Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

6 of "The sheriff!" arose, and David Howard, sheriff of the county, came up. Howard was a grave quiet man, dressed in neat black, but every man,in the saloon knew that the sherifl' was quicker on the draw than any man in Spanish Gulch. The men respected liim, too, for his upright character and the fearless way in which he upheld the law. "What you blowing in here for, Howard?" snarled Harkness. "It's my affair." "It's my affair, too," replied Howard with ominous calm, "so long as I'm sheriff of this county." "Sure, it is, sheriff!" cried at least half the crowd, for Harknees was not popular at any time, and his cowardly attack on Francisco had alienated the sympathy of many who iiad no love for "greasers," but cared a great deal for fair play. The commissioner caught Howard's eye, fell back a pace sullenly, and said no more. "Now, boys, what's all this?" asked the sheriff. "Well, iiieriff," began one of the men, "this stranger was talking to Lupe, and Harkness wouldn't stand for it, and they fought." "Guns?" questioned Howard, glancing at Francisco's face. "That was done with a whip," said the man, following the slijeriff's glance; " but Harkness drew a gun first. Tlie ■ greaser grabbed it, and pitched it into the etreet." "That's enough," said Howard quietly. "Cut these men loose!" The order was promptly obeyed, and in another moment Francisco and Juan were free. "I am sorry you have had such rough treatment here, senor," said Howard. "I owe jou a great debt," replied Francisco. "I hope to repay you some day." He turned to Harkness, who was standing sullenly close at hand. "I camo liere to deliver cattle—three thousand head—to Senor Harkness," he said. "Why didn't you say so?" demanded Harknees. "Why don't you deliver them?" Francisco walked towards the door. Reaching it, he turned once more to the Land Commissioner. "I will—deliver them." he said deli- berately as he went out. Francisco Delivers the Cattle. FRANCISCO rode out of the town silently, followed as silently by Juan. From time to time the faith- ful retainer glanced at his master's scarred face, and wondered what • was passing in the don's mind. He had not long to wait, for when they reached the herd of cattle, Francisco rode round to each of his men, and in a few fiery words explained liis scheme of revenge. At nine o'clock that evening the young don gave a signal. The three thousand cattle had already been gathered into a compact herd, and when Francisco raised his hand the men began to urge the mass of animals forward. Slowly at first they moved on towards Spanish Gulch. But behind them and on their flanks rode the horsemen, sear ing the backs of the cattle with their whips, exciting them to madness with their shouts and yells. Soon the pace increased, and with a thunder of thousands of hoofs the herd broke into a trot. Spanish Gulch 'came into sight, and the huge mass of animals began to gallop down upon it. Maddened by the wliips and the yells, urged on by the furious vaqueroe, the cattle plunged down the October 17th, ISSU BOY'S CINEMA slope, bellowing with fear. There was no stopping them now, and Francisco and his men drew aside and watched them go headlong into the street of the little town. "Well, boys," said Francisco quietly, "Harkness wanted me to deliver the cattle, and I reckon I have delivered them." In Spanish Gulch all was confusion. A few men caught sight of the great herd bearing down upon them, and they ran wildly through the street, shouting the alarm. It was too late. No human power could have stopped that rush, and before the people of Spanish Gulch had even realised their danger, the three thousand cattle were indeed being "de- livered," as Francisco had promised. The leaders of the herd passed along the street, running wildly and bellowing furiously, though doing little damage, but the pressure of the hundreds behind soon had its effect. There was no room in the street for that vast herd, in the madness of the stampede. Soon cattle were leaping upon wooden platforms outside the houses, charging furiously against every obstacle in their path, snapping stout beams and posts like threads of cotton, and bringing destruc- tion to -everything they met. On and on they came in hundreds, and in a few minutes the wooden houses in the main street of Spanish Gulch had collapsed in ruins. Pre- sently a tongue of fire rose up from one of the wrecked houses, and, little by little, the flames spread. It seemed as though the town was doomed to com- plete destruction, for the fire would complete the ruin the great herd had begun. Francisco saw a great cloud of dust rise