Show I CARMEN OF THE SYNOPSIS Don Alfredo wealthy Spanish owner of a Southern California rancho refuses to heed several warnings of a raid by a band of outlaws Sierra Indians One day after alter be he bebas bebas bas finally decided to seek the protection of the nearby mission for his wife and familly family fam fame ily illy the Indians strike Don Alfredo Allredo Is killed Ind nd his two young daughters are torn from the arms of the family's faithful maid Monica and are carried away to the hills hUls Padre Pasqual missionary friend of the family arrives at the ruins of the ranch and learns the story of the raid from Monica After a trying and difficult trip across the plains plairs and mountains from Texas to California Cali forma fornia youthful Henry Bowie a Texas adventurer ad with his friends Ben and Simmie an Indian scout sight the party of Df Indians who have carried oft off the two little titUe girls The three Texans attack the war party of odd fifty Indians The girls are saved The group makes its Us way out of f the hills hUls and meets the distraught Monica Mon ica the childrens children's maid The girls are arc left with Monica and the friendly Padre at a mission and the Texans proceed to Montc Monte rey icy Here Bowie completes his business for forCen Gen Cen Sam Houston of Texas who has commissioned commissioned com com- him to deliver an important mes meso sage age Bowie decides to have a look at atthe atthe atthe the wild untamed California Bowie disappears disappears dis appears but returns eight years later and makes the acquaintance of a friendly Spanish Spanish Span Span- ish family at the Rancho Guadalupe lie He is attracted by the lovely Carmen daughter daughter daugh daugh- ter of Don Ramon the ranchos rancho's owner Bowie saves Don Ramons Ramon's life liCe In a fierce light with a huge grizzly bear Don FranCisco Francisco Fran cisco youthful heir to the ranchos rancho's acres Is captured In a n battle with Indian raiders Bowie sets out to help his friends CHAPTER VIII VIII-Continued VIII Continued S 8 SIt It was a bootless search with no signs of the Indians Daylight was well advanced by the time the four had covered the canyon and Pedro had signaled for the horses Riding back the quartette found the vaqueros riding in circles over the scene of the fight of the day be be- fore They had counted when Bowie Bowie Bowie Bow Bow- ie rejoined them the bodies of elevEn eleven eleven elev elev- en dead Indians but there was no sign of Don Francisco Once more I Bowie ordered the party up the cant canyon canyon can can- t yon to pick up the trail He himE himself him him- E self was riding slowly ahead alone ft and under a driving rain across a afield afield afield field of loose rock and shale when I his eye was drawn from the trail by byan byan byk k an object lying near to a clump of stunted trees He reined toward it looked again hesitated then sprang from his horse It might be the naked body of a dead Indian But Buta a closer look brought a shock it was the sodden rain-sodden body of Don Fran Fran- cisco A saddle blanket was stretched on the ground The dead lad was wrapped in it and slung across the back of a horse and with every precaution against ambush the sober sober so so- I ber horsemen made their way back to open country and the ranch At Bowies Bowie's insistence Pedro rode ahead to break the news he himself did not feel equal to it Loud wails greeted the little cavalcade cavalcade caval caval- cade as it approached the rancho Servants and children made no effort effort effort ef ef- ef- ef fort to restrain their grief At the ranch house door Don Ramon stern faced and bitter stood with Dona DonaMaria DonaMaria Maria laria who was supported by Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men the two women in tears They suppressed their sobs as best they could while Don Francisco was awkwardly awkwardly awkwardly awk awk- but tenderly carried in by bythe bythe bythe the tall Texan and laid on the young Dons Don's own bed and in his darkened room Don Ramon summoned Dr Doane from Monterey and under his skillful skillful skillful skill skill- ful hands the features of Don Francisco Francisco Francisco Fran Fran- cisco as he lay in the candlelight the next night in his rough coffin were less terrible more nearly natural natural natural nat nat- ural and in some measure more consoling to those who gathered around him to recite the prayers of the dead Indeed the whole night heard their voices raised to heaven in intercession for a dear one Hour by hour groups of the household from master and mistress to the lowliest of the servants relieved one another in vigil beside the rude bier Next day lying before the mission altar while Padre Martinez and his Franciscan assistant intoned the Mass of Requiem the youthful victim victim victim vic vic- vic vic- tim seemed in his repose almost to speak words of consolation to those who still mourned him with unceasing unceasing unceasing ing sobs Bowie had never seen just such a Catholic funeral The i solemn ritual the marked reverence reverence reverence rever rever- ence the uplifted hands of the suppliant suppliant suppliant sup sup- pliant at the altar joined by those uplifted at times at the altar rail- rail moved him beyond any spectacle he had ev ever r witnessed Dr Doane spent the