Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

10 sound of a galloping horse. A moment later Francisco came in. "Wliy did you send for me, Eosita?" he asked, as they embraced. "To warn you. They suspect who you are, for Captain Howaixl of the Rangers told Dolores to-day. You can't go on like this, Francisco. Think of i^our father and your sister. He seems quite an old man now, and Dolores is like a white ghost." "And you, Rosita?" asked Francisco gently, "Yes, think of me, too. I can't go on in fear all the time. If I were only with you—take me away with you, now, to-night I" "I wisli I could, Rosita," said Fran- cisco, "but there's a price on my head." '.' "Rosita, Rosita!" called Dolores from the house. . "I suppose I must go now," said the girl. "If you want me, send for nie." . One passionate embrace, one last word, and El Puma vanished into tlK! night, while Rosita went into tiio house. Two minutes, later a man rode Jup very quietly, and crept furtively towards the door. It was Harkness, bent on stealing the deed of grant. He was still at the foot of the steps when the door opened and Don Mariano appeared. , "Is that you, Francisco?" cried the joUl man" eagerly. . "I'm Harkness, the Land Com- missioner," eanie the reply "and in the name of the Government I demand that deed of grant." "What!" cried th<» don. "Senor Howard told me " "Darn Howard!" growled Harkness. "Give me that deed, or " Harkness raised his gun threaten- ingly, but Don Mariano, old and feeble though he was, showed no sign of fear. "Gomez! Diego!" lie cried. "Help! A thief !" Harkness lost his head, and did what he had not the least intention of doing when he set out. He pressed the trigger of his gun, and the old don fell just as two or three servants came running up. The Land Commissioner ran for his horse, and galloped like a madman down the road that Francisco had taken a few minutes before. El Puma had just met .Juan, whom he had left on guard, when there came the sound of a shot. The bandits drew rein and listened. A minute later Harkness rode furiously past, spurring desperately, and not even noticing El Puma and Juan. "That was Harkness," said Francisco. "I'm going back to see who fired that shot." The two men returned to the ranch- licuse, and found everything there in wihl confusion. The old don had been carried in, and lay on a bed, dying, while Dolores, Rosita and the servants wept around liim. "Is that you, Franci.sco?" said Don Mariano feebly as his son entered. Francisco stooped over the bed and kissed the old man's forehead. Then he stood upright, his brow dark and his eyes burning with an expression that made the onlookers shudder. "Who did this?" he asked in a low, stern voice. " I heard someone. I thought it was you!" gasped th(> dying man. "It was Ilarkncss and ho came to steal the deed. See if it is still safe in the chest." Francisco went to an old chest in the corner, and after a moment's search ho found the deed and brought it to his father. "Ah, it's safe," muttered the don. "Now Francisco, sec that this deed is October 17tb. 1931,- BOY'S CINEMA given into the hands of the Senor Capi- tan Howard. Dolores will need protec- tion, and you cannot give it. I trust the Senor Howard, and he loves your sister." "Oh, father!" sobbed Dolores, "Don't talk .so much. You must lie still and rest." "I am dying, child," .said the old man, " and I must speak. Francisco, you think you're helping your people, but you're not. You're only creating more distrust. The new order of things is here. It will do—no good—to fight." The last words cauio in a faint whisper, and a moment later Don Mariano was dead. Francisco stood looking down on his father's body for a second, and then turned to go out. "Where are you going?" cried Dolores and Rosita togctlier. "I'm going to give the grant to Howard," replied Francisco. "Do you love this American, Dolores ?" "I love hhu better than anyone in the world, except you and father !" cried Dolores, her body shaking with bitter sobs. "Well, I'm going to see two men," Sciid Francisco quietly. " El Senor Capitan Howard—and one other !" El Puma's Revenge. WITH frantic haste Harkness rode into Los Angeles, and found the judge in liis room at the Bella Union Hotel. "Well, did you get it?" asked Travers eagerly. "Nol" gasped Harkness. "I—I shot him—the don, I mean. He came out and called for his men, and I pressed the trigger instinctively. I didn't mean to shoot the old man." "Is he dead?" queried Travers. " I think so, and I'm ofif to Spanish Gulch in the morning to avoid sus- picion. And remember we've been play- ing cards here all tlie evening." "Of