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THE LIFE AND HISTORY
OF
FRANCISCO VILLA
THE MEXICAN BANDIT
BY CAPT KENNEDY 0. S. A.
NO. 9
A TRUE AND AUTHENTIC LIFE HISTORY OF THE MOST
NOTED BANDIT THAT EVER LIVED, A MAN
WHO HAS OVERTHROWN THE
GOVERNMENT OF MEX-
ICO AND DEFIED
THE UNITED
STATES.
Copyrighted MCMXVI Royal Pufc,
I. & M. OTTENHEIMER,
Publishers
321 W. BALTIMORE ST.
BALTIMORE, MD.
FRANCISCO VILLA
THE MEXICAN BANBIT.
CHAPTER I.
Thirty-seven years ago there was born a man wfid
was destined to shock by his deeds the civilized world.
He has been known through the terrible days of
his life of robbery, arson and murder as Francisco
Villa.
But that was not the name under which he was
christened by the priest in the little mountain town of
Las Nieves, in the State of Durango, Mexico.
That name was Doroteo Arranzo.
What caused him to take the name of Francisco
3 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Villa, and to bestow it upon his family is, apparently,
known only to himself and so far as authentic records
show he has never offered any explanation.
Indeed, the whole history of his birth, even of his
parentage, is shrouded in mystery.
As to who his father was, accounts differ. Some
say that he was a negro, others that he was of Mexi-
can origin.
Villa's mother, however, was a full-blooded Indian.
Besides the notorious bandit, there was born to the
Arranzos, or Villas as they are now known, a
daughter.
In her were embodied all the traits of her parents
and to them she added a beauty so unusual that she
was courted by Mexicans from far and near.
Villa loved his sister passionately and it was be-
cause of her that he became an outlaw and was forced
to live in the bush, prize money mounting into the thou-
sands on his head, hunted relentlessly by the Rurales
or mounted police for fifteen years.
Of the early days of the bandit's life little is known.
But we may suppose he grew up on the little ranch
owned by his family.
He is said to have received a most pious training at
'the hands of a priest.
, The fact remains, however, that Villa is grossly
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 5
illiterate, can neither read nor write, but has learned
to sign his name.
When authentic history first takes cognizance of
Doroteo Arranzo he was eighteen years old.
At the time, he was known as Francisco Villa, and
was busily engaged in cultivating the 50 acres which
constituted the Villa ranch in Las Nieves.
In stature he was of medium height, with massive
shoulders and what has been called a perfect "bullet-
shaped" head.
His eyes were brown and he had a mustache which
did not hide the noticeable ugliness of his mouth, an
ugliness enhanced by the fact that his teeth were yel-
low and irregular.
His garb consisted of cotton trousers, cotton shirt
and the pointed sombrero.
Money, of which he has always been so covetous,
from the day he took up his life of outlawry, was
almost unknown to him.
It is said that he saved what he earned for two years
before he had enough to buy his first gun.
But, apparently, almost as soon as he got it he used
it to commit murder, for he was but twenty years old
when he killed his first man.
And the money to buy this gun was earned by Villa
by driving cattle owned by neighboring ranchers over
the mountain to be sold.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT;
History records another member of the Villa fam-
ily in those days in the person of an aged grand-
parent.
The killing of his first man sent Villa to the moun-
tains as an outlaw.
At that time, when he was but twenty years old,
began the hunt for him which lasted for fifteen years.
During this period, he robbed, burned and murdered
till his name became a terror throughout the length
and breadth of Mexico.
Never was there a day when the Rurales were not
on his trail. But he seemed to bear a charmed life,
a superstition which he has always been at the greatest
pains to inculcate in the minds of his ignorant fellow-
country men.
No matter how clever the traps laid for him, he
always managed to extricate himself: no matter how
overwhelming the odds against him, he always man-
aged to escape. ,
Nine times he was wounded but from them all he
recovered.
Each act of crime he committed made him bolder.
He rode about the country fearlessly, helping himself
to anything he wanted, killing those who incurred his
anger or his ever-excitable suspicion, till in despera-
tion, Porfirio Diaz, then president of Mexico, offered
a reward of twenty thousand dollars for his capture.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 7
But even this prize money, great as it was to the
people among whom he lived, did not induce any one
to kill him, though many tried.
Upon Francisco Madero, for a while president of
Mexico, the onus of transforming Villa from a terror-
inspiring bandit to a national hero is placed.
During the latter part of the fifteen years when he
was nothing but a desperate outlaw, Villa made the
acquaintance.^ Raoul Madero, brother of Francisco.
At the time, Francisco was pushing his revolt against
the rule of Porfirio Diaz.
The bandit seemed to fascinate Raoul and they be-
came great chums.
As the Madero revolution vacillated between failure
and success, finally seeming doomed to failure, Raoul
Madero conceived the idea of enlisting Villa in his
brother's cause.
Sometime during his career, the bandit is said to
have served in the United States Army.
At all events, he had a crude knowledge of affairs
military, and Raoul was impressed with the manner in
which he inspired blind devotion on the part of his
followers.
Having conceived the idea, Raoul wrote to his
brother. There is said to be .a letter on record in
which Raoul extols the bandit as a hero and genius
8 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
at the very time when he was feared throughout
Mexico as a blood-lusting cut-throat.
Willing to grasp at any straw that might save the
day for his fast-failing revolution, Francisco Madero
sent a commission to the bandit.
From that day when, as a soldier, he took up arms
against the rule of Porfirio Diaz, Villa's deeds have
alternately horrified and roused the admiration of
the entire world. %
The men whom Villa gathered into his command
worshipped him.
To all his followers he has always been "Pancho"
the Spanish nickname for Francisco evidence that
they knew and felt that he was one of their own
mould, not a member of the hated aristocracy or land-
owning class.
In the days of his outlawry, he was dubbed "The
Tiger."
When he became an officer in the revolutionary army
of Francisco Madero he declared himself to be the
people's idol and terror and he still is today among
the masses of the Mexicans.
When Diaz was at last deposed and Madero be-
came president with Victoriano Huerta as his generalis-
simo, there sprang up the same intense hatred between
Villa and Huerta that had existed between Villa and
Diaz.
FRANCISCO VILLA* BANDIT 9
Huerta cast Villa into jail.
Madero quickly released him.
But when Huerta ascended to the presidency after
Madero's death> one of his first acts was to cast Villa
into jail again.
His luck still held true, however, and before Huerta
could have him removed "Pancho" escaped.
As might be expected, no sooner had he made his
escape than the people's idol and terror took up arms
against Huerta,
10 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT,
CHAPTER II.
VILLA'S FIRST MURDER.
It is not the purpose in this story of Francisco Villa
to narrate his deeds since he became a revolutionist
the newspapers and magazines have chronicled his
movements and exploits from the day he went to
Madero's aid but to give the account of the obscure
days when he terrorized his native land by his out-
lawry.
But it will give an insight into this man whose fol-
lowers acclaim him as hero and whose enemies call
him the devil incarnate, to consider his characteristics.
From his Indian mother he received his violent emo-
tion, either for love or hate, his superstition, his
marvellous agility and his suspicion*
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 11
From his father he doubtless inherited his love for
drink, for women, and his fearlessness.
Because of his lowly origin, the ignorant masses of
the Mexicans feel and know that he is one of them
and they yield to him blind obedience.
He seems to have a marvellous faculty of attracting
men of all ranks 'and descriptions to him and his ability
to handle his men and to direct his armies has led some
of his most enthusiastic admirers and apologists to
place him high upon the pinnacle of fame as a military
genius.
But despite the glory and honors that have been
accorded him, Francisco Villa is a murderer and was
for fifteen years before he acquired fame as a soldier.
To those who delight to place the blame for a man's
mistakes and crimes upon a woman, there will be a
cynical satisfaction that the woman in Villa's case was
his sister.
As has been said, her beauty made her the toast
throughout the State of Durango.
Among the innumerable wooers who serenaded her
with their guitars or chatted with her a's they lazily
puffed their cigarettes, was the sheriff, or jefe politico.
Whether it was his rank or his personality, it soon
became evident to her other suitors and Jo her family,
that the sheriff had her preference.
It is evident that Villa viewed this attachment be-
12 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
tween a man of high standing in the State and his
humble, though beautiful, sister with suspicion.
At last his opposition to the courtship became so
pronounced that when Villa went on one of his trips
across the mountains with cattle for one of his neigh-
bors, the sheriff and the girl took advantage of his
absence to elope.
Evidently fearing some such event, Villa had com-
missioned one of his chums, Dato Lopez, to keep his
eye on the lovers.
When they eloped, Dato rode post haste to inform
Villa.
"Were they married ?" demanded the brother, as his
chum finished his story.
"There are no records of any ceremony," Dato re-
plied.
Crazed by the information, Villa turned over the
driving of the cattle to market to a cowboy and rode
back to Las Nieves with Dato.
Arrived, he hurriedly enlisted two other friends to
help him in the plan he had formed as he rode home
to his little ranch, Bepo and Enrico.
Accompanied by them, he went to the village priest.
"Father," said he, "I want you to go into the moun-
tains with me to marry my sister to the sheriff/'
Deeming refusal dangerous, the priest agreed and
quickly were they under way.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 13
Without difficulty, Villa picked up the trail of the
elopers and when he reached the last ranch house be-
fore entering the mountains he borrowed a spade.
Three days' hard riding brought them just at sun-
down to the spot where the elopers had pitched their
camp.
They were away when the little troop arrived but
soon returned.
At the sight of the brother with whose sister he had
run away, the sheriff stopped, then looked about for a
means of escape.
"Don't run, come here!" thundered Villa, covering
the official with his gun, the gun to buy which he had
saved for two years.
Unwillingly the couple obeyed.
"Are you married ?" Villa demanded of his sister.
But she only hung her head.
"Answer me !" he roared, his eyes wild with fury.
Still his sister kept silent, cowering for protection
against the man with whom she eloped.
"I know you are not. If you were, you would tell
me. But before the sun sets tonight you will be," he
growled.
"Only a priest can marry us," exclaimed the sheriff,
thinking he had found a way to avoid the ceremony
with the low-caste beauty.
"And only a priest will," snarled Villa.
14 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"But how can we be married before sunset if there
is no priest?" demanded the sheriff.
"I have brought one," the brother answered. Then
turning to his companions, he said: "Bepo, ask the
good father to come here."
For Villa had deemed it wise to conceal the presence
of the priest by hiding him behind a rock.
As the good father stepped forth, the sheriff
groaned.
"Be quick, father," urged Villa. "We must be on
our way shortly."
Accoutring himself in his vestments, the priest
stepped before the sheriff and the beauty with whom
he had run away.
The short service was soon over.
"Now you are legally married," exclaimed Villa to
his sister.
"Then everything is all right?" asked the sheriff
who feared the short, heavy man before him.
- "Yes."
"Good. We'll return to Las Nieves and celebrate."
"There's a little work to be done first," declared
Villa. " 'Rico, get the spade attached to my saddle."
In amazement the others heard the orders and in
amazement they watched the brother as he received
the shovel from his friend.
His face, terrible to see, Villa turned on the sheriff,
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 15
"Take this shovel and dig a grave," he commanded.
As they heard the grim order, the others shrank
back.
"What " began the sheriff, only to be interrupted
by his new-made brother-in-law.
"Don't ask questions but dig" cried Villa.
Fascinated, wondering what the brother intended to
do, the others watched while the sheriff dug.
"That will do," exclaimed Villa, at last.
Quickly the sheriff straightened up.
At the same instant a gun barked and the man who
had eloped with the beauty sunk down in the grave
he had dug.
It5 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER III.
VILLA ADMINISTERS THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
Instinctively the others drew away from the man
who had murdered his brother-in-law.
But Villa only laughed, picked up the shovel ,2nd
threw in the earth upon the man he had killed.
"Father," said he when he had finished the task. "I
want you to escort my sister safely back to the ranch
at Las Nieves.
"Having put the sheriff out of the way, the State
of Durango will not be a safe place for me."
Realizing protest would be vain, the priest agreed.
Part of the way, Villa and his companions accom-
panied them, tkea beaded towat4 tbe 5wra Ma<3hr
Mouutefos.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 17
Francisco Villa, at the age of twenty, was a mur-
derer, doomed by his act to a life of outlawry.
"You'd better come with me," he said to his
friends. "You are accessories and can be shot as well
as I."
Fearing to refuse the three cowboys agreed.
On the way they stopped at the Rondo ranch.
"Any money?" demanded Villa, as the owner
stepped upon the porch to greet him.
"Yes."
"Get it."
"Never/ 1
Again Villa's gun barked and the ranch owner
dropped.
"Quick, inside and get the money," he cried.
In short order they opened the safe and found
$2500.
"We'll burn the house to cover our work," Villa
announced, as he stuffed the money into his shirt.
Reluctantly the others applied the tojch; then went
out to their horses and were riding away, when the
Rondo cowboys dashed up, having been attracted by
the shot
As they saw the house in flames the punchers started
for Villa and his men.
"Give them a shot," commanded the outlaw,
Again and again their guns barked, then the bandits
18 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
raced toward the Sierras and in due course reached
a cave which Villa announced would be their head-
quarters.
As he lay stretched out on the ground, the bandit
leader determined to live up to his nickname, "The
Tiger."
Visions of the rich ore wagons as they crawled along
the trails from the mines to the railroad stations
flashed into his mind.
At the same time, however, he realized that in order
to be able to carry out any plans that came into his
head he must have assistance and he then and there
determined to organize the band which has robbed,
burned and murdered from one end of Mexico to
the other.
Sitting up, he shouted : "Bepo, Dato, Enrico."
From the nooks they had selected, the three men
came forth.
"Come here," Villa commanded, himself sitting up.
And when the trio had obeyed, he bade them seat
themselves, rolled a cigarette and then studied the face
of first one and then another.
At last he spoke:
"Before I outline my plans I want to remind you
that I have each mother's son of you in my power.
"You were all with me when we robbed the safe
of the Gringo's ranch. You were all with me when
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 19
we set fire to the storehouse. You each of you shot
at the Gringo cowpunchers.
"Whether those bullets killed any of them we don't
% know.
"So I can hand every one of you over to the
Rurales for robbery, arson and murder but I won't.
"If any one of you wants to leave after hearing
my plan, you can do so.
"But if any one does and he betrays me or tries
to he won't be alive after I meet him again. Just
get that in your heads and remember it."
As the heavy-lipped bandit warmed to his words,
he waved his hands and rolled his eyes, excitedly.
Terrified by his words, his companions watched his
every move, forgetting even to puff on their cigarettes
as they listened to what he said.
Suddenly he leaned forward.
"Do you want to leave, Dato ?" he demanded, at the
same time pointing his finger at the man nearest him.
"N-no," faltered the half breed.
"Do you, Enrico?"
"No-o."
"Do you, Bepo?"
"No."
"Good. I'll make you rich. I'll make your names
so feared that you'll only have to tell who you are to
have women and Gringos hand over their money,
20 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDI1
jewels and cattle to leave them alone.
