Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

14 head. "We could get to close quarters before they got wise to our game." "We could get a good price for those cattle at Mountain Creek." Mat Ballard's face twisted into an avaricious grin. "All right, boys, let's go." Not many minutes later Ballard and his gang stared down at the wagon train. "Ride down in a body and then open up," he decided. "You. Red, will take six of the boys to the right flank. Farley, yon do the same to the left, and I'll attack from the front. If they show' resistance shoot 'em down." John was whistling blithely when .he stopped abruptly. "Coo, look at all those riders. Wonder who they are ?" "Are they Indians?" "No, but I don't like the look of them. Hallo, what's happening?" John pointed. "Pop's turning." Mark Wyatt had sensed these men were enemies and decided that his best chance was to get all the wagons to- gether. The wagons would make a barricade. It was an old method of lighting Indians when they rode round mi their circle of death. But Ballard's horses were swift and he had expected such a move. The raiders swept down and round the help- less wagon train and soon the guns were blazing. Poor Mark Wyatt was struck down by a bullet, and bravely his wife took the reins when her husband slid off the box- seat, to the dust. They showed no mercy did that gang of murderers. Hanna Wyatt toppled backwards with a bullet through her heart. The other pioneers tried to put up a fight, but it was a dispirited effort. One bullet did fetch down one of Ballard's men, and that made the rascals so angry that they not only shot down men and women, but also murdered the children. A bullet struck one of the horses of the baggage wagon and sent both animals mad with fright. They bolted, and John was unable to hold them. The wagon crashed over some stones, and John, losing his balance, was flung from his seat. He hit the ground with a thud and lay still. Little Jim had toppled backwards into the baggage, but the kid had spirit and managed to seize hold of a rifle. The gang rounded up the wagons, he- moved everything of value, and then fired them. The cattle were driven to- wards the hills to a secret canyon. The last wagon to round up was the runaway, but Red rode alongside the maddened horses. They were about to lift the flap at the back when a rifle was poked through and a childish voice cried : "Hands up !" Red grabbed the barrel, and then they saw it was a small boy. Ballard roared with mirth. "Say. that kid's got nerve. Lot's take him along with us." ljowling and screaming they strapped .Tim to a saddle, and, gloating- in their \ ictory, rode away. It was dusk when John Wyatt stirred and sat up. He blinked his eyes and wondered what had happened until he saw the blazing wagons, then he re- membered There was no sign of the raiders, and John did not eare very much as he got to his feet and staggered across the plain. First he found the body of his father and gazed down as if this were some terrible nightmare, then dazedly he moved forward till he came to the; figure oi his dear mother. He knelt beside her. and though he did not touch her he knew she was dead. There and then lie vowed an oath I' eember E8th, L086, BOY'S CINEMA that he would never rest till he had re- venged himself for the murder of his parents. No sign could he find of his brother, and he stayed till morning for a last search. If his brother lived he would find him if he went to the ends of the earth. Two days later John was seen and rescued by another wagon train, who chose another route when they heard the boy's story of the massacre. The Forming of the Vigilantes THOSE settlers soon found that John Wyatt was a useful lad and respected his silent ways, but as the boy grew older the shadow of the past faded but never grew dim. He listened to the advice of elders that it was better to forget. "One may forget but never forgive," he had answered. "And when I am old enough I am going to. search for my brother and the people that killed my mother and father. Never shall I know peace until I have found those fiends" A settler adopted John, taught him well and coached him with riding and roping. At fifteen, John was the brightest lad in the settlement and the best horseman At sixteen he experi- enced a brush with outlaws. It was John who warned the encampment. It looked as if the settlers would be trapped in a peaceful valley, but John had explored the rocks, and with three men gained the safety of the cliffs. From cover they shot down with deadly accuracy on the raiders, who finally rode off leaving six men dead and two badly wounded. At eighteen John was a trapper and scout, but he had developed wander- lust. He would leave the kindly folk that had adopted him and vanish for days at a time. They knew he was seeking news of th.9 murderers of his parents. The west was still overrun with rogues and renegades, and John, at