cour.se we have," replied the judge. "No one saw you, I suppose?" "Only the old don," s;iid Harkness confidently, for he had not the least idea that El Puma was even then on his track. Francisco had gone out from the house to find Juan on guard. " My father has been shot—murdered by Harkness," he said. "Now listen. I've no time for mourning. I'm going to avenge him." "I'm with you, Don Francisco!" cried Juan savagely. "No," said Francisco. "While I go •to Los Angeles, you will arrange a change of horses for me on the road to the border. Have good horses at Santa Anna and Santa Catalina and San Diego. I'm going back to Mexico." " Pedro and Felipe aro waiting for us up the road," said Juan. "I'll send them on to see to the horses." "That will do," said Fmncisco. " Then go to the camp and tell the men. Let each man go quietly to his home. To-night is th© end of El Puma." Juan rode off, and Francisco went down alone into Los Angeles. He found the town in darkness, save for the hotel, whore a fe\^ convivial spirits were still drinking in the bar, antl lights still showed at the upper windows. El Puma's spies liad done him good service, and he knew which rooms were occupied by Howard and Harkness. Leaving his horse tethered outside, he shinned up a pillar, scrambled on to a balcony, and came to Howard's window. The captain of the Rangers >yas there, studying a map. David Howard was still torn between love and duty, and. though he seemed to be making notes from the map of all the places in which Every Tuesday it was possible that EI Puma might have a hide-out, he was thinking all the time of Dolores Delfino. A slight noise at the window made Howard look up to see a tall Mexican step into the room. "El Senor Capitan Howard?" said the newcomer. " I am sorry to intrude, senor, but you did me a service at Spanish Gulch, and I have come to re- pay it. I am Francisco Delfino." Howard stared at the young don with- out replying, and after a pause Fran- ci.sco spoke again. "My father is dead—murdered, and I know who shot him," he said bitterly. "With his dying breath he asked me to give you thi.s—the deed of grant to the Rancho do los Coyotes. Will you fcake charge of it, senor? My sister Dolores " "I've heard that Dolores' brother and EL Puma are the same man," inter- rupted Howard, taking the parchment. "And I've heard that Dolores Delfino loves the Senor Howard," replied Fran- cisco quietly. "That is one of the reasons why El Puma is disbanding his men and leaving for Mexico to-night." "I have promised the citizens of Los Angeles to hang El Puma," replied Howard; "but I wiU give Dolores' brother ten minutes to leave the town if he really is going to Mexico." "Very well, senor," said Francisco. "I agree to that, if you will toll Ac Senorita Garcia—you know her, I think." "Yes; I have seen her at the ranch," answered Howard. "If yon will tell her to meet me in Mexico City in a week's time, at the house where I stayed when I was there. My servant Juan will show her where it is." "I will do that,"' said Howard;, "but I warn you that after the ten minutes I .shall gather a posse, and do my best to catch you." "I thank you for the ten minutes," replied Francisco. "Adios, senor!" He swung out of the window and dis- appeared. Howard carefully locked up the deed of grant, took out his watch, and waited for the ten minutes to pass. Francisco crept cautiously along the balcony to the room which Harkness occupied, and peered in. The room was empty. He .slipped down into the street, saw that his horse was ready, and walked boldly into the saloon. There at the bar, with his back to the door, stood Hark- ness, with the judge and a few other men. Harkness in a glass opposite saw the reflection of Francisco as he entered, and the Laud Commissioner turned in- stantly. Several other men did the same as a cry of "El Puma!" was raised. "Yes, senoi-s, El Puma!" cried Fran- cisco, and two guns barked at almost the same moment, as the young don and Harkness both fired. But the Mexicas, was a shade quicker, and Harkness slumped again.st the bar counter, and then slid to the floor, dead, while hia bullet passed harmlessly over Francisco's shoulder. In two strides El Puma was through the door, with bullets splintering the woodwork behind him. Another mo- ment, and he was on his horse, gallop- ing down the street. David Howard came down, and the men gathered around him. "He's gone south, captain!" yelled a dozen voices. In a few minutes Howard was leadii^f a po6se of riders southwards. Out of the town they galloped, and away on the trail towards the far-off Mexican border. CContinned on page 25.)