"Peons can work for a peso a day if they want to,
but I, Francisco Villa, will never take less than a
thousand dollars, gold, and I'll take it when I want
it, and as often as I want it.
"Madre di Dios, but I'll live the life money,
women and pulque !
"Do you want to share them with me?"
Eyes big with greed, faces flushed with excitement,
the three men chorused their eagerness to follow the
bandit chieftain.
"Then take the oath of alligiance," exclaimed Villa.
"And remember, each and every one of you must obey
me in everything. Death will be the penalty for the
slightest disobedience."
From his sash, Pancho drew a knife on whose
blade dark spots showed that it had tasted blood.
"Swear on this," he said. "Dato, you first. Put
your right hand on the blade and repeat what I say."
Fascinated, the half breed reached forth his hand,
but as his fingers touched the blood spots, he drew
it back.
"Don't be afraid it's only Gringo blood," laughed
Villa. "That's better. Now repeat :
" 'By the mother that bore me I swear to follow
Francisco Villa wherever he may lead ; to go wherever
he tells me to go; to do whatever he tells me to doj
F RANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 21
to give him all loot, money, jewels, women, cattle or
horses I take and to accept willingly the portion he
allots me ; if I disobey him or betray him or any of his
band, I hope my soul will rot in hell and my body
become the food of snakes and tarantulas/
"Now kiss the blade," commanded Villa as Dato,
pale and trembling, finished repeating the terrible oath,
which bound him, body and soul, to the bandit chief-
tain.
In turn, Bepo and Enrico swore their allegiance.
"Now go back where you were while I make my
plans," ordered Pancho.
And rolling another cigarette, he stretched out on
his back again, lazily blowing rings of smoke, while
the three members of his band returned to their re-
spective nooks in silence, too terrified by the awful
oath they had sworn to talk among themselves.
22 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT;
CHAPTER IV.
THWARTED.
Toward sunset, the bandit chieftain, whose name
was destined to become a horror throughout the civil-
ized world, sat up.
"Bepo, get supper," he called. "Dato, you and 'Rico
look to the horses and saddles. We ride to night."
As the trio went about Villa's commands, having
recovered from the immediate terror of the oath they
had taken, they talked with one another in low voices,
wondering what their leader had in mind.
But Pancho, though he heard them, did not gratify
their curiosity, devoting all his attention to cleaning
the rifles and shooting irons they would take with
them.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 23
"Don't you want me to do that ?" asked Bepo, wait-
ing for the coffee to boil.
"No; when I attend to the guns myself, I know
they are all right," the chieftain returned.
And his manner was so brusque that Bepo hurried
back to his cook fire.
Not until they had finished eating and had lighted
their cigarettes did the leader of the newly organized
gang of bandits disclose his intention.
"It's lonesome in this cave," he declared, blowing
out a cloud af smoke. "Any place is lonesome with-
out a pretty face or two."
"But would any woman want to live way up in the
Sierra Madre Mountains and in a cave at that?" in-
quired Dato.
"What difference does that make whether they want
to or not?" the bandit leader demanded.
"Why, they wouldn't come if they didn't want to, M
returned the, half breed.
"Oh, wouldn't they?" Pancho sneered.
"You just wait and see. Besides they won't have
any say about it. We'll just get them and bring them
here."
"Kidnap 'em, you mean?" asked 'Rico.
"If you want to call it that, yes."
"A-ah!" exclaimed Bepo, in deep satisfaction.
"That is the good idea.
24 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"There is a Gringo girl at the Los Rodas ranch that
I would like. I have asked her to marry me, but
she laugh and call me 'greaser/
"I kissed her once and she boxed my ear. O-ow!"
And the bandit rubbed his ear as though it still tingled
from the blow.
"Good," chuckled Villa. "You shall have her.
"How about you, Dato? Any one in particular
you'd like?"
"No."
"And you, 'Rico?"
"I think the Senorita Dolores Gonzales, daughter
of the banker in Casas Grandes, is very beautiful."
"Then you shall have her."
"But she's Mexican," Dato exclaimed, in evident
surprise that the bandit chieftain should even think
of kidnapping one of his own nationality.
"That makes no difference," Pancho returned.
"When one of my band wants anything, h shall have
it if I approve, or die in trying to get it.
"Myself, I like very much the looks of the wife of
the Americano who runs the Honora ranch."
Unconsciously his companions started ^s they heard
his words.
Grinning at the effect they produced* Bgw^io re*
peated:
"Yes, I like her looks very much.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 25
"Come on it is a thirty-mile ride to the Honora
ranch. We'll go there first. Then to Los Rodas, and
tomorrow night we will get Dolores for you 'Rico."
As he concluded, Villa picked up his rifle, bade his
men get theirs, and led the way to the plateau where
the horses were hobbled.
"We'll have to get more horses," Pancho com-
mented as he looked at the half dozen browsing.
"I intend to strike in all driections and it will mean
hard riding. To do it, we must have plenty of fresh
mounts to choose from."
The saddling and bridling took but a very short
time and as the first shadows of evening fell across
the trail, the four desperadoes rode down the moun-
tain, the man whose black deeds have shocked the
world in the lead.
Knowing almost every stone and bush in the region,
Villa led his men at a stiff pace.
As though to further their dread purpose, the night
came up cloudy and black.
Only the eyes of men accustomed to travel in the
darkness could have detected the buildings of the
Honora ranch when the bandits reached them, for it
was close to midnight and no lights were burning in
the home house or in the cow punchers' shack.
"Shall we ride to the shack while you go to the
house?" Dato asked, in a whisper. "We three can
26 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
stand off the Gringo punchers long enough for you
to get the woman."
"There's no need of it/' Pancho returned. "Hark-
ness and the boys are out on the round-up. I found
that out yesterday.
"Nobody home but the woman and the Chink cook.
"Now this is the way we'll do it. Dato, you'll go
to the door and knock. When the Senora opens it,
Bepo will grab her and swing her up onto my horse.
" 'Rico will stand by to deal with the Chink if he
should try to make any trouble.
"All ready."
And the four men rode toward the home house.
Dismounting silently, Dato and Bepo approached the
door.
With the butt of his six-shooter, Dato pounded on it.
Loudly the raps rang out in the midnight stillness,
but though they listened intently, no sound of any one
stirring within the house did the men bent on so foul
a mission hear.
"Carramba! Can she be gone, too?" Villa growled.
"Knock again, Dato."
Harder than before the half breed beat upon the
door.
Came moments of silence, then suddenly a light
shone from the windows in front of them.
Cursing furiously, Pancho hissed :
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 27
"Quick ! get the horses over onto the other side in
the dark."
Hurriedly Bepo and 'Rico obeyed.
In the light from the lamp, they could see the wife
of the ranch owner moving toward the door.
"Be ready and quick, Bepo," Pancho breathed, set-
ting himself to receive the prize he coveted.
But instead of opening the door, Mrs. Harkness
called:
"Who's there?"
"A friend," answered the bandit chieftain.
"Friends don't come at this hour of the night," re-
turned the ranch owner's wife. "Go away instantly
or I'll shoot."
"But Mr. Harkness, he is hurt. He sent me for
you," lied Villa.
"How does it happen he sent a Mexican when all
our punchers are Americans? You can't fool me
that way.
"If you don't go before I count five, I'll shoot."
"Beat in the door," roared the infuriated bandit
chieftain.
As the butts of their rifles fell upon the door, the
ranch owner's wife raised her pisto] and fired.
Angered at the failure of his ruse, Pancho leaped
from his horse, dashed to a window, kicked it in with
his boot and sprang inside.
28 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Her attention distracted from the door by the crash*-
ing of the window glass, Mrs. Harkness turned.
As her eyes fell upon the intruder, she staggered
back.
"My God ! Francisco Villa !" she gasped.
Then, clutching at her throat she stammered:
" W-what do you want ?"
"You."
As he uttered the word, the man who had often
shared their food with the cowboys of the Honora
ranch and was, therefore, known to its mistress, leapt
forward, swinging the barrel of his rifle so that it
knocked the woman's pistol-hand aside.
"John! Help! John! John!" She shrieked in
the effort to bring the Chinese cook to her assistance.
"No use," leered Pancho. "I have you now."
With a lightning movement, Villa seized the woman
about the waist, swung about, shot out the light and
dashed for the door which his men had opened.
Frantically his captive struggled but the bandit only
laughed.
Suddenly a shot rang out.
Blood spurted over Pancho and he stopped.
"Madre di Dios! She's killed herself!" he cried.
A moment he stood as though abashed at the horror
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 29
his attack had wrought, then, with a volley of oaths,
cast the body roughly to the ground, darted to his
horse, leaped into the saddle and dashed away, fol-
lowed by his horror-struck companions.
30 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT;
CHAPTER V.
THE KIDNAPPING.
Furious that his plan had failed, that it had ended
so tragically, for the bandit chieftain was young in his
career of blood and pillage and, therefore, less hardened
than now, Villa rode at a wild pace.
And behind him, as best they could, his companions
followed, too unnerved at the outcome of the kidnap-
ping plot to talk to one another.
As the shock of the death of the owner of the
Honora ranch lessened, Villa's anger rose.
Vain ever in his youth, it maddened him to think
that a woman should prefer death to him. And as
though to avenge himself, he rowelled his mount un-
mercifully with his spurs.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 31
His first idea was to return to the cave in the Sierra
Madres. But he feared the effect such a return,
empty-handed, after he had vowed to bring hack some
pretty faces, might have upon his followers and those
other Mexicans and Americans who would surely hear
of the midnight raid and its sad ending, and with a !
savage oath, he shouted to his followers to ride up to
him.
"The woman was a fool," he snarled. "I would
have given her money and jewels. I'd have made her
Queen of Bandits.
"But there are other women.
"How many are there at Los Rodas, Bepo?"
"Three. The Gringo girl and two English ones.
But one, she is old. She is the mother."
"We'll take the two young ones."
And shaking out his mount, the terrible bandit,
whose attempt to gratify his whim had resulted in the
death of one noble woman, dashed over the arid plain.
Arrived at the ranch, Villa drew rein.
"Dato, you and 'Rico go to the shack and start
shooting," he commanded. "Keep riding round and
round, so that any punchers in it will think we are in
force.
"Use both your six-shooters and your rifles. It will
help fool the Gringos.
"Bepo, you and I will go to the house. The shots
32 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
from the shack will rouse those inside.
"When they appear, you seize your Gringo girl and
I'll take the English one.
"If she resists, knock her unconscious.
"Go to it."
Little relishing the work, as they remembered the
tragedy of the Honora ranch, the men moved off to
perform their parts.
Dismounting, Pancho and Bepo went to the front
door, then waited for their companions to begin firing.
Suddenly the silence of the night was shattered by
the crash of guns and wild shouting as Dato and 'Rico
dashed around the cowboys' shack.
"That's great ! They'll think there are a lot of us,"
chuckled the bandit chieftain.
But the punchers of the Los Rodas ranch were to
be reckoned with.
In a shortness of time that surprised even Villa
himself, fire spat from the door and windows of the
shack as the cowboys opened upon their attackers.
"Carramba ! But we must get out of this," snarled
Pancho. "Where are the women's quarters, do you
know, Bepo?"
"They are on the other side, to the south."
"Then bring the horses round." And the bandit
leader dashed round the corner of the house.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 33
As he reached it, he saw to his delight that lamps
were being hastily lighted.
"There won't be any danger of carrying off the old
woman instead of the young one," he muttered to
himself.
Springing upon the wide veranda Pancho crossed
it, kicked in the window and leaped into the room,
six-shooters in each hand.
"Not a sound !" he hissed as he beheld three women
cowering before him. "You two young ones come
here."
Outside the barking of the guns and the yelling of
the bandits and the cowboys sounded awesomely.
But the women only cringed in the corner farthest
from the wild-eyed man facing them.
"Don't make me use these things," he snarled, mov-
ing his revolvers back and forth. "You two young
ones come here."
Just then Bepo entered through the broken window.
"Get them," commanded his chief.
As the American girl recognized the man whose
ears she had boxed, she cried out in fright.
But Bepo only grinned.
Quickly he seized her about the waist.
With all her strength, the girl raised her two hands
and brought them down full upon the bandit's nose,
i Like a fountain the blood spurted.
34 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Crazed by the pain, Bepo nevertheless remembered
his master's instructions and raising his six-shooter,
he brought it down upon the girl's head, dropping her
to the floor.
"I've got you now," he gloated. "You'll not strike
me again." And stooping over, he picked up the
American girl in his arms and carried her from the
room.
When they realized the purpose of the attack, the
English women dropped to their knees and raised their
hands in prayer.
"Your God won't help you now," mocked the bandit
chieftain. "You'd better worship a man who has two
hands and can use them."
And with a hideous laugh, Pancho seized the girl's
wrists and jerked her to her feet.
"Follow me!" he hissed, dragging her after him as
he started for the window.
"Wait! Stop!" wailed the elder English woman.
"Take my jewels, take the money, the silver I have,
but spare me my daughter."
And in her appeal the woman got to her feet and
clutched the bandit's coat.
In answer, he turned, kicked her full in the face,
grabbed his captive in his arms and dashed out into
the night.
As thej terrible outlaw stepped upon the veranda,
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 35
he met the superintendent of the ranch, six-shooter
in hand.
"Drop that girl !" thundered the Englishman, at the
same time pulling the trigger of his revolver which he
aimed at the maurauler's legs lest he injure the woman
in his arms.
It was a desperate moment for the bandit chieftain.
But no shot rang from the gun.
The luck which has led his followers and the people
of Mexico to believe he has a charmed life came to
Villa's aid.
The cylinder of the superintendent's revolver was
empty.
Cursing the fact, the Englishman shoved a couple
of cartridges into the gun and fired.
But by the time the shot rang out, Pancho was on
his horse, his captive in front of him.
With a fiendish laugh, he waved his hand at the
superintendent and leaped his mount forward.
"Come on ! We've got them !" yelled Villa to Dato
and 'Rico as he rounded the corner of the house.
And as his men joined him, he whirled his mount
and raced in the direction of his cave in the mountains,
while the curses and shots of the cowboys reached
after him.
36 FRANCISCO ViUA BANDIT
CHAPTER VI.
VILLA OUTWITS His PURSUERS.
But the brutal bandit was not to get to his cave
in the fastnesses of the Sierra Madres unmolested.
Even as the desperate band rode away, the English-
man rushed to the cow punchers' shack.
"Into the saddles, my lads," he shouted. "The
greasers^Jiave carried off Miss Wales and Betty
Moore."
"They'll not get far with Betty!" growled one of the
boys whose love for the girl had made him the butt for
the jokes of all his fellow-punchers. "I'll cut the
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 37
heart out of the dirty hound who's dared to lay hand
on her!"
"We'll help !" chorused others of the ranch crew who
heard the vow.
For Betty, who served as maid and companion to
the English .girl, was a general favorite.
But even had she not been, it would have made no
difference, for she was an American girl and the man
who had dared to carry her off was a greaser.