slowly over Spanish Gulch, and heard the sounds of falling houses as the herd went through. A grim smile came over his face as he turned to Juan. "You are a witness," he said, "that the cattle were delivered. Now, men, come here. I've got something to say." The men dismounted and gathered round eagerly, and Francisco raised his right hand solemnly. "From henceforward," he cried loudly, "war on every gringo!" The men cheered wildly. They had all submitted to the Americans, but they chafed in secret against their con- querors, and the treatment of their young master had brought matters to a head. Each of Francisco's men burned for revenge. "I am going down now to collect the dollars from Harkness," said Francisco. "That will be dangerous, senor," pro- tested Juan anxiously. "'Take me with you." "No, Juan," replied Francisco. "There's no danger. They will not ex- pect n'.e, and I'll soon bo back. Stay here, all of you." He rode off into the darkness, and soon came cautiously into Spanish Gulch. The fire had been put out by some of the townsfolk, headed by the sheriff, and Francisco, lurking behind a pile of ruins, presently saw David Howard and a few men picking their way among the debris. "Where's Harkness?" asked Howard, looking i-ound. "Don't know, sheriff," came the reply in contemptuous tones. " He's been busy saving his skin, I reckon, though his house wasn't in danger, anyway. J expect you'll find fjini there." "I'll go along and see," said Howard. "I've sure got a few words to say to him." The men grinned as they dispersed, Every Tuesday and the sheriff went off alone to t^O Land Commissioners house. Francisco followed, and waited outside the house until Howard came out. Tlie sheriff did not stay long, and when he iiad gone^ the young don crept up to a window and looked in. Harkness was angry, for the sheriff had spoken very bluntly to him, and to bo told that the ruin of Spanish Gulch was due to his treatment of Francisco had annoyed the bullying Commi^sionor very much, particularly as the sheriff's words were true. "Darn that greaser!" he cried aloud. "I wish I had him here!" "Here is the greaser!" said Fran- cisco, leaping in at the window. " Stick 'em up!" Harkness had no option but to stick them up, and very angrily he did so. while the young Mexican relieved fiim of his gun. "Now I'll have a receipt for those cattle, and I'll have the dollars, too," said Francisco calmly. "You know I've had no cattle," mut- tered Harkness sullenly. "Pardon me, senor," replied Fran- cisco, with the utmost politeness, "but three thousand tiead were delivered in Spanish Gulch this evening, and I have plenty of witnesses to prove it. The cattle may have passed on beyond the town, but then, you see, you did not tell me exactly where to deliver them. You will give me the receipt and the dollar's, if you please, at once." Harkness sat sullenly silent for a moment, but the gun Francisco hehl menacingly before him soon sapped his resolution to hold out. "I'll give you what you want," he growled. "I think you had better, senor," said Francisco. "If you don't, Spanisfi Gulch will need a new Land Commis- sioner to-morrow. You called me a ' greaser.' I am a gentleman of Mexico, and we pay our debts." Harkness signed a receipt for the cattle, and reluctantly handed over the dollars, growling: "You'll pay for this," as he did so. "I liave paid, Senor Harkness," said Francisco, touching the livid scar c«i his face. And a moment later he had vanished into the darkness of the night " Now i Shall Be Hunted ! " AT the Ranclio de los Coyotes every- thing went on quietly enough during the absence of Francisco in the north. Judge Travers sought out Juan, only to find that he had gone with the young don, and tlie American did not carry the matter any further. He had much more important business on hand, and his designs against Don Mariano could well wait until the arrival of the Liind Commissioners who were touring California. Travers had for long cast a covetous eye on tho great Rancho de los Coyotes, and with tlw <aid of the Commissioners tho unscrupulous judge had determined to eject the old don on some plausible pretext or other, and to seize the land for his own. Rosita Garcia was still staying at the ranch-house, and one evening she went along to the little chapel to pray, for an uneasy feeling that danger threat- ened Francisco had come over licr. She knelt long before the statue of the Virgin in the quiet chapel, until sud- denly she was roused by the sound of footsteps. Save for the light of a few candles, tho chapel was in darkness, and for the moment Roeita could not see who had come in. Then, to her great joy, slie