nine- teen, was in command of a wagon train when attacked. The enemy were sur- prised at the speediness of the settlers in putting themselves in a state of de- fence and alarmed by the deadly shoot- ing. When they fled John Wyatt pur- sued them and brought down two before they reached the safety of the hills. The kindly folk that he called mother and father "died and left John a very valuable ranch John was twenty-one when they passed over, and for the next three years he worked like a slave mak- ing the ranch one of the finest for hundreds of miles around. Moreover, he erected stout barricades round the ranch and had watchmen always on duty. His men rode range always in couples. Two were killed and a hundred head of cattle rustled, but John found out and got his cattle back with four prisoners. These prisoners were taken off to the nearest gaol, and an angry mob broke into the cell, took the rustlers and gave them a necktie party from the nearest tiec. John was too late to do anything It was primitive Justin-, and he could not blame the people There was a lot of unrest among the ranches, settlements and villages, and justice had a way of ■g astray John reached the age of twenty five, and was satisfied that he- could safely leave matters in tii<> capable hands of his foreman, Campbell. He announced that he was going away, and the fore- man knew that Wyatt was renewing his search. Tn the small cowtowns John noticed itie unrest and uneasiness prevailing. Rustling, robbery, pillage and murder were everyday occurrences; The saloons prospered ana the towns were full oi gunmen, who would shoot anybody for the price of a few drinks. It was then Every Tuesday that John thought of those men bursting into the gaol and dragging out those four outlaws and hanging them. One day ho rode into the big town of Custer and was present at a trial of two outlaws. Obviously guilty, they were pardoned and went away laughing. Custer was tho centre of all the evil that prevailed, and the next day John had audience with the mayor and mem- bers of the council. Frankly and fearlessly he spoke and explained his idea, and they listened in silence. "Gentlemen, advance me some money and I will rid you of these pcstV he concluded. "I will give a largo sum of my own money as well. But not only do I want money—I need power. Power to form together a body of men to fight these crooks Grant me permission to form this body and I will clear Southern California of this scourge." John looked at them hopefully. The mayor looked at his councillors and knew that ins opinion was the same as their own. "John Wyatt," he began. "We havo heard of you, the tragedy of your youth, and the fine deeds that you have done as a young man in fighting outlaws. Wo also know that the Orchard Ranch is one of the finest in California, that it is superbly run and so well protected that it is almost impregnable. I speak on behalf of all present when I say that we agree with all that you have told us in this room to-day, and that we would willingly help—if we were able." He paused. "You have told us of tho deplorable conditions existing, and wo are only too wel> aware of them, but we have no money and little power. T am risking a bullet in speaking as frankly as I do, but I think that every member here is for justice. But though we're for justice our hands are tied. Not only arc the coffers empty, but to suggest the organisation of such a body would be to start a massacre in this town." " But. surely, tho people would back you up?" "They are cowed like we arc," tho mayor said. "Tho judges arc corrupt and there is scarcely a sheriff, that is not in with these outlaws. Tf a p fill citizen dares to voice an opinion he is likely to be shot. Tf there is a shoot- ing affray all the people scuttle lo their shacks like rats. John Wyatt, we are powerless." "I am a peaceable citizen (ill T am roused," John Wyatt cried. " I will seo if I cannot find a few brave men. I thank you. gentlemen, lor listening to me. You'll either hear of my body b( int found or you'll hear something very dif- ferent. Good-day!" Very carefully John Wyatt went fo work on a daring idea. He had heard of attempts to form bands of Vigilantes in other towns and he was determined to do the same. At the end of the month John had found out a greal deal about certain of these peaceful citizens. At last came the day. A grimy blacksmith al work in his forge heard =» knock at his door, and he found a note pinned to the woodwork by a sharp peg. "Your wife was shot dead when yoil decided to settle in California. On: shot her down and your only child. If you want justice be at Thacker's barn one hour after sunset." All men who had suffered at the hands of these desperadoes received i similar letter Tf they wanted justice to be at Thacker's barn one hour after sunset. Every one of those men answered (1m call and went. There were sixty men, old and young, in that barn By the