Rushing to the corral, the punchers caught and sad-
dled their horses.
"I'll join you directly," said Hastings, the super-
intendent. "I must tell Mrs. Wales we are going after
her daughter and Betty."
But when he entered the room, Hastings stopped,
abashed.
Huddled in a heap lay Mrs. Wales, blood oozing
from the cuts in her face made by Villa's boot.
"The dirty robbers!" he snarled, Is he raised the
elderly woman. and carried her to her bed.
But the superintendent, realizing that time was
precious, made her as comfortable as he could, then
rejoined the impatient punchers, three of whom he de-
tailed to remain behind to guard the ranch and to
assist Mrs. Wales.
"They've a good mile start of us," lamented Betty's
lover, Shorty, as Hastings gave the word to ride.
38 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"But their horses are fagge.d, while ours are f resn,"
returned the Englishman. "Besides two of them are
double-loaded.
"Come on, lads, we can catch up with them in half
an hour."
Riding as only cowboys can, the avenging troop
raced over the prairie.
As the pounding of the hoofs reached Villa's ears,
he cursed.
"They'll get us," moaned 'Rico.
"They may get you but not me," returned the
bandit chieftain. "No Gringo, no Englishman, not
even a Mexican can kill Francisco Villa.
"Didn't you see how the Englishman shot at me,
point blank?"
"But his gun wasn't loaded," exclaimed Bepo.
"I don't care what the cause, he didn't get me. That's
Villa luck. My life is charmed. Remember that and
tell every one you see about it."
All the while, though they were riding as hard as
they could, the bandits quickly realized that the pur-
suers were gaining on them.
In a trice, Pancho made his plans, for he was well
aware that his prestige would suffer if his kidnapping
the two girls was frustrated.
" 'Rico, ride close. Take the girl and go for the
cave as though all the fiends of hell were at your heels.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 39
"Bepo, you go with him.
"Dato, you and I will show these Gringos that it isn't
safe to trail Pancho Villa! When you hear us fire,
'Rico, one of you shoot, too."
As the commands were finished, the horses descended
into a deep roll ift the plains.
"We'll ride over here to the right," said the bandit
chieftain. "When the Gringos come over the edge, use
your rifle."
At such a pace were the cowboys riding that Villa
and his man had barely reached their positions when
the punchers dashed over the top of the roll.
"Now!" whispered Pancho. And his rifle crashed
even as he spoke.
An instant later, Date's rang out.
And from the cowboys, a yell of pain told them
that one of their bullets had found human flesh.
Surprised that the shots came from the right, when
they thought the kidnappers were directly ahead of
them, the pursuers lost no time in answering the shots,
yelling and whooping as they raced in the direction
whence they came.
As they did, a shot sounded to the left, for 'Rico
had obeyed his master.
"They've split up!" cried Hastings. "I wonder
which party the girls are with."
"The one to the left," declared Shorty. "It's
'40 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
farther away and that proves these other greasers are
trying to draw us off so those with Betty can make
their getaway."
"Jove ! I believe you're right," exclaimed the Eng-
lishman.
"Sure he is !" chorused several of the others.
"Then we'll follow in that direction," Hastings an-
nounced, while Shorty and some of the others cursed
the delay the diversion in. the gully had caused.
When Villa realized that his attempt to draw off the
pursuers had been successful only for the moment, he
cursed frightfully.
"We must join the others," he said to Dato. "We'll
ride round the punchers' flank."
The task was not easy, for the bandits' horses were
fast tiring, but J?y dint of desperate rowelling they
managed to urge their mounts to greater speed and
succeeded.
But as they rejoined Bepo and 'Rico, Pancho real-
ized that the effort had taken the last power of their
ponies.
"They'll get us," wailed Dato.
"Cut that!" Pancho snarled.
"But my pony is slackening up and the others will
soon, carrying double."
His master, however, made him no answer.
Already Villa was aware of the facts Dato stated.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 41
But his resourcefulness which has so bothered those
who have tried 'to capture or trap the notorious cut-
throat, came to his rescue.
Sliding from his saddle, Pancho wet his finger, held
it in the air only long enough to learn that the wind
came from the direction he was going, then stooped,
lighted a match and set the dry prairie grass on fire.
Bidding Dato start fires to the left, Pancho dashed
along, applying the match every few rods until in a
few minutes there was a long wall of fire rushing upon
the pursuing cowboys.
As the men from Los Rodas grasped what the terri-
ble bandit had done, they shrieked and cursed, firing
wildly in their fury, out of range though they were.
And in answer, Pancho and his men shouted
derisively.
42 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT,
CHAPTER VII.
SHORTY TAKES UP THE TRAIL.
As they saw the wall of fire bearing down upon them
by leaps and bounds, the cow punchers realized that
if they were to escape with their lives, they must ride
like the wind.
Shorty and Hastings alone stood out against re-
turning.
"We can ride through," protested Betty's lover.
"You can't ride through hell on a horse of flesh and
blood/ 5 declared Big Mike, the foreman. "And if
anything looks like my idea of hell, it's that leaping,
dancing stretch of flame."
"But it will be deserting the girls to their fate at the
hands of those bally robbers," the superintendent ex-
claimed.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 43
"Well, you'd be burned up if you tried to go to
them, so I don't see how they'd be any better off,"
declared Big Mike. "If we can outride this blaze we'll
be able to start back after them when it dies out."
The futility*' of trying to ride through the fire at
last struck Shorty and he headed with his companions
toward Los Rodas, but as he rode, he promised him-
self that he would go after Betty as soon as he could
and not return till he found her.
Confident of their safety, the bandits pulled their
wearied mounts down to a walk until they were rested,
after which they made the cave without adventure.
During the day, word ran from ranch to ranch of
the death of Mrs. Harkness of the Honora ranch, and
the kidnapping of Betty and Miss Wales.
And everywhere there was a peon ran the whisper
that it was Francisco Villa who led the raids.
On all sides, the malcontents and criminals pricked
up their ears.
Here was a man who had dared to raid the ranches
of two of the most wealthy and powerful men in the
State of Durango.
Everywhere, among Rurales and peons, it was real-
ized that Francisco Villa had defied the authorities of
law and order as they existed in Mexico, and that
he had, of his own free will and because of the im-
pulsiveness of his nature, placed himself as a warrior
44 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
against the then constituted authorities.
The lawless element rejoiced. Under such a leader,
whose resourcefulness was shown in the way he had
blocked his pursuers by firing the prairie, they realized
that pickings would be fat.
I Accordingly many a man saddled his pony and set
'out to join thq man, the man who had shot a sheriff
and followed the act on the next night by stealing
$2500, and within a few days by kidnapping the daugh-
ter of a powerful land owner.
But they soon found it was one thing to wish to
join the bandit and quite another to know where to
find him.
The most crafty inquiries failed to develop his
whereabouts.
Beyond the fact that he was known to have been
riding toward the Sierra Madre Mountains w,ith the
girls he had captured, nothing definite could be ascer-
tained and there were countless fastnesses in the
mountain range where the most daring outlaw Mexico
had ever known might hide.
But the criminals who wished to proclaim him as
their leader were not the only ones who sought him.
As the reports of his raids, with the death of Mrs.
Harkness, and the owner of the Ronda ranch, and the
kidnapping of the women from Los Rodas were re-
ceived by the authorities, the commander of the
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 45
Rurales in the State of Durango grew furious.
Ordering the captain before him, General Hoda
exclaimed :
"You must capture this murderer. Take fifty men
and go after him. If they are not enough, call on me
for more. Villa must be rounded up."
Aware, from the very daring the bandit had dis-
played in executing his raids, that he had no easy task
before him, Don Sebastian Gomez, captain of the
Rurales, picked fifty of his best men from his com-
mand and set out upon his mission a mission that
engaged not only him but the Rurales of other States
than Durango for fifteen years, at the end of which
they saw the man they had hunted elevated to a
military command in the forces of the revolutionary
leader, Francisco Madero, and later win his way among
the masses of peons and military men alike to the rank
of a national hero.
But while the authorities were moving to compass
his capture, Villa was planning new depredations.
The results of his raid, considered successes from
his point of view, made him eager to attempt greater
crimes.
"They have nicknamed me The Tiger/ " he said to
his three companions, "so I am going to let them feel
my teeth.
"The first thing we need is more men. In order
46 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
to carry out my plans, we four are not enough.
"I have no doubt the Rurales are already on my
trail. If we meet them, we must be able to over-
power them. They do not travel in twos or threes
when hunting a man like me.
"Therefore we must increase our numbers. Do any
of you know a man who can be trusted ?"
Thus appealed to, his companions quickly named a
score or more of peons whom they knew would be
only to glad to join such a leader.
"We don't want as many as that," Villa returned.
"It is easier to strike and get away with nine or ten
men than it is with twenty.
"When we are rested we will set out and talk with
your friends."
Before this time came, however, the bandits were
made aware that the retreat in which they thought they
would be safe was not known to themselves alone.
Thinking only of rescuing the girl of his heart
from the hated greaser bandits, no sooner had Shorty
returned to Los Rodas after escaping from the prairie
fire than he determined to take up the pursuit.
"I know this Francisco Villa," he told the other
punchers. "That is, I mean I've seen him. He's a
half breed and so in love with himself that there is
nothing he would not think he can do.
"But he's a greaser and therefore a bluffer.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 47
"I'm going to get him. Anybody want to go with
me?'
"You don't even know where he is," protested Big
Mike. "What's the use of wasting your time and
probably losing your life in hunting him ? The Rurales
are already on his trail. Better leave it to them."
"But Betty, think of her," exclaimed the cowboy.
"I don't like to," answered the foreman.
"Nor I and that's why I'm going to rescue her,"'
Shorty returned, and went away from the shack in
front of which he and the other punchers had been
talking to the corral.
Quickly selecting his pony, the cowboy lover saddled
and bridled him.
"Anybody going with me?" he asked as he rode
from the corral.
Uneasily the other punchers shifted from one foot
to another.
"Can't spare 'em," Big Mike finally said. "Of
course, with you it's different. You've been sweet on
Betty ever since you came to Los Rodas. If you want
to go after her, I won't stop you and I don't blame
you. But I can't spare the other boys, with the
round-up coming on."
For several moments, Shorty looked at the men with
whom he had shared the trials and joys of the ranch
fife.
48 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
None of them, however, volunteered to accompany
him.
With a snort of disgust, Shorty gathered up his
reins.
"You're a fine bunch of huskies," he exclaimed.
"Bad as I hate the greasers, I think I'd rather have
them for friends than you."
Ard digging his spurs into his pony, the cowboy
galloped from Los Rodas.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER VIIL
THE TORTURE.
Confident that the kidnappers of his sweetheart had
sought safety in the mountains, Shorty rode straight
for them.
It was not long before he met some of the Mexicans
who were also seeking the daring bandit, but from
entirely different motives.
Coming upon a group sitting about a camp-fire just
at sunset, the cowboy drew rein.
"What do you want?" demanded one of the Mexi-
cans, while they all eyed him with suspicion.
"I'm looking for a friend," Shorty lied.
"Well, he's not with us," snapped the man.
"So I see," the cowboy returned. Tin sorry* I've
ridden hard. Are you Rurales?"
50 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
The question was needless, for the men did not
wear the uniform of the mounted police of Mexico
and Shorty knew it, but he thought he might gain their
confidence by seeming ignorant.
His question was greeted with roars of laughter.
"Well, hardly !" said the spokesman at last.
"I'm glad," said Shorty, dismounting.
Unconcernedly he seated himself at the fire, and in a
littFe while he had declared himself an outlaw who,
attracted by the daring of Villa's raids, was determined
to join him.
"That's what we're going to do," said one of the
Mexicans.
"Know where he is?" Shorty asked, with all the
disinterestedness he could assume.
"In the Sierras, of course. And I think he's in a
cave near the head of the great pass," declared one
of the men.
This statement brought on a discussion among the
others, each of whom held a different opinion as to
the bandit's whereabouts.
Closely Shorty listened to all they said, fixing in
his mind the various retreats they mentioned.
When at last the Mexicans made ready to sleep,
the cowboy got up.
"Where going?" called one of them.
"To join Panoho."
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 51
"Why not wait till morning?"
"Because the sooner I find him, the safer I shall
feel," and saddling, Shorty rode away.
Early the next morning he was riding up the trail
which led to the cave by the great pass when a bullet
whistled close to his head.
Dato, who had arisen early, had discovered the lone
horseman advancing toward his master's retreat and
deemed it wise to find out who he was.
Drawing rein, tS the bullet sped past his head,
Shorty looked about him.
"Hands up!" shouted Dato, appearing from behind
a rock at the head of the trail.
Quickly the cowboy obeyed.
"What do you want?" demanded the bandit.
"To find Pancho, The Tiger."
"Why?"
"Because I want to ride with him."
The sound of the shot had aroused the bandit leader
and as Dato was questioning the cowboy, he appeared
upon the scene.
"What is it?" Villa inquired.
"This Gringo wants to join The Tiger," Dato re-
plied.
"Why?" asked Villa, coming close to Shorty.
"Because you're a man after my own heart," the
cowboy replied.
52 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
The praise flattered The Tiger and he smiled.
"Come up to the cave," he exclaimed, and waiting
till Shorty was in front of him, he followed.
Elated at his success in locating the bandit who
had carried off his sweetheart, Shorty was busy map-
ping out a story that would assure Villa of his willing-
ness to ride with him when they reached the cave.
Bidding the cowboy dismount, Pancho squatted and
signed Shorty to do so.
Keenly Villa questioned him, and the cowboy was
apparently giving satisfactory answers when a
woman's shriek broke on their ears.
Instantly Shorty recognized Betty's voice and the
thought that she was being subjected to treatment
that caused her to cry out filled him with fury.
"What's that?" he demanded, springing to his feet.
"Nothing but Bepo making love to the Americano
we brought from Los Rodas," returned Villa.
"But why should she cry out ?" pursued the cowboy.
In answer the bandit chieftain merely shrugged his
shoulders.
"But do you allow your men to treat their captives
so?" demanded Shorty.
Again The Tiger shrugged his shoulders, adding,
"It is none of our business, anyhow."
Wild at the thoughts which surged through his
nrind, the cowboy was on the point of trying to
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 53
his gun, when more shrieks came from the cave.
Turning, both men saw a woman dart from its en-
trance closely pursued by a Mexican with a whip.
It was Betty.
Straight toward the two by the rock she came.
Suddenly she recognized the cowboy.
"Oh, Shorty, save me ! Save me !" she wailed, rush-
ing to him.
Ere the cowboy could move, The Tiger was on
Jiis feet, a six-shooter in each hand.
His face was distorted with fury and his eyes
blazed.
"So you are a friend of the Gringo girl? You
would trick The Tiger, would you ?" hissed Villa, with
a volley of oaths. "It was a sorry day for you when
you came to his lair.
"Hand me your gun."
By this time Bepo had his hands upon Betty.
Burning, she struck him full in the face.
Cursing frightfully, the Mexican brought the butt
of his whip down on her head, felling her.