night at atI Guadalupe and sat late with Bowie I and Don Ramon Again the master master master mas mas- ter of the rancho talked with the Texan about taking over the management management man man- management of the great domain Now more than ever I need you Senor Bowie said Don Ramon qui qui- etly My nephew was my right arm without him I am helpless And without him well-nigh well defense defense- less He has handled the vaqueros managed the matanzas arranged the sale of the hides and tallow These marauding Indians Indiana from now on they w will be bolder encouraged encouraged encouraged aged by this partial victory Don Ricardo he said addressing f I Dr D Doane will you not also lend your voice to persuade our Texan friend to become as you have a Give me tonight to think it over Don Ramon said Bowie at last a Tomorrow 1 will decide In an any y I event I thank thank- you Good night 1 Af After er breakfast next morning Bowie and Don Ramon sat down in the rancho office If you still feel you want to go Co ahead Don Ramon said Bowie Im inclined to co come e to stay here r with you I a I By FRANK H. H SPEARMAN Don Ramons Ramon's face lighted The details were worked out The two scouts and Simmie were offered and later accepted work as vaqueros But with the understanding understanding understanding under under- standing that when the wanderlust seized them they were free to head for the mountains where in fact they had spent most of their time in California After the difficulties had been ironed out Don Ramon ordered I horses Bowie was introduced to I Pedro and his vaqueros as major- major domo Taking Pedro Pancho Par Par- daloe and the Creek with them Don Ramon and Bowie spent hours riding riding riding rid rid- ing over the valley and through the hills granted by the king of Spain to his favored retainer Don Ramon Estrada grandfather to the present Don Ramon Dona Maria had been told of the new arrangement She was so pleased that she hastened to Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men to tell her of the coming of Bowie Carmen looked up with a face almost as black as a thundercloud thunder thunder- cloud Why Carmen protested her mother dont you like it Like it exclaimed the impetuous ous girl An Americano to come to Guadalupe Could not Father have picked anybody but an Americano to take poor Francisco's place But Carmen was at least mistress of her feelings and she he kept them to herself At dinner that night there was present a new member of the 4 k W f With With a face almost as black as a thunder cloud household and he was received by bythe bythe I Ithe the family with the perfect courtesy i of their training and traditions Bowie Bow Bow- I ie in spite of himself was a bit self- self conscious Perhaps that was why I he talked more than was his wont He was likewise conscious of choosing choosing choosing choos choos- ing his words carefully in the new tongue because of listening ears at atthe atthe atthe the lower end of the table Within a short time the rancho routine had already become so established established established es es- es- es that the presence of Bowie seemed a part of the considerable domain Pedro a full-blooded full MariJ Mariposa Mariposa Mari- Mari posa Indian took to Bowie from J the start Simmie told him of one fairly stiff brush in company with the Texan and how he had taken stock of his bearing when baptized by a cloud of arrows In the estimation estimation estimation esti esti- mation of an Indian one characteristic tic ranks above all others others steadiness ness under fire Every day Pedro and his fellow Indian vaquero Pancho Pancho Pancho Pan Pan- cho rode the valley and foothills of Guadalupe with Bowie who gradually gradually gradually grad grad- applied d to its better management management management manage manage- ment the experience and practice of ofa a Texas cattleman One morning word came to the rancho that the Indians had raided the mission Two hundred horses were missing and fifteen women and girls taken The storeroom was robbed and emptied Senor Bowie what do you think of this raid Don Ramon Ranson asked the Texan at breakfast Pedro thinks this is another of jobs Pedro knows these mountain Indians pretty well But theres there's one thing certain every time Indians make a successful raid they are bolder for the next They need needa a lesson He spoke slowly What shall we do asked Don Ramon interrupting himI himI himI him I know of but one thing continued continued continued con con- Bowie thatis that is to go after them Anyway that's what we used to do down on the Staked Plain when they got too troublesome Theres There's another angle in this for me Don Ramon This led the theraid theraid theraid raid that resulted in the death of Don Francisco murder Francisco murder I call it for forthe forthe forthe the boy was killed after he was wounded He was my friend Id I'd travel from here to hell-fire hell to punish his murderer His speech and manner were still deliberate almost cold but his tone carried conviction of deadly intent Again he was cut short Pedro hat in hand had run hurriedly to the doorway Vaquero from the mission I he exclaimed The Don with Bowie followed closely by Dona Maria and Carmen hastened to the portico The messenger messenger messenger mes mes- was bareheaded and his horse foam flecked and