who, if not now, was likely soon to become an outlaw, might become carried away with the scope of his talents thus offered and join the band. ; ‘When are we to set out, E] Capitan?’ asked ose. ‘“We make an pany start,” was the answer. ‘*T do not suppose that Endicott is likely to defer his going Jater than to-morrow afternoon and we must manage to forestall him, an leave no scalps for his warriors to take. You know the spot where we are to ambush them?” ‘**Oh, yes,” said Juan; ‘‘ I’ve been all along there.” So he had, indeed. In the palmy days of the Foxes, there were few trails leading to San Antonio where this once-noted band of road- agents had not Jain in wait at every available point for the mail-stage or any luckless emi- rant-train of the approach of which they had en apprised. But these days were past, and the handfal of men who now acknowledged allegiance to Quevedo were not only few in number, but sad- ly dispirited, and very careful about attacking any outfit that was the least formidable. The present, if what it had been represented, was certainly nothing to be much feared, and the two meu now in San Antonio quite agreed with their captain in thinking no reinforcements were necessary. ‘*'You understand what you have to do,” said the chief. ‘‘ Ride out boldly and demand a sur- render, and if that is refused, shoot down all that oppose. Spare none but the young lady. ‘“‘Then secure the money and valuables and levant on the back trail. I will accompany you to camp as I have said.” ‘‘ And then return to San Antonio, El Capi- tan?” , ‘* Precisely—and then return to San Antonio.” ‘‘ Will there not be some danger in tbat?” asked Monte Max, ‘Danger! What danger?” inquired Quevedo, haughtily. ** True,” replied Max, apologetically; ‘‘no one has ever yet suspected you.” ** No one is ever likely to suspect Don Antonio -Quevedo Garmo of being other than be repre- sents himself, far less of being the leader of the Foxes of the Frio.” The outlaw captain was right. His identity had never been suspected. The haloof aristo- cratic hauteur with which he had contrived to surround himself since making his headquarters at the Menger, bad precluded the possibility of such a thing as impertinent questioning where he was concerned. Indeed, so far from his pretensions being questioned, the most extravagant tales were told, and generally credited, of the vast wealth and high social standing of the exclusive Cas- tilian, whose acquaintance had become some- thing to be prized, His plan now, as he had announced it, was to return as rigidly and indifferently as possible to his Jodgings at the Menger, cultivate the ac- quaintance of Endicott, or rather permit the latter to make his acquaintance, and then wait for developments. It could hardly fail ’’ at the Bestonian would admit him to some degree of his confidence—Quevedo would take care that he did—snd thus he would hear for the first time of the girl who had been carried off by the ban- dits. Then E] Capitan would promise to interest himself. He knew, living near a ranch of his, a man who had once belonged te a band of out- laws, and who still had great influence with several of their leaders. Through him he felt positive that he could learn all that Endicott was desirous of finding out, ri Once professing to have made the discovery 2ST gE a ee ae a le ee ee _ + Se a ae et, Pye A 5 Bet ~4 =—-+= - ———— a Eomichbooks (elo) —— SS