Heedless of consequences, Shorty leaped at Bepo,
arm upraised.
Instantly a pistol spoke and the cowboy's arm
'dropped.
"Take the girl back to the cave, Bepo," Pancho com-
manded. "Send 'Rico and Dato to me."
54 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT;
Stooping Bepo touched Betty.
"Don't take me back kill me first !" she pleaded.
"Quick, take her away," thundered Villa, then
called, "'Rico! Dato!"
Struggling every inch of the way, the girl was
dragged into the cave by Bepo, while Shorty, held
motionless by The Tiger's six-shooter, was compelled
to look on.
Quickly the two men he had summoned joined the
bandit.
"Take this man down to the camp-fire," he com-
manded. "Ill be there directly."
And as the greasers led Shorty away Villa entered
the cave.
In a moment he reappeared, carrying an iron bar.
Going to the camp-fire, he thrust it into the coals.
"Take off his shirt," snapped The Tiger, pointing
to the cowboy.
This done, the four waited while Villa tested the
heat of the iron bar.
At last it satisfied him.
Raising it, he laid it full length across Shorty's
back.
Again and again, he repeated the terrible torture,
till at last the cowboy, unable longer to bear the awful
pain, swooned and fell to the ground.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 55
"Now saddle up," ordered the Tiger. "We'll take
this Gringo back to Los Rodas.
"Perhaps it will serve as a warning to other white-
faced Americano or English pigs that they cannot
capture Francisco Villa single-handed, and that it is
dangerous to come to his retreat."
56 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER IX.
THE CATTLE DRIVE.
It was dark when The Tiger with his companions
and the man he had tortured so fiendishly arrived at
the Los Rodas ranch.
Lights in the cow punchers' shack told the bandit
leader that the men were at home. And when he got
closer to the ranch, the odor told him that the cattle
were also there.
With this discovery, his spirits rose.
Calling his three companions to him, he exclaimed:
"They say lightning never strikes twice in the same
place but The Tiger does.
"The Los Rodas cattle have bean driven in from the
rouad-up. There are no fatter or better blooded
FRANCISCO VIELA, BANDIT S?
cattle in Durango. They will bring a fancy price.
"We need the money more than the white-faced pig,
SVales.
"When we leave Los Rodas, we will take the* cattle
yri.th us."
The boldness of the plan amazed the three other
bandits.
"But the punchers will all be home if the cattle are.
We can never get away with them. Better wait till
they are out on the range again," cautioned 'Rico.
"I have said we would take the cattle with us," re-
turned Villa, "That ends it."
"But the punchers," repeated 'Rico.
"They were here when we carried off the women.
They are not to be feared," snapped the leader, and
again rode ahead.
He was, however, too awake to the danger of his
purpose not to move with extreme caution, and when
they were within a few hundred yards of the ranch
house ne halted.
Swinging the tightly bound and gagged cowboy from
the horse on which he had ridden, to his own, Villa
bade his companions await him.
"If you hear any shooting, ride it, he whispered.
"Otherwise stay here till I return."
With utmost caution the bandit chieftain advanced
upon the ranch house.
58 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
When a hundred feet away, he halted.
Shouts and laughter from the shack told him that
the punchers were gambling, and he smiled, realizing
that their attention was riveted upon their game.
In the home house there was neither sound nor
light.
Dismounting, Pancho lifted his victim to the ground,
where he securely bound his feet.
Then, picking him up, he made his way stealthily,
with all the craft of the tiger whose name he had been
given; he approached the veranda.
Mounting it, he placed Shorty's body in front of
the door in such a way that any one coming out would
trip over it.
Turning, he shook his fist at the ranch house, went
back to his horse, mounted and quickly rejoined the
men who were anxiously awaiting him.
"Now for the cattle," he whispered.
"You men know how to ride them. Dato and I will
take the rear, Bepo, you ride the right flank, 'Rico
the left.
"We'll drive them through the Arondo pass to
market.
"If the punchers attack us, I will stand them off
and you, Dato, will ride the rear alone.
"Should I be obliged to separate from you, drive
bard. Don't be afraid of running off any flesh. We
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 59
can rest the cattle in the Hontos plateau before taking
them to market.
"Ready."
But when the bandits came upon the cattle, they
were disappointed.
Instead of the big herd they had hoped to find,
there were not more than a hundred.
"A stray bunch picked up," snarled Villa. "How-
ever, the fewer the easier to drive and even a hundred
of the Los Rodas cattle are worth money.
"When you and 'Rico have taken your positions,
whistle Bepo. Now go."
Ears alert for any sound of discovery from ranch
house or shack, The Tiger and Dato awaited the
signal.
All at once, a light flashed from the door of the
ranch house, followed by a shout as the body of
Shorty was found.
The cry reached the ears of the punchers in the
shack, as well as the bandits, and they streamed from
the door.
"They've brought Shorty back," shouted the super-
intendent of the ranch, who had discovered the bound
and gagged cowboy.
Instantly the punchers ran to the veranda.
"The fiends!" snarled Big Mike, as they beheld the
terrible wounds on Shorty's back. "Round-up or no
60 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
round-up, we'll go after The Tiger. The nerve of
him bringing Shorty to us again."
In the momentary lull which followed the foreman's
words there rang out two whistles, the signal? from,
'Rico and Bepo to their master.
"What's that?" chorused several of the cow
punchers.
And their answer came in the snorting and lowing
of the cattle as the bandits jumped them into running.
"The dirty greasers are after the two-year olds,"
Big Mike cried. "Quick! every mother's son of you.
Get your guns and horses. By heaven, this is too
much."
Away raced the cowboys to prepare themselves, and
to their ears came the thunder of hoofs as the cattle
were rushed along.
In remarkably short time, the boys of Los Rodas
were in pursuit.
"I see them! I see the dirty devils," shouted one
of the punchers, and instantly he opened fire.
Quickly the others followed suit, and a veritable
rain of lead was poured at the bobbing figures of the
horsemen with the cattle.
Though the discovery and pursuit had come sooner
than he expected, Villa was, as ever, equal to the
emergency.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 61
"You go through with the cattle, Dato," he com-
manded.
"I will draw the punchers off.
"By riding hard, you should make the mountains
by sunrise.
"I'll meet you at the Hondas plateau some time to-
morrow."
As he spoke, The Tiger whirled his horse, stood
up in his stirrups and rode at right angles to the
course the cattle were being driven.
Quickly there came a lull in the shots from the
punchers as they reloaded their rifles.
Taking advantage of it, Villa again whirled his
horse and rode straight at his pursuers.
"Come on, you pale-faced pigs !" he yelled. "Come
on if you think you can catch The Tiger.
"But you never will. It makes no difference if
you are one or a hundred. I, Francisco Villa, am your
match."
And as he ended his maddening taunt, the bandit
emptied the magazine of his rifle into the ranks of
his pursuers.
Crazed by his words, the cow punchers whirled in
his direction, yelling and shouting as they gave chase.
"Never mind the cattle, get that Mexican devil!"
shouted Big Mike. "We can pick up the cattle after
we get him."
62 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"Yes, after you get him" The Tiger shouted back
in derision, "But if you wait till then, the cattle
will be dead."
Despite his bravado, the bandit leader was no fool,
however, and, realizing that a chance bullet might
find him, he clapped his spurs to his mount and raced
in the direction away from the cattle, the cowboys
in full cry after him, their bullets whistling on all
sides of him.
FRANCISCO XILLA, BANDIH
CHAPTER X.
VILLA OUTWITS His PURSUERS.
Fortunately for the bandit chieftain, the horse on
which he was mounted was a thoroughbred, and good
though the ponies were on which the pursuing cow-
boys rode, The Tiger was soon carried out of range
of their rifles.
As they realized the fact that their bullets were
falling short of the man they so desired to catch, the
cow punchers ceased firing and devoted all their atten-
tion to getting every possible ounce of speed out of
their pintoes.'
Aware that while he might keep a safe distance
ahead of the men from Los Rodas that he could not
hope to shake them off, Villa determined to try a
change in direction.
The night had been starlit, with occasional clouds,
64 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
but the resultant darkness had been a sufficient cloak
for the daring raid of the bandits.
But just as Villa turned his course, the moon came
out.
That by its light they discovered the whereabouts
of the outlaw was evident by the shouts which rose
from the throats of the cowboys, some of whom, in
their delight at having their quarry in sight, blazed
away with their rifles despite the fact that the aict
was but a waste of ammunition.
Recking little that he had been located, so confident
was he in the ability of his mount to outrun the cow
horses, Villa raced over the prairie which now glistened
like a vast silver lake on all sides of him.
And as he rode, he thought as to what part of the
mountains he should enter.
As his mind was thus engrossed, he did not notice
the dark specks which appeared on his right.
Nearer and nearer came the lone horseman and this
second group of riders together, and still the bandit
chieftain did not notice it.
Suddenly a shot rang out and The Tiger's pointed
sombrero sailed from his head.
"Madre di Dios! but I am glad my head is no
taller !" he exclaimed. "That hat will cost somebody a
lot of money. I wonder who this new crowd are."
The shot, however, told him that they were enemies,
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 65
thus making his situation more difficult, for the new-
comers were in such a position that, if their horses
were mettlesome, they could ride in between him and
the mountains, and cut him off from his retreat.
The shot also told the pursuing cowboys that they
were to have aid in rounding up The Tiger, and they
shouted and yelled in their delight.
"Who do you suppose they are?" asked one of the
punchers.
"Rurales," returned Big Mike.
"But Mexicans don't hunt at night, they prefer to
sleep/'' declared another.
"They'll hunt night and day for Villa," said the
foreman. "Mr. Wales and Bob Harkness are personal
friends of President Diaz and they've made the wires
hum to Mexico City since the cutthroat raided their
ranches.
"Just the same, I bet the Rurales never get him,"
declared the first cow puncher.
"It looks as though we had him now," returned
Big Mike. "Hello, what's The Tiger up to ?"
The foreman's words drew the attention of the cow-
boys again to the lone horseman.
Villa had realized that with two bands of pursuers
right at his heels, he could never hope to raach any
of the passes by which alone the Sierra Madre Moun-
Jains could be travelled. And with this realization, he
66 FfiXNClgeO VILCA, BANDIT
had determined upon a desperate course.
Only his sublime belief in himself could have
achieved it. But no sooner had it come into his mind
than he took it.
Taking advantage of a roll in the plains, he rode
with might and main along it, then turned again and
headed straight for Los Rodas.
His detour was so wide that as he rose again from
the roll, his figure would have been scarcely dis-
cernible had his pursuers been looking for him. But
they were ignorant of his latest move and, though he
saw them riding in the direction he had once been
taking, they did not see him.
Easing his thoroughbred when he knew that he was
no longer being chased by the cow punchers and
Rurales, the fearless bandit rode leisurely toward Los
Rodas.
The silence of the tomb was upon the ranch when
he arrived.
Chuckling at the ease with which he had thrown off
pursuit, Villa proceeded to carry out the plan he had
formulated during his long ride.
Dismounting, he went to the wood shed and gathered
a big bunch of dried chips.
These he placed about the ranch house, then re-
turned to the shed, where he gathered more chips,
which he piled about the cowboys' shack.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 67
This done, he stealthily entered the cooking room
and found the kerosene can.
With it he soaked the various heaps of chips.
When all had been saturated with the oil, he re-
turned to the home house and, little caring whether
any one was within, applied matches to each pile of
the inflammable material.
As though inspired by the same hatred which he
bore for pale-faced pigs, the flames leaped up and
attacked the shingles with which the ranch house was
covered.
Pausing only to see that each pile of chips was
doing the duty he had assigned it, The Tiger hurried
to fire the shack.
As the flames leaped high in the air he laughed.
"They'll learn better than to try to hunt Francisco
Villa to his lair," he exclaimed aloud. "I only hope the
men who were trailing me see the blaze."
For many minutes, the daring bandit watched the
buildings burn, but he was ever mindful of the cattle
which had been driven away, and at last he decided
to join his companions.
His thoroughbred, however, was sorely spent by the
hard rides to which the outlaw had subjected him,
and as Pancho looked him over, he shook his head.
"You're not good for many more miles tonight, boy,"
he said. Then suddenly he remembered that in the
68 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
corral was the best-blooded stallion in the State of
Durango.
"Fair exchange is no robbery," he said to himself.
"I may be many things but I am not a horse thief/*
But his mind was made up to take the stallion,
nevertheless.
So leading his own mount, he made his way to the
horse corral.
Arrived there it was but the work of a few minutes
to unsaddle his thoroughbred and saddle the stallion.
The latter task, however, to a man less proficient
in the handling of horses would have been an im-
possible task.
But Villa knew horse flesh almost as well as he
did his own soul, and despite the stallion's cavortings,
he swung into the saddle and rode from the corral.
As he emerged, he saw the aged woman he had
kicked in the face when he had kidnapped Betty and
Miss Wales rushing about the burning buildings,
wringing her hands.
"When the white-faced pigs get back, tell them they
had better stay home instead of trying to ride down
The Tiger," he shouted as he galloped by her.
At the sound of the voice, Miss Wales turned and
caught sight of the bandit.
"God will punish you !" she cried.
But Villa only laughed.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT* 69
"You'd better place your faith in men who can do
things," he shouted back and rode out onto the plains.
CHAPTER XL
THE TIGER RECRUITS His BAND.
Caring naught for the ruin he had wrought, the
bandit galloped over the prairie revelling in the power
of the horse under him.
Hard he rode over the course his men had driven
the cattle and a little after sunrise he caught up with
them.
Pausing only long enough to allow the cattle a
breathing spell, Villa assisted in their drive to the
Hontas plateau.
"We'll let them graze here," he announced as they
reached the broad expanse in the Sierras. "They'll
be safe for a day, at least.
"What I want is more men."
70 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
His companions, realizing as never before the
desperateness of the life upon which they had entered,
only suggested the names of two or three peons who
had earned the title of "bad men," instead of the
many they had mentioned when asked before.
-"Lead me to them," commanded the bandit. "The
Rurales will be upon us in force before many days
and I would rather be captured or shot by one of the
white-faced Americano pigs than by one of them.
"We'll eat and then we'll look over your friends."
During the meal The Tiger related the story of his
escape from the two bands of pursuers and the burn-
ing of the Los Rodas ranch buildings,
"That means the Los Rodas cow punchers will
hang to our trail till we either get them or they get us,"
declared Dato.
"Let them," returned his master. "The more the
merrier. I'm going to make the land owners and
rich men in Mexico sit up and take notice."
Suddenly 'Rico sat erect.
"I wonder if that Shorty will lead the Los Rodas
boys to the cave where the women are ?" he exclaimed.
"I never thought of that," Villa returned. "You
and Bepo had better ride over there. Take the girls
and bring them to the bear cave.
"Dato and I can pick up enough men."
Accordingly when the bandits set out, the two
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 71
former headed for the cave by the great pass, while
the two latter rode toward Casas Grandes.
As they neared the foot of the mountains, Villa
drew rein.