restive He spoke fast Padre Martinez iY if I Fr Franl n H H. H rm n Service has sent me The Indians were led by He has carried away twenty-five twenty girls and women and three hundred horses Padre Martinez Martinez Martinez Mar Mar- begs you will send help today I He fears they will be back tonight to carry off more of the women Don Ramon raised his hand Tell Padre Martinez we will send help The horseman touching his forehead forehead forehead fore fore- head whirled away A clatter of ot hoofs and a trail of dust marked his way across the valley to the southern ranchos ranches The group on the porch watched him Don Ramon looked to Bowie We must act he said The mission must be protected What about their soldiers demanded demanded demanded de de- de- de Bowie of Pedro this worthless government enough regard for the property to supply guards for it He did not wait for foran foran foran an answer Pedro he said sharply sharp sharp- ly fetch Pard aloe and Simmie Who is this he asked A second unobtrusive vaquero had stood at Pedros Pedro's elbow listening to every word This is Sanchez my right-hand right trailer answered Pedro He is frantic Among the girls has stolen is his sweetheart Amelita He knows the mountains asked Bowie Born and lived there He is down here only two years And has stolen his girl mused Pedro They were to be married soon You should have some idea of where this hides said Bowie Bow Bow- ie eying Sanchez closely He is no doubt the same wretch that killed Don Francisco We Ve must get him Where does hide Senor muttered the stolid Mariposa Mariposa Mariposa Mar- Mar he has three places Which is the closest If It he is in the closest he cannot be taken You must wait till he goes farther up in the mountains Bowie was impatient Tell me talk faster where is this closest place he asked curtly In a canyon of the Santa Maria River high up in a cave cave cave- Pedro interrupted I know that big cave senor It opens on a canyon canyon canyon can can- yon wall five hundred feet high The cave is halfway up reached by a ledge not three feet wide You see there is no chance to attack while hides there You must wait This cave cave it it opens out on a canyon canyon canyon can can- yon wall Is the opening narrow or wide Wide Vide senor We Ve will try for the cave Pedro But senor Bowie shook his head We Ve will start tonight What say Sanchez The Mariposa did not speak He looked at the ground thinking Don Ramon Dona Maria l Carmen waited waited waited wait wait- ed in suspense Sanchez asked Bowie casually are you afraid The taunt stung the Indian into words For himself Sanchez fears nothing Y os co has stolen his Am Am- elita Sometime Sanchez spoke slowly on sometime Sanchez will kill him You speak like a man Sanchez But help us now to get back the horses and the mission women Can you take us to the cave Again the Mariposa l paused I Ican Ican Ican can take you to the cave senor But the only chance would be to surprise surprise surprise sur sur- prise them If they discover you first every man you take along will willbe willbe willbe be killed Do you want to take that chance Why not And we must start tonight Sanchez nodded assent We Ve must get to the cave before daybreak The Indian nodded again We shall need you for a guide A small cloud of dust could be seen on the northern horizon Those are rancheros said Bowie They will be here soon The rancheros rode up in twos and threes Felipe and Jose Martinez Marti Marti- nez from Pinole Antonio Bernal from Santa Teresa Francisco Soto from El Molino Pedro Arguello from San Miguel Sebastian Pacheco Pache- Pache co and Ignacio Alviso from Vicenti The sun was hot Francisco Soto who was pugnacious but fat suggested suggested suggested sug sug- moving to the shade of the portico Bowie vetoed the tion Let us keep away from the servants' servants ears cars he suggested These Indians are not all to be trusted If we dont don't surprise he will surprise us that Indian must be a smart hombre The conference moved as a compromise compromise compromise com com- promise to the shade of a spreading spreading spreading spread spread- ing oak Two hours went to impressing impressing impressing im im- im- im pressing on the group the details of the plan of attack And I dont don't want anyone to ride into this without warning him of the danger said Bowie as the meeting broke up It Itis Itis Itis is a dash into enemy country If our attack fails some of us will not come back and if anyone wishes to drop out now there will be no hard feelings We meet at eight o'clock at the mission mission That night the Spanish blood was up Every don who had been summoned summoned summoned sum sum- was on hand at the evening rendezvous Their numbers had been handsomely handsomely handsomely hand hand- supplemented by rancheros from the south south south-in in all twenty-eight twenty men rode from the mission that night for the stronghold of the outlaw outlaw outlaw out out- law Indians in Santa Maria Canyon It was only a handful of men for foran foran foran an invasion but they were twenty- twenty eight men each capable of giving an account of himself CH CHAPTER TER IX At Don Ramons Ramon's suggestion Bowie was made captain of ot the company and it was agreed to obey his orders You all understand I suppose that we must depend on Sanchez to take us to the |