"Some one coming," he whispered to Dato, and
jumped his stallion into the brush beside the trail,
where his man followed.
With guns ready for instant use the two bandits
waited.
Nearer and nearer came the ring of hoof beats on
the rocky trail, and soon six riders appeared.
"They're not Rurales," whispered Dato, "and they're
not Gringos. What do you suppose they want?"
"We'll find out," returned his chief, and then with-
out showing himself, he shouted:
"Halt and hands up!"
Startled at the suddenness of this command the
riders drew rein, looking about to discover the utterer.
But none of them raised their hands.
Suddenly six shots rang out and six hats sailed
from the heads of their wearers.
And almost before the last pointed sombrero had
dropped, Villa yelled:
"I said 'hands up' so be lively!"
Terrified both by the command and the warning
shots, five of the horsemen thrust their hands over
their heads.
72 FHANCISCO VILL4, BANDIT
"Come you, up with yours, too*" called The Tiger
to the sixth rider.
But instead of complying, the fellow whipped out
his gun.
Ere he could use it, however, a bullet jerked it from
his hand.
"Now put them up," said the bandit chieftain, and
the man slowly obeyed.
"What do you want and who are you?" demanded
yilla.
"We're looking for The Tiger," returned the man
at the head of the line.
"Why?"
''Because we want to join him/*
' : Is that so?"
c *Yes, I swear it by the head of my motner,*
In turn Villa asked each of the other five the same
questions and received the same answers.,
"Well, here's The Tiger," cried Villa, leaping his
stallion into the trail.
At the sight of the man who had wrought suck
havoc in so short a time, the strange horsemen gasped
with amazement.
Enjoying the effect of his startling appearance, The
Tiger looked the men over carefully.
"There'll only one of you do," he finally declared,
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 7g
"and he's the one who drew his gun instead of putting
up his hands.
"The Tiger has no use for men in his band who
will quietly put themselves at the mercy of an unseen
person.
"Suppose you were in my hand and I had been a
Rtirale.
"A fine story ft would have been for the curs to
brag about in their barracks."
Deeply chagrined by the terrible bandit's words, the
five sought to offer all sorts of excuses.
Villa only laughed at them, however.
"You can't lie any better than you can take care
of yourselves, he finally sneered.
"Be off with you if you want to go with whokj
skins.
"Stranger," and he nodded to the rider whose actions
had won his approval, "Come here."
"What's your name?" he asked as the man obeyed.
"Tomasso."
'Tomasso what?"
"Never mind."
The defiance brought a hot flush to The Tiger's
cheeks.
"You refuse to answer?" he thunder^.
"It's none of your business. I'm known as To-
masso, that's good enough/'
74 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Quickly Villa raised his six-shooter.
But the horseman looked him straight in the eye,
never flinching.
Finally The Tiger lowered his weapon.
"You have the nerve I want in my men," he said.
"You can ride with me if you will take the oath of
allegiance.
"Are you willing?"
"Sure."
"All right. Repeat it after me."
But before he spoke the words of the terrible oath,
Villa turned on the other horsemen.
"I told you to begone. So go while you have the
chance." And again he raised his shooting irons.
"Then we'll hunt you with the Rural " began
one of them.
But before he had finished his threat the bandit
chieftain's guns barked and the man tumbled from his
horse.
"The rest of you had better get a move on," he ex-
claimed.
And as the men clapped spurs to their moujits. and
galloped down the trail The Tiger laughed.
"They're fainter-hearted than any white-faced pigs,"
hs sneered. "Now for the oath, Toraasso."
"Fire away, I'm wafting,* returned tte new .re-
cruit to the band that was to tonofiee
EUANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 75
Quickly the bandit chieftain spoke it and as quickly
.Tomasso repeated it*
"Now well go on our way/' Villa declared, and
started down the trail.
One after another, The Tiger added four men sug-
gested by Dato, to his band, Felix, Baptista, Pulque
and Rambo.
When the last of the quartette had taken the oath,
yilla exclaimed;
"Now we are nine, That's enough.
"We'll go to the bear cave, get 'Rico and Bcpo,
and then see if we can't stir up some excitement."
76 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER XII.
THE TIGER Is TRACKED TO His LAIR.
ea by the success of his raids, Villa gave no
t to the men who were hunting him once he and
his recruits had gained the mountains again.
But the punchers from Los Rodas and the Rurales
were diligently searching the mountains for him.
The trail of the cattle was, of course, easy for them
to find, and they followed it to the Hontas plateau.
Glad though Big Mike was to recover the herd,
which he sent back to the ranch under the care of
three of his punchers, he and the others were greatly
disappointed not to find the bandits with them.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT, 77,
"Wonder if they are on another raid?" suggested
Don Sebastian, the captain of the Rurales.
"More likely they have gone to the cave by the
great pass that Shorty told us about, for the girls,"
declared one of the cowboys.
"That's so," acquiesced the foreman. "We'll go
there, too. If the dirty devils aren't there, we may
be able to rescue Betty and Miss Wales; if they are
there, we'll get The Tiger as well as the girls."
This plan met with the approval of the captain of
the Rurales, and in quick order the troop started for
the cave.
On their way, they met the four horsemen whom
Villa had refused to enlist in his band.
Eagerly they related their treatment at the hands of
the terrible bandit and begged to be allowed to join
the avengers and hunt him.
Their services were accepted and the cavalcade
changed its course to the trail to Bear Cave.
Little dreaming that his hiding place would be so
quickly found, The Tiger decided to take a few days'
rest before executing any more raids.
And this decision proved costly.
The bandit chieftain and his men were enjoying
their after-dinner seista, when they were roused by
the neighing of Villa's stallion.
"Some one's coming/' cried The Tiger, leaping to
78 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
his feet and rushing to the mouth of the cave.
Quickly his men, rifles in hand, joined him. And as
they peered down the trail, they cried out in amaze-
ment as they recognized the uniform of the Rurales.
"Madre di Dios! but the curs have keener noses
for the scent than I thought," exclaimed Villa.
"But they should know better than to track The
Jiger to his lair.
"It will prove costly to them.
"We'll give them a leaden greeting."
As he spoke, Villa threw his rifle to his shoulder
and fired.
The man in the wi of the pursuers pitched from
his saddle.
"Quick! Scatter into the brush!" shouted Don
Sebastian.
But before the Rurales and cowpunchers could
obey, five more of their number were shot.
Returning the bandits' fire as best they could while
seeking places of safety, the avengers, once they
reached them, opened a withering fire upon the mouth
of the cave.
Before the deluge of lead, Villa realized it was
folly to expose his men, and he ordered them to re-
treat into the cave out of the angle of fire.
This, however, was no easy matter to accomplish
because the cowboys and Rurales had so spread out
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 79
in extended formation that they were able to send
shots into the bandits' retreat from many directions.
Undaunted, however, The Tiger bade his men to
save their fire and not to expose themselves.
"We'll get them after dark," he declared. "The
Rurales never fight at night. They'd rather sleep."
But in this prophecy the bandit chieftain was mis-
taken.
Kindling huge bonfires in a semicircle between them-
selves and the mouth of the cave, they were able to
see any one who should emerge from it, while they
themselves were shielded by the screen of flame.
Quickly recognizing the cleverness of the scheme,
yilla realized that unless he devised some way of
outwitting his besiegers he and his men would be in
desperate straits, for the cave was not stocked with
provisions, and he was not supplied with more than
the ordinary amount of ammunition carried by outlaws.
His men also realized the seriousness of their posi-
tion.
"How would it be a risk to dash from the cave.?/'
suggested Toinassa
"You'd only pay for it with your life," Villa
answered, 'Towards morning, perhaps, the fires will
die down and then we might have a chance. Bu| not
now/'
80 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
The besiegers, however, took very good care not
to let the bonfires get low and sunrise found the out-
laws still cooped up in their cave.
Their plight, however, was more serious because
their supply of water had been exhausted.
The firing into the cave was practically abandoned
by the Rurales, only an ocasional shot, as a sort of
reminder that they were on the job, being sent into it.
"Something's got to be done/' exclaimed Dato, when
afternoon found the situation unchanged. "I'm al-
most dead for a drink of water."
"Me, too," declared several of the others.
A long time they discussed various plans, only to
give them up as unfeasible, while The Tiger sat with
his head down.
For once, his usual resourcefulness seemed to have
failed him.
As though sensing the fact his men grew restless
and openly cursed their fate at being imprisoned
without food or water.
When twilight came, and the bonfires again blazfed
up, the men were on the verge of revolt.
"Are you going to get us out of here or are you
going to let us die of starvation and thirst?" demanded
Baptista of the bandit chieftain.
"Why?" drawled Villa, looking at him,
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 81
"Because if you're not going to do anything, I am."
"What?"
"I'm going to surrender to the Rurales. w
The audacity of the fellow amazed the others and
they looked at their leader to see how he would take
the open defiance.
But he only smiled.
"Do you want to surrender?"
"Well, I don't want to starve to death."
"Have you forgotten your oath ?"
"But you can't do anything for us. What is the use
of dooming eight men to death? You can starve if
you want to. The Rurales won't do anything much
to us because it's you they are after."
"So it's hunger that is making you willing to vio-
late your oath of allegiance to me and surrender to the
Rurales?"
"Yes, that is, hunger and thirst together."
In open-eyed amazement the other outlaws had
listened to the dialogue between their master and his
minion and they wondered if The Tiger had lost his
courage to brook such defiance.
But their wonder was quickly satisfied.
Sneeringly Villa stared at Baptista, then at last he
spoke :
"WeJl, if it's hunger and thirst that are causing you
to turn traitor to me, they won't trouble you long."
82 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
And whipping out his six-shooter with a lightning
move, The Tiger dropped the man who had dared
defy him in his tracks.
CHAPTER XIII.
A DESPERATE RUSE.
The drastic punishment meted out to the bandit who
was willing to surrender rather than suffer privation
served as an object lesson to the other outlaws, and
they ceased their grumMng.
'Throw the traito? out," commanded the
Instantly a&> and Bepo weot to thfc body, picked ft
up, earned it to the mouth of the cave and tbew ffc
out
^ FRANGISGO VILLA, BANDIT 83
And as it sailed through the air a volley of shots
from the besiegers greeted it.
"Any more of you want to surrender?" The Tiger
demanded, as Dato and Pepo rejoined him, looking
from one to another of his seven remaining men.
But no one spoke.
"Good !" their master ejaculated. "I know I've been
caught unprepared for once, and because of that I
deem it my duty to relieve your suffering.
"If you men will remain in the cave till sunrise, I
promise to get you both food and water.
"What do you say?"
Whether from fear of a fate similar to that meted
out to Baptista or because they believed in their leader,
the bandits all declared their readiness to remain,
"Good." Dato, I put you in command If any man
tries to desert, drop him like the cur he is.
"If I am not back by sunrise, however, you may con-
sider yourselves released from your oaths and can do
as you please."
As he finished speaking, Villa took his knife and six-
shooters from their holsters and examined them care-
fully, then made his way to the rear of the cave and
began to work at a small aperture.
"But that will take you into the bears' den," pro-
tested Bepo, as he realized his master's purpose.
For the cave in which they were entrapped derived
84 FRANCISCO VILLA, BAND!?
its name from the fact that part of it Was a den of the
vicious Sierra Madre bears.
"What of it?" Villa demanded.
"Why, you may stumble onto a bear," returned Bepo.
"Which is exactly what I hope to do," the bandits
chieftain replied.
Wondering if he had gone crazy, several of his men,
nevertheless, helped enlarge the opening till at last Villa
was able to squeeze into it.
"Bring a torch," he commanded, and when it was
given him, he thrust it into the den.
"Fine. Here's a monster bear," he exclaimed.
"'Rico, hold the torch." And thrusting it into the
bandit's hand, their fearless leader dropped into the
den.
The sound of his striking the floor of the cave
roused the bear.
Rising to his hind legs, he rushed at The Tiger.
Whipping out his shooting irons, Villa emptied theit;
cylinders into the beast.
But the only effect they seemed to have was to make
the bear roar with pain.
On the brute came and in a trice the bandit chief-
tain was locked in its embrace.
Furiously the bear hugged him, the while snapping
at his face and tearing at his legs with its feet.
Fascinated by the terrible struggle, the bandits
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 85
peered through the opening, unable to shoot because
of fear they would hit their master.
But only for a few moments were they inactive.
"Come on, we'll go down and attack the bear from
behind," exclaimed Tomasso.
And quickly he and Dato were in the den.
"You go on the right side and I'll go on the left,"
Tomasso cried. "Put your six-shooter in the bear's
ear and empty the cylinder."
Quickly they carried out the move.
For a moment he had seemed to have no effect,
then the bear staggered and fell to the floor, bringing
yilla down with him.
It was but the work of a few minutes for the ban-
dits to release their master, and he got to his feet
uninjured, save for scratches.
"That was a close call," he exclaimed. "I'd figured
on being able to use my knife if my lead failed to stop
the brute.
"As long as I live, I'll remember the assistance you
two men rendered me.
"Now help me skin the bear."
Setting to the task, it was not long before it was
finished.
*Tm going to put the hide on," The Tiger declared,
"and you two must lace me up."
This task was also duly accomplished, the hide being
86 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
held on by a rope wound 'round ami 'round t&e bandit
Chieftain's body.
As the outlaws realized their master's ruse, they
gasped at his daring and watched him with admiration
as he lumbered from the cave.
Scarcely had he disappeared, however, than a shot
rang out.-
For among the men whom Villa had refused to
accept as a member of his band was one who knew of
the existence of the bear's den.
Accordingly he told Don Sebastian about it, and the
captain of the Rurales stationed a guard near enough
to watch it, and it was this guard who had shot at
what he supposed to be a bear as The Tiger emerged
from the cave.
But the fellow's aim was poor, thanks to the fright
tiie sudden appearance of the monster gave him, and
yilla was not injured.
Dropping to all fours, the bandit chieftain lumbered
off among the rocks, while the guard fled in the oppo-
site direction.
The shot had been heard by the other guards, and
they ran to learn tiie cause, fearing a sortie by thq
outlaws.
When the frightened guard told them he had only
shot at a bear, however, they cursed him and returned
to their posts at the mouth of the cave.
FRANCESCO VllXS, BANDI1 S7
Making his way with the utmost caution and, per*
force, slowly, Villa skirted the flank of the Rurales
and got behind them.
Working in carefully, he finally succeeded in locating
the grub chest.
Opening it, he gathered all he could carry and re-
turned to the den, making his entrance at a time when
the guard was at the end of his beat farthest from
the den.
Hurriedly depositing the food, the daring bandit
leader again went forth and returned with two pails
of water, likewise filched from the commissary of the
besiegers.
When he was safely inside the den for the second
time, Villa clambered to the opening into the cave
above and called his men.
As they reached the hole, he dropped back asd
handed up first the water and then the food, finally
going up himself, carrying the skin that his ruse might
jsot be discovered if any of tfce Rurales entered tbe
88 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ESCAPE.
The food and the water so daringly obtained re-
stored the spirits of the besieged outlaws and they
laughed heartily over the exploit of their master.
Suddenly Tomasso exclaimed : "Why can't we es-
cape through the bears' den to-night, Pancho?"
"When the cook goes to his grub chest in the morn-
ing he will know it has been raided. Then the incident
of the bear coming from the cave will be remembered,
and I am sure Don Sebastian is clever enough to real-
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 89
ize that what his guard shot at was not a real beas.
"Consequently there will be a heavy guard main-
tained over the den from that time on."
"I believe you're right," returned the bandit chief-
tain.
"How about the women? Won't they raise the
alarm?" asked Bepo.
"Not if we gag them," Villa replied. "As soon as
we finish eating, we'll go."
Quickly their preparations were made. Betty and
Miss Wales were gagged, and the bandits descended
into the bears' den.
"-I'll get into the hide again and take care of the
guard," exclaimed The Tiger,
Quickly the skin was adjusted for the second time,
and Villa lumbered forth.
Like all Mexicans, the guard hated night duty be-
cause it meant he must keep awake. Consequently as
his post was out of sight of the other guards he
deemed it his privilege to sleep if he could, and he was
leaning against a tree, snoring, when The Tiger left
the cave.
Making his way carefully, Villa reached hm.
Quickly he thrust a gag in his mouth.
With all his strength the guard sought to throw off
his strange captor, but he was no match for the
bandit chieftain, and in due course was securejy bound,
90 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
hand and foot, and lashed to the tree.
That the besiegers might have a key to the method
of hrs escape, The Tiger doffed the bear skin and left
it beside the helpless guard and then returned to the
den.
Passing the word for his men to come out, he led
the way around the Rurales to the gulch in which their
horses were hobbled.
As the besiegers had gathered up the bandits' ponies,
they had no difficulty in picking out their own mounts,
which they quickly did, for, thinking it impossible for
Villa and his band to escape from the cave, Don
Sebastian had not deemed it necessary to place a guard
over the horses.
Mounting quickly, the bandits rode off down the
trail.
"I wish we could give them a shot just to let them
know we're out of the cave," exclaimed Felix.
But though to do so would also have delighted The
Tiger, he realized the folly of such an act.
"If we do, we'll have them an our heels," he de-
clared. "If we don't, it will be daylight or later be-
fore the curs discover we've gone and we can put
miles between ourselves and them by that time,"
And accordingly they rode away in silence.
Striking off on a cross trail, Villa avoided appear-
ERANGISCQ VILLA> BANDIT 91
ing on the prairie and stmrise found them in a fertile
valley.
"Fm going to get rid of those women," announced
Villa as they ate a breakfast from the remains of the
stolen food. "J ust at present they are in the way."
"Oh, what's the use of killing them," protested
Bepo.
"Who said anything about killing them?" The Tiger
demanded.
"Then what are you going to do with them?" asked
'Rico.
"Take them back to Los Rodas."
In amazed silence, the others heard this announce-
ment.
"You'll be going to Los Rodas once too often,"
declared Tomasso. "Better turn them loose and let
them go by themselves."
This, however, Villa refused to do and when eve-
ning came, selecting Dato and Tomasso as his com-
panions, he set forth with Betty and Miss Wales.
"Where are you taking us now?" demanded the
former.
"You'll know when you get there," the bandit
chieftain snarled. "If you ask any more questions,
HI gag you."
This threat silenced the girls and they spoke no
more.
92 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
As they readied tfie plains, Villa ordered Tomasso
to blindfold them, for it suited his fancy to make
them think that he was removing them to another
retreat.
Arrived in sight of the temporary buildings that
had been erected on the ruins of those he had burned,
Jhe Tiger drew rein.
"Set the girls on the ground," he commanded. And
when this had been done, he continued: "I'm sorry,
my dears, but the time has come for us to part. I'll
just take a good-bye kiss and then leave you. You'll
be able to make your way somewhere." And though
Betty and Miss Wales struggled desperately, he kissed
each full on the mouth, and then removed the hand-
kerchiefs from their eyes.
For a moment the girls stared about them in be-
wilderment.
"Why it's Los Rodas !" suddenly cried Miss Wales.
"Exactly," chuckled the bandit chieftain-. "Give my
love to all the folks and tell them we're liable to call
again any time.
"And now good-bye. We've enjoyed your com-
pany immensely."
And sweeping off his sombrero he bowed in mock
deference, laughed sneeringly and galloped away,
while the girls ran to the temporary ranch house.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT] 9$
CHAPTER XIV,
VILLA LEVIES TRIBUTE.
When "day broke after the escape of tfie bandits
[from the bear cave, the cook started to prepare break-
fast.
Lifting the lid of the grub chest, he stared at its
almost emptiness, then gave a yell that brought the
Rurales hurrying to him.
Quickly he explained to the captain the loss of the
food.
"Yes, and two of my water pails are gone," he
cried.
94 mANCISCQ VTL&&> BANDIT
Just then the guard who had gone to relieve the
one on duty at the bear's den shouted an alarm as
he came upon the bound and gagged body of his
fellow.
When Don Sebastian reached there and heard the
guard's report of being attacked, the bear skin ex-
plained the situation to him.
"Pancho is sure some clever devil," he exclaimed,
compelled to admiration of the manner in which the
bandit chieftain had escaped from what seemed cer-
tain capture.
"But perhaps they haven't all gone/' suggested
ne of his men.
Shots fired into the cave without being answered
seemed to prove the contrary, however, though the
Rurales were not positive until the loss of the horses
was reported.
"It will be a long time before we have The Tiger
in so tight a place again/' lamented Don Sebastian.
Then he gave the order to break camp, and once
again the Rurales took up die search for the bandit
chieftain.
For several days Villa and his men rested in the
ravine to which they had come from the bear's cave.
i "What we need is money," he announced one morn^
ing, "I want to go to Pampas and try my luck with
the cards and it takes money to gamble."
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 95
"What's it going to be, bank, train or ranch rob-
bery?" asked Rambo. "I know a rancher who al-
ways keeps three or four thousand dollars in gold
in his safe."
"Not enough," returned The Tiger.
"How about Senor Gonzales' bank, in Casas Gran-
des?" asked 'Rico. "It is very rich and, I could also,
perhaps, bring away the Senorita Dolores."
"We're going to cut out the women for a while,"
his master returned. "Gonzales' bank may be rich,
but it is also in a town, and just at present I don't
think towns are particularly safe places for Francisco
Villa."
"Then what is it?" Inquired Tomasso, never seem-
ing to fear the wrath of his master for asking leading
questions. "How much do you want, anyway?"
"Oh, about fifty thousand dollars."
"Say, you're no piker, at all events," Tomasso re-
plied in admiration of the niai: who would not be
satisfied with a raid \vliich netted him less than such
a sum. "Where on earth do you expect to pick up
such a bundle at one time?"
The evident flattery in his minion's words and tone
gratified The Tiger's vanity, and he grinned and
chuckled in delight.
"There are rich mines m Honcros," he said, "and
96 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
once a week they send the ore wagons from the mines
to the railroad at Las Palmos,"
"But they are always sent under a heavy escort,"
declared Felix, while the others stared at the man
who was daring enough even to think of attacking
one of the rich prizes.
"Eight men who are not afraid are more than a
match for fifty with faint hearts," exclaimed the
bandit chieftain. "There are eight of us but there are
not fifty guards sent with the ore wagons.
"Usually only three wagons are sent out and there
are four guards to each wagon, which with the
drivers, makes fifteen men all told."
"But the guards are Gringos, not Mexicans," de-
clared Rambo.
"Is a Gringo's heart any stouter than a Mexican's ?"
snapped The Tiger.
"No, of course not."
"Then what difference does it make whether the
guards are Mexicans or Gringos?"
"None at all," returned the outlaw, realizing that
he had made a mistake in disparaging the courage of
the peons.
"I'm glad you realize it," Villa retorted and lapsed
into a sullen silence.
"Do any of you happen to know the days on which
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 97
the ore wagons leave the mines?" he finally asked.
None of his band did, however.
"Then we must go and camp on the trail till we
learn the lay of the land/' he announced. 'There-
fore, the sooner we start, the better.
"We'll set out tonight."
The contemplated raid upon the wagons, rich with
gold and silver bullion, furnished the outlaws with
a topic of conversation throughout the day, and it
was with impatience that they awaited the coming
of darkness.
Riding close to the mountains, the bandits travelled
for the most part by night, and rested under the
cover of the woods by day.
As their supply of food was running low, it became
necessary to replenish it.
So Villa headed for Los Remedies ranch.
It was mid-day when the eight bandits reached it.
Riding up to the door of the house, The Tiger beat
upon it with the butt of his six-shooter.
"Is Senor Benton at home?" he asked of the ser-
vant who came to the door.
"No."
"Expect him soon?"
"Not till night."
"Where are the punchers?"
"Riding the range."
98 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Made easy by this information, the wily bandit
realized that he must not show his gratification.
"Well, is anybody home but you?" he inquired,
petulantly.
"Yes, Mrs. Benton is/' |
"Then, may I see her?'
"Who shall I say?"
"A gentleman."
Closing the door, for the appearance of the bandit
chieftain and his companions was anything but pre-
possessing, the servant went to her mistress and re-
ported the interview.
Mindful of the raids upon neighboring ranches,
Mrs. Benton went to a window in the front room
and raised it.
"What do you wish?" she asked of The Tiger.
"Dinner for myself and men."
"But the cook is on the range, I cannot give it
to you."
For several moments Villa stared at the woman,
then exclaimed: ^
"Madam, you mu3t give us dinner."
The owner of Los Remedios was one of the
wealthiest men in Mexico, and such language to his
wife was an insult which she hotly resented.
"Who are you to tell me I must do anything?" she
demanded angrily.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 99
In mock deference. The Tiger swept oft his som-
brero and bowed low in his saddle, exclaiming :
"I am Francisco Villa at your service, madam."
The name of the terrible bandit caused Mrs. Ben-
ton to blanch, and she clutched the win-dow sash.
"I see you have heard of me," The Tiger con-
tinued. "Will you give us dinner?"
"Er yes, that is, if you will eat it in the shack."
"Impossible, madam. We will either eat at your
table or " and he paused significantly.
"Or what?' 1 asked Mrs. Benton faintly.
"Or I am afiaid you will have neither table nor
house to put it in for supper."
"You mean you will burn our home?"
"Madam's grasp of the situation is perfect."
A moment the wife of the owner of Los Remedies
hesitated, then said:
"Very well, I will call you when it is ready."
And as she turned away, Villa laughed jecringly.
With his dinner, the bandit chieftain demanded
wine, and the amount he and his men consumed be-
fore he left the ranch made a big hole in Benton's
cellar.
When at last The Tiger thought it time to be mov-
ing, he said:
"Now, if you will bring your jewels, Mrs. Benton,
we will leave, 11
100 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Her fear of her unwelcome guests rising, as they
consumed more and more wine, she lost no time in
going to her room and returning with a small jewel
box.
"These are all I have," she said, handing the case
to Villa. Then, as he frowned upon seeing only
a few pieces, she added, hastily
"You see, I keep most of my jewels in the city.
It is safer."
"That is not what I have heard," The Tiger re-
plied. "I fear I must look for myself."
Heedless of Mrs. Benton's protests, Villa made
his way to her room and soon returned with a dia-
mond necklace about his throat and a sunburst on his
bosom.
"I will take these to remember the delightful day
we have had," he sneered, and to the great relief of
Mrs. Benton, took his departure, carrying with him
a small fortune in gems.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 101
CHAPTER XV.
A $50,000 HAUL.
"Won't old Benton be wild when he returns and
learns I've levied tribute on Los Remedies ?" chuckled
the bandit chieftain as he and his men galloped on
their way.
"I'd surely like to see the old aristocrat's face when
his wife tells him.
"I've a good mind to go back and wait for him."
As the outlaws heard these words, they were dis-
mayed. The number of punchers employed by Ben-
ton was very large, and a score or more of them
might ride up at any moment, and they were of dif-
ferent calibre from the cowboys of Los Rodas.
Therefore a return to the ranch might spell direst
disaster to them.
102 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
But they all were aware of their master's disposi-
tion when he had been drinking and deemed it best
not to attempt to dissuade him.
"Yes," announced Villa, drawing rein," I think we
will go back."
"I thought you wanted money and lots of it," ex-
claimed Tomasso, in a desperate attempt to turn the
determination, by appealing to his chief's covetous-
ness.
"So I do."
"Well, there are only a few dollars at Los Reme-
dies, compared to what you'll get from the ore
wagons."
As the bandit played this trump card his com-
panions watched anxiously the effect it would have
upon The Tiger.
For several moments that seemed ages to them,
Villa considered. But at last he spoke.
"I believe you are right, Tomasso," he said.
"There's no believe about it. I know I am," the
outlaw replied.
"All right, we'll keep going then," exclaimed Villa.
And many were the sighs of relief the bandits gave
as they resumed their forward way.
When dawn came they again took to the woods,
and Villa removed the diamonds, putting them in his
pocket, but each night as they set forth on their ride,
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 103
he put the necklace about his throat and pinned the
sunburst to the bosom of his shirt.
Arrived at last on the outskirts of Los Palmos,
Villa ordered his men to separate and ride into, the
town in pairs at intervals of an hour and further
instructed them not to know one another.
"They may be suspicious of so many strangers/'
he said, "and it won't do to arouse any suspicion."
'Til take Tomasso with me. We'll look over the
route to the mines, find the best place to attack the
wagons, and what day they leave the mines.
"When I'm ready, you'll see me ride through the
main street at noon with a red bandanna about my
neck.
"Everybody understand?"
"What shall we say we are, if anybody asks?" in-
quired Felix.
"Cow punchers. But don't let anybody ask you
if you can help it.
"Anything else?"
None of them had any more questions to ask and,
nodding to Tomasso, the bandit chieftain rode into
Los Paimos.
The next morning bright and early Villa and his
companion set out for the mines in Honoras.
Had any one else been travelling the road, they
would have been surprised by the sight of two men
104 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
every now and then jumping their horses into the
brush beside the trail, and at other times mounting
rocks and looking up and down the road.
Arrived at the mines, The Tiger announced them-
selves as cowboys with a desire to see what mines
looked like, and their every wish in that respect was
granted, their guide even going so far as to give
them the much desired information that the ore
wagons left the mines at four o'clock on Monday
morning in time to load the ore onto cars which were
hauled from Los Palmos at five in the afternoon.
"I suppose they are heavily guarded," commented
the bandit chieftain.
"You just bet they are," assented the miner who
was showing them about," fifteen men all told, in-
cluding the three drivers, and each guard has three
rifles besides two six-shooters.
"And those fellows are some shots, too, and don't
you forget it. There isn't one of them who can't
put a bullet through an ace of diamonds at a hun-
dred feet."
"Which is sure some shooting," The Tiger acqui-
esced.
Having completed the rounds, the two bandits rode
away.
"I'm not so certain of our eight men being a match
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 105
for those twelve guards if they are such expert shots
and have three rifles apiece."
"It's a cinch, man dear."
"How do you figure that?"
"Why, shoot them each in the right arm. It'll take
quick work, but we'll have the jump on them."
As they returned to the railroad town, the two
outlaws decided that a turn in the road> protected
by bushes on the inside would be the place to commit
the hold-up.
"It will be daylight when they get to it," announced
Villa, "and we shall be able to shoot the guards from
the bushes without their seeing us or knowing how
many of us there are."
"It'll be some stunt," Tomasso declared. "But
how are we going to carry the stuff away? Bullion
is heavy stuff."
"We'll just take what we can carry and leave the
rest. It's a shame but we'll have to."
Having thus worked out the details of the hold-up,
Villa and Tomasso rode into Los Palmos.
As it was then a Friday, they were only obliged to
idle away two days.
In the most casual way Villa managed to chat with
his other men and tell them to meet him at the curve
in the road by nine o'clock on Monday morning, thus
obviating the necessity of his riding through the
106 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
town with the red bandanna about his neck.
At the appointed hour, the eight bandits met at
the turn in the road.
Calculating that the wagons would be along about
ten, The Tiger took his men into the brush and sta-
tioned them at intervals of twenty feet.
"We'll have to kill some of them, of course," he
exclaimed, "but try for their right arms first.
"If you can put a bullet into them, the Gringos
won't be able to use their rifles.
"Remember not to show yourselves till I give the
word."
Having received their instructions the bandits
awaited with what patience they could the coming of
the ore wagons.
At last the creaking of the bodies under the heavy
ore reached their ears.
Intently each outlaw peered through the leaves,
a six-shooter in each hand. For it had been one of
Villa's requirements of the men he recruited that
they could shoot equally well with either hand.
Nearer and nearer came the sound of the wagons.
At last the horses of the first wagon rounded the
turn.
But there was no one on it save the driver.
The second wagon also appeared without any guard,
but when the third one hove in sight some of the
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 107
Iwelve men were stretched out on it, chatting and
laughing, while others were playing guards.
Such a breach of their instructions would have
brought a severe reprimand from any of the officers
of the mine had they seen it, but the guards, having
traversed the route so many times without any mis-
adventure, had become careless.
When the last wagon had reached a spot opposite
to where he and Tomasso were stationed, Villa opened
fire.
Instantly the other bandits followed suit.
Dumfounded at the suddenness of the attack, for
an instant the guards were motionless, then such of
them as could slid over the farther side of the wagon
and made for their proper stations, for they had left
their rifles on their wagons.
Therefore there were only three guns to be turned
against the bandits.
The firing by the outlaws was incessant.
Two of the guards on the third wagon dropped,
shot to death, while the shooting arm of the third
member was put out of commission.
As the other guards, protected for the moment by
the sides of the wagons, put up their hands to get
their rifles, the bandits sent shots into the arms of
all but two.
These men were clever enough to call to the drivers
108 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
to throw out their rifles, and then to run their horses
for all they were worth to the railroad station.
Catching the guns as they were tossed to them the
two guards dashed back to the third wagon and, hid-
ing as much of their bodies behind it as they could,
opened fire into the bushes.
The first shot, fired at random as it was, found
Felix, and he tumbled from his horse.
Next Bepo's mount was shot.
Then Rambo fell.
At last, however, the magazines of the rifles they
carried were empty and they were obliged to stop
firing.
"Give us your extra guns," called one of the men
in the cart.
Powerless to use their right hands, they were able
to hand them out with their left, and again a rain
of lead was poured into the bushes.
Two bullets found Villa, and Pulque's horse was
shot from under him.
Realizing that the toll they were paying was heavy,
The Tiger leaned toward Tomasso.
"When their magazines are empty again, well
jump into the road and drill them full of lead.
"If we're quick we can do it before they get fresh
rifles."
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 109
With the cessation of bullets, Villa and his com-
panion leaped their horses from the brush and emptied
the cylinders of their six-shooters into the guards,
dropping both of them.
"Come out, you men!" yelled the bandit chieftain
to those of his fellows still in the bushes.
Quickly they obeyed but before they gained the
road, Tomasso had bound the drivers at his master's
command.
"Now the sacks," The Tiger exclaimed as he drew
his own from the bosom of his shirt.
"Everybody, up onto the wagon, and help your-
selves! Don't bother with the silver. Just take all
the gold you can carry."
Hastily the outlaws put the blocks of gold into
their bags.
"I hate to leave so much," lamented Bepo.
"Never mind, if it takes a wagon to carry it all,
we can't take but a little," returned Villa.
At last every bandit was loaded to his capacity.
"Get your horses and ride for it," commanded The
Tiger. "It's every man for himself now.
"I'll manage to meet you if possible at the ravine
in about six months."
And clapping spurs to his stallion, Villa raced
through the woods, Dato and Tomasso by his side.
110 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
As he rode away, The Tiger rose in his saddle.
"If any one asks you who did this," he shouted,
"tell them it was Francisco Villa!"
CHAPTER XVI.
VILLA PAYS AN EVENING CALL.
Pulque and Bepo, having lost their mounts, took
the horses of Felix and Rambo, who had ben killed,
and made their getaway riding together, while 'Rico
went off by himself.
The toll of the fight had been heavy, two out of
eight of the bandits killed, the other six all wounded;
of the fifteen ore guards, five were killed and all the
others shot in the right arm.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 111
tte cfrfveT gs !^ Jilea |na He was bound
and helpless.
Having hauled the first two ore wagons out of
range of the guns, the drivers halted.
Unharnessing one of his horses, the man on the
first wagon leaped onto its back and dashed for Los
Palmos to summon aid.
Ere he returned, however, the bandits had put
miles between themselves and the scene of this fifty-
thousand-dollar haul, as it was a good twelve miles
from the town to the stalled wagons, and the horse
was a heavy Percheron.
While they waited the coming of assistance, the
guards on the third wagon managed with their left
hands to loosen the driver's bonds and he in turn
helped them bind up their wounds.
In due course the Rurales and many townsfolk
arrived, but though they took up the trails they never
saw the bandits.
This hold-up added the finishing touch to the terror
that the name of the bandit chieftain inspired.
Men and women asked each other what he would
do next and bankers and train officials increased the
guards over their money and money shipments, while
ranch owners laid in fresh supplies of firearms and
ammunition.
When the news of this latest outrage perpetrated
112 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
by The Tiger reached President Diaz, in Mexico
City, he immediately offered an additional prize oi
ten thousand dollars for the bandit's capture, and sent
instructions that the force of Rurales on his trail be
doubled.
But neither the head money nor the Rurales
bothered Villa. In fact, they bore testimony to the
fear in which he was held and thus gratified his
vanity.
But despite the success of the hold-up, the bandit
chieftain really had a white elephant on his hands.
The gold he had stolen was bullion.
If he took it anywhere to be exchanged for coin,
he would be recognized and possibly shot. Nor could
he delegate the task of exchanging the bullion for
coin to his men, and this because anyone presenting
any bullion with such a request would be certain to
be arrested and the gold would be confiscated.
When the three bandits realized this, they were
puzzled as to what to do.
"Why not go to the States ?" suggested Dato.
"The risk there would be the same as here. We'd
be arrested."
"South America?" Tomasso proposed.
"Too far. Besides," returned his master, "I don't
see why I should be obliged to leave Mexico to change
this gold.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 113
"And what's more, I won't!" And he brought his
fist down against the palm of his left hand with a
resounding whack.
"What will you do, then? 5 ' inquired Tornasso.
"I'll show you tonight."
When darkness fell, the three bandits were on the
outskirts of Casas Grandes.
Hobbling their horses in the woods, they made
their way on foot into the town.
"Where does Senor Gonzales, the banker live?" he
asked of the first peon he met, and having received
the information, went to the banker's house.
"I wish to see the Senor," he told the servant who
answered his summons.
"Say it is about a large loan."
Fortunately for the success of his request, Villa
stood in the shadow and the servant could not see
how shabbily he was dressed for a man desiring a
large loan.
In quick order the banker appeared.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, looking from
one to the other of the trio.
Like a flash, The Tiger whipped out his six-shooter,
and covered the banker.
"You can do this come to your bank with us now, 1 '
he snapped.
"This is monstrous !" Gonzales protested.
114 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"Either come or go to your death," growled Villa,
"but be quick about your decision, we haven't any
time to waste."
"I-I will go," assented the banker.
"Good. Now, don't make any outcry on the street.
If you do, I'll shoot you, for I shall have my gun on
you as we walk along. Come on."
And pressing the muzzle of his revolver against
Gonz'alcs' side he kept step with the thoroughly terri-
fied banker.
Arrived at the bank, Gonzales was so frightened
he could scarcely unlock the door. Bnt at last he
succeeded, and they entered.
"What now?" he asked, his teeth chattering.
"Here's a candle," and The Tiger drew one from
his pocket. "Light it. Then open your safe. I want
to exchange some bullion for gold coin/'
At the request, the banker almost dropped the
candle, so terrified was he, for he knew he was in the
power of the terrible bandit chieftain.
"You are Francisco Villa?" he stammered.
"I'm not saying who I am," the outlaw returned.
"Just get busy. My time is valuable."
After much fumbling, due to his nervousness, the
banker opened the safe, and as Villa saw the money in
the vault, his eyes danced.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 115
Producing five bars of gold, he handed them to
Gonzales.
"Coin for that," he snapped," and mind you, don't
cheat on the weight."
The words put an idea in the banker's head, and
he short-weighted The Tiger and his two companions,
who also produced five bars of gold each.
When they had received the coin in exchange,
Villa turned on Gonzales.
"I think from your face that you have cheated us.
No aristocrat can cheat Francisco Villa.
"To be on the safe side, we'll just take some of
this money in the vault.
"Help yourself, Dato, and you, Tomasso."
Quickly, the three bandits took all the gold they
could, while the banker wrung his hands and wailed
that he was ruined.
Unable to carry more of the precious metal, The
Tiger turned on Gonzales.
"Let this be a lesson to you not to cheat people
you deal with," he snapped. "Thank you for your
service to us you aristocrat."
And as he passed the banker, Villa spat in his face.
116 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TIGER LIFTS THE LID.
"I'll bet old Gonzales never will get over this/'
The Tiger chuckled, as he and his companions
reached the street. "Also, I don't believe he'll cheat
any more customers for a long time."
"Where to now?" asked Tomasso, as they swung
into their saddles.
"To Pampas and the cards. We've got the money
now and I'm going to lift the lid off that town."
The idea appealed to Villa's companions, and in
high spirits they arrived at Pampas in due time.
The one street of the town was lined with dance
halls, saloons and gambling dens.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 117
Going up to a man standing in front of one of the
drinking places the bandit chieftain asked:
"Where do they play the highest stakes?"
"At the 'Yellow Dog.' "
And thither the trio went.
Entering the den, in which men and women were
dancing, drinking and gambling, Villa went from one
game to another, finally stopping at the roulette wheel.
Ignorant of the manner in which the game was
played, he watched for a while.
Suddenly he put his han-d in his pocket, drew it
out full of double eagles and slapped them down on
the double O.
"Are you playing that?" asked the man at the wheel.
"How much do I get?"
"Thirty-four to one."
"Sounds good. Yes, I'm playing it returned The
Tiger.
Grinning broadly, the man at the wheel spun the
marble, while the other players stopped for the
moment to watch the stranger.
Round and round spun the marble, then slower
till it began to bump against the partitions.
Of all the onlookers, Villa was the most uncon-
cerned.
Finally, with a "chuck," the marble rolled into the
double O.
118 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"Luck seems to be xvith me tonight," The Tiger
laughed as the banker with great reluctance counted
the amount of Villa's bet and paid him $4800.
"Instead of taking any of his winnings the bandit
chieftain let them lie on the cloth.
"Playing this time ?" inquired the man at the wheel.
"Spin the marble and I'll see."
"Have to place your bet before I start it."
"All right. Put it on 17."
r Agam the marble spun round, and again it dropped
in the number Villa was playing.
Cursing to himself the banker again paid the 34 to 1
winning.
"Let's have some wine for the house," exclaimed
the bandit chieftain.
While waiting for it, Villa turned his attention to
the women.
An unusually pretty girl attracted his eye, and
quickly he beckoned her to him.
"I'll play some of this gold for you, beauty," he
'said.
The arrival of the wine stopped all play for the
moment while every one in the den drank the lavish
stranger's health.
Word of The Tiger's winnings had spread to the
other dives and men and women were flocking in to
see the excitement.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 119
Among them came the proprietor of the "Yellow
Dog," who deemed it best to be present when such
high play was going on.
"Any limit to this game?" the terrible outlaw asked
when the wheel again started.
In answer the banker looked at the owner of the
dive.
"Nothing but the sky," that worthy returned.
"Suits me to a T, f " The Tiger grinned. "I came
to Pampas to lift the lid and I don't think I can lift
it ary higher than the sky.
"Here, beauty, I'll play half of this for you, if you
want."
Eagerly the girl accepted.
Again Villa put all his previous winnings on one
number, this time returning to the double O.
"I'd rather have my half now," exclaimed the girl,
in disgust as she saw the bandit's play.
"You shall have it, win or lose," he answered.
Round the roulette table men and women were
jammed till they could -hardly move, each and every
one watching the lucky stranger.
"Any one else going to play?" asked the man at
the wheel, but no one cared to back his choice against
Villa's.
When the marble rolled into double O, the beauty
threw her arms round The Tiger's neck.
120 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"Can I really have half?" she asked.
"Sure thing. Didn't I say so?" Then turning to
the banker, he said, "Come, hurry up. I want to
dance a while."
But the banker only looked at the owner of the
"Yellow Dog," and shook his head.
"Come on, hurry up. Have you grown deaf?"
The Tiger demanded. "I want my money."
Of all those in the den, Villa and his companions
were the only ones who did not understand the situa-
tion.
"Don't you get it?" asked the beauty. "They can't
pay you youVe broken the bank."
For several moments Villa stared dumbly at the
girl, then at last the truth dawned on him.
Whirling, he seized the owner of the "Yellow Dog"
by the coat lapel and jerked him from the crowd.
"Is that true you can't pay me my winnings?"
hissed The Tiger, his face distraught with fury.
"Jake says it is," returned the gambler, putting
the onus on his banker.
"But you told me the sky was the limit. Yet that
pile of gold isn't four inches high and you can't
pay it."
"I can if you'll give me time."
"Sure I'll give you time just five minutes."
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 121
As he uttered the words, which meant ruin to the
"Yellow Dog," the lights went out.
Instantly there was a wild scramble for Villa's
gold, which still lay on the table, by the human dregs
who had flocked into the dive.
"Light those lamps again/' thundered Villa. "If
anybody touches my gold, I'll search every mother's
whelp of you."
And to emphasize his words, The Tiger pulled his
six-shooters and sent a couple of shots into the ceiling.
At the bark of the guns, the lights flashed up again.
On the roulette table lay pieces of gold where the
thieves had dropped them.
"I've got the jump on you now," yelled the bandit
chieftain. Then turning, he placed one of his shooters
against the owner of the "Yellow Dog's" heart.
"If you douse those glims again or try any more
funny tricks, "The Tiger shouted, "I'll send a dose
of lead into this man.
"Get me? Good. And now I want my winnings.
"Shell out."
"But we can't pay you," protested the banker.
"Then give me what you've got.
"Tomasso, go round behind the table and see he
doesn't fool me."
"He can't do that," protested the "Yellow Dog"
owner.
122 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
"Don't tell me what he can do and what he can't,"
snarled Villa, jabbing with his gun barrel.
The hint was sufficient, and in silence they all
watched while Tomasso joined the banker.
"We're ten thousand short/' the banker announced.
"Get it," demanded Villa, whirling on his captive.
"I can give you, five of it."
"I believe your lying. Dato, come here and search
this Gringo."
Obeying, it did not take long for the bandit to
produce a roll of money which counted up to twelve
thousand dollars.
"Trying to welch on me, weren't you?" hissed The
Tiger. "Take it all, Dato.
"I'll teach the pale-faced pig to try to play tricks
on t rancisco Villa I"
At the name a gasp of terror ran through the den.
"Got the money, Tomasso ?" The Tiger called.
"Yes."
"Then come on. And you, you piker, can consider
yourself lucky to get off with your life." And he
shook the "Yellow Dog" owner, then sent him spin-
ning from him.
A couple of paces Villa took toward the door, then
stopped.
"Here, girlie, where are you?" he called, and as
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 123
the beauty approached, he continued: "I'd almost
forgotten you.
"Tomasso has my winnings, but I guess this will
be equal to half of them." And putting his hand
in his pouch, the bandit chieftain drew it out full
twice and gave it to the astonished girl. Then he
kissed and made for the door.
As he reached it, some one shouted : "There's 30,000
dollars prize money on his head. Let's get it."
Instantly, Villa whirled, then dropped to the floor.
"He's been knifed !" shrieked the beauty.
J24 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER XVIIL
BETRAYED.
Instantly Tomasso and Dato rushed to their chief
and picked him up.
"Where can we take him?" exclaimed Dato.
"To my home, if you want to," declared the girl
to whom he had been so generous.
"Where is it?"
"What makes you ask?"
"Because since these people know The Tiger we
can't stay in Pampas."
"It isn't in Pampas."
"Is it far?"
"Forty miles. I board in town, you know."
"Good. We'll go there. Tomasso, put the girl on
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 125
your horse, I'll take Rancho on the stallion and you
take mine.
"Lively now."
Quickly they moved away, and none too soon, for
a score or more guns barked.
"Nice, friendly people in this town of Pampas,"
exclaimed Tomasso as he swung the beauty up onto
his horse.
"They'd murder their mothers for a peso," she
replied.
Fortunately for the bandits, there were no other
horses in front of the "Yellow Dog," or their getaway
would have been more difficult.
As it was the denizens of Pampas sent bullet after
bullet at them, though none took effect.
Forced to ride slowly, once they had gained the
open on account of the pain The Tiger was suffering,
it was after sunrise when they reached the girl's
home, which proved to be only an abandoned hovel.
"My family are dead," she explained, "so I took
everything and went to Pampas. My name is Mer-
cedes Horta.
"But Pancho will be safe here. No one knows about
it in Pampas."
Making their chief as comfortable as they could,
Tomasso and Dato decided that the former should
126 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
ride to the nearest ranch and buy provisions and
medicine.
"If you don't want to get a doctor, there's an old
Indian woman near here who is great on salves and
such things," said Mercedes.
"Get her," ordered Dato. And as Tomasso rode
away to get food, the girl sped for the medicine
woman.
The old squaw examined the wound carefully,
shook her head and hurried away, returning with
various herbs and lotions which she applied deftly.
For three days Villa's fever raged and his chums
despaired of his life, but on the fourth there was a
change for the better, and from then on his improve-
ment was rapid.
Thinking they had nothing to fear from the squaw
who was paid handsomely, the others made no effort
to conceal The Tiger's identity.
But bitterly were they to rue this carelessness.
When the danger was over, the old Indian went
home.
Enjoying the society of Mercedes, and thinking
themselves safe from all pursuit, the bandits lingered
long after their chief was able to ride.
Like all Indians, the squaw was covetous. She
knew there was a big reward offered for The Tiger,
and she determined to get at least some of it.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 127
So settmg forth", she went to the nearest barracks
of the Rurales at Esclamon and laid her information
as to the whereabouts of the much- wanted bandit
chieftain before the captain.
Keen was his delight as she told him, and hardly
pausing to thank her, he ordered out his men.
"Hold on!" she shrieked. "How much of the re-
gard do I get?"
"Not a peso. The money goes to those who capture
Villa, not to informers," he shouted back, as he swung
into his saddle.
Unbelieving, the old hag stood for a moment, then
realizing that she would gain nothing from her be-
trayal of the man who had paid her so generously,
she raised her hands above her head and shrieked:
"May the fiends of hell sit on the chest of you,
your wife and your children and gnaw their hearts
out! And may you die the -death of the dog that
you are, spurned by all your friends."
Then ' she staggered back to her hovel.
The bandits were lolling in the house and Mercedes
was at the spring when she chanced to look up and
saw a body of horsemen racing toward the hut.
"Rurales !" she gasped, and dashing for the house,
she shouted: "The Rurales are coming!"
Amazed, the bandits leaped to the windows and
verified the warning.
128 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Catching Mercedes about the waist, Villa ran with
her to the shack in which were their horses, followed
by his chums.
No time was there to saddle, so close were the man-
hunters, so the bandits merely bridled and leaped
onto their mounts, The Tiger swinging the girl up
in front of him.
"The only thing to do is for us each to ride in a
different direction," exclaimed their leader.
"By 'doing that the curs won't know which of us I
am.
"Meet you at the bear cave."
Quickly the outlaws raced from the shack, Villa
heading north, Tomasso east, and Dato south.
As he saw them escaping, the captain of the Ru-
rales shouted a command which divided his troop
into three sections, and each one gave chase to the
lone horseman ahead of it.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 129
CHAPTER XIX,
THE REUNION.
Needless to say, the Rurales did not capture The
Tiger, or Dato or Tomasso.
But from the time when the bandit chieftain dashed
over the prairie, carrying Mercedes before him, the
two of them dropped out of sight as completely as
though the earth had swallowed them.
When a month passed and their chief did not ap-
pear at the rendezvous he had made at the bear cave,
Tomasso and Dato grew anxious.
"Let's see if he's been to cache to get any more of
Ihe gold bullion/' suggested Dato.
130 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Accordingly they went to the spot where they had
buried the loot obtained by robbing the ore wagons.
Villa's share of the plunder was gone, but their's
was intact.
"Would he shake old chums like us for that pretty
girl?" demanded Tomasso, as they sat down to dis-
cuss the discovery that The Tiger's bullion had been
removed from the cache.
"You never can tell what a man will do when
there's a woman in the case," said Dato, wisely, "but
it doesn't seem possible."
It was not for some few years that the three bandits
met again.
Where Villa passed those years is as much of a
mystery as why he changed his name from Doroteo
Arranzo to Francisco Villa, and like that, is prob-
ably known only to himself.
It may have been during this period that The Tiger
served an enlistment. Also, he may have visited dur-
ing it the old South American countries, where rumor
has it, he led several revolutions.
But wherever he was, he returned sound in limb
and body, and he today swears that save on the two
occasions when Huerta put him there he has never
been in jail.
It was in a barroom in Juarez that the three men
met after the long years of separation.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 131
Tomasso and Dato had stuck together, barely man-
aging to keep out of the hands of the R) /rales while
indulging in raids that were tame compared to those
led by The Tiger.
A lucky hold-up supplied the pair with funds, and
they decided the States would be much safer for
them for a while than Mexico.
Accordingly they went to El Paso but, as the rac-
ing season was on, they frequently crossed to Juarez.
Having passed an afternoon at the track, they
dropped into the Grinning Bear saloon.
As they did so, a man who had been drinking
turned about.
It was Francisco Villa.
The recognition was mutual.
"Madre di Dios, Panch " began Dato, rushing
to him with outstretched hands.
But The Tiger put his finger to his lips to enjoin
silence as to his identity.
As of old, the others obeyed him and, turning on
their heels, the three left the Grinning Bear and
entered another barroom.
Villa, however, evaded questions as to Mercedes
and what he had been doing, merely declaring that he
had been able to turn a few tricks.
"But I've got something on now, old pals, in which
you can help me. How about it?"
132 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDnj
CHAPTER XX.
VILLA WREAKS His VENGEANCE.
Only jtoo glad to have been reunited with their
old-time leader, the others eagerly declared their will-
ingness to share any danger or pleasure with The
Tiger.
"It's this way," declared the bandit chieftain: "I
have a little ranch near Sonora. And I had a daughter
there.
"I was not known as Francisco Villa what the
name was is of no consequence.
"I went away on a business trip.
"When I returned, I found the house but smoulder*
ing embers.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 133
"Crazed with anxiety I started to find my little
Dolores. She was six years old.
"I did not have far to search.
"In an orchard some hundred yards from where
the house had been I came upon her little body hang-
ing from a limb.
"To her dress was pinned a note. Here it is."
And from his money pouch Villa took a soiled
piece of paper and read :
" 'We do not want any Villas or brats of Villa's
in Sonora.
"We came to get you. The girl would not tell us
where you were.
"Let this be a warning to you as to what we shall
do to you when we get you and get you we will if
you remain in Sonora.
'CARLOS,
Trince of the Black Riders.' "
There were tears in the eyes of The Tiger as he
finished reading the warning, and though he essayed
to speak, his voice was too broken.
"So you want us to help you hunt this Carlos,
Prince of Black Riders down?'' said Tomasso.
"Yes," said their chief, recovering his composure.
"That is, I'd be glad to have your company tonight.
"This all happened six weeks ago, but it was only
134 FRANSISe VFLLA, BANDIT
this morning I learned who Carlos was.
"He and his band of cutthroats have been away on
one of what they call their vigilante trips.
"They return tonight.
'Their meeting place is in a hut in the woods five
miles to the south of here.
"Carlos always comes to his home after a trip be-
fore going to the headquarters.
"I shall meet him between his home and the ren-
dezvous."
"We're with you," chorused Tomasso and Dato.
"Good! Let's go out, I have some purchases to
make."
Going to the hardware shop, The Tiger purchased
a meat cleaver, two quarts of black paint and a paint
brush.
"Why the ?"
"Don't ask questions," Villa interrupted. "You'll
understand tonight."
In various saloons the bandits passed the time till
The Tiger deemed it necessary for them to go on
their mission.
Riding till they came to a group of trees, they
halted and Villa uncoiled his lariat.
Hidden by the shadows they could see up and
down the road without themselves being visible.
At the end of half an hour their vigil was re-
FRAN6ISCO VILLA, BANDIT 135
warded by the appearance of a horseman garbed all
in black.
Waiting till the rider was opposite The Tiger
threw his lariat and jerked the horseman from the
saddle.
With the assistance of his chums the bandit dragged
him to the trees.
"I am Francisco Villa," he announced. "I have
come to avenge my Dolores.
"And for one pain you caused her I will make you
suffer a hundred.
"First I'll begin with your fingers. You'll get more
agony."
Binding the man rigid with his lariat, The Tiger
spread out his left hand and chopped off the fingers
with his meat cleaver.
"Gag him, so he can't give any alarm by his cries,
Dato," the terrible bandit commanded.
Then he chopped off the fingers of the right hand.
Next he cut the arms at the elbows.
>The feet at the ankles were then severed.
Finally, the arms were cut off at the shoulders, and
the legs at the groin.
Hurriedly opening the paint, The Tiger stripped
the clothes from the parts of the body and painted
the different pieces black.
This done, he placed them in a bag which he swung
136 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
at his saddle horn, then mounted and rode ahead,
followed by his horrified chums.
Arrived at the shack, Villa dismounted and took
the bag.
Going to the door of the shanty he opened it and
hurled in the head.
As it rolled along the floor, hideous in its black
paint, The Tiger yelled:
"Here is your Carlos, Prince of Black Riders, by
order of Francisco Villa."
Then as fast as he could, he threw the other parts
of the body into the room, laughed shrilly, and going
to his horse, mounted and rode away.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 137
CHAPTER XXI.
VILLA INCREASES His BAND.
Though they had seen their leader in m^ny moods,
and under many circumstances, never had they seen
him so much like the devil incarnate, which his ene-
mies call him, as when he was wreaking his vengeance
upon the so-called "Prince of the Black Riders."
So terrible was he to behold, face, hands and
clothes bespattered with the blood of his victim, that
they dared not speak to him.
Accordingly they fell in behind him and followed
him.
To their surprise, instead of heading for Juarez,
The Tiger led them in the direction of their old
stamping ground, the Sierra Madre Mountains.
138 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
Like wild fire, the news of the horrible fate to
which the leader of the Black Riders had been sub-
jected spread, and when they heard it had been in-
flicted by the terrible bandit chieftain, people again
began to fear his raids.
And good reason did they have so to -do.
The cruel death of his Dolores seemed to drown
out any spark of human kindness that had been in
him, leaving him all devil.
With the band which he quickly recruite-d and
among them were others of his old followers, Bepo,
'Rico and Pulque he was short and firm With his
enemies, when he could catch them, he was merciless,
and he took particular delight in torturing any of the
Rurales who, while hunting him, chanced to fall into
his hands.
Up and down the States of Durango and Chihua-
hua he rode, robbing, burning, murdering. His
methods were the same as of yore. His appearance
was as sudden and as unexpected, but he was ever-
more prone to shoot any one who crossed or
thwarted him in any way.
The rule of his arch-enemy, Porifirio Diaz, was
tottering.
The ignorant masses were becoming incensed at the
wrongs to which they were subjected at the hands
of the land owners and the aristocracy.
VILLA, BANDIT 139
Through the country Francisco Madero was going,
telling them that as human beings they had some
rights, but that they could never hope to attain them
till they revolted against the rule of Diaz and the
reactionary forces for which he stood.
As a result of this revolutionary propaganda, the
men of the masses were growing restless.
They formed into bands and began to pillage and
burn, taking by force the things they could not have
otherwise.
It was natural, therefore, that in this spirit of
brigandage they should look to the most desperate
brigand Mexico had ever known, Francisco Villa, as
their leader and they did.
Men from all sections of the country sought him
out and begged him to let them ride with him. But
he was ever a believer in small forces which could
strike quickly and get away even more quickly.
Nevertheless, he added many of the applicants to
his band, administering the old oath of allegiance to
them, until it numbered about thirty.
In all truth he had made himself the people's idol
and terror,
140 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER XXII.
THE RAID ON THE SONOMA COLONY.
Ever since the death of his daughter, The Tiger
had sought to learn who it was that had disclosed
his real identity to the Black Riders.
His efforts, however, had been in vain.
And in his fury, he turned from the individual to
the group and began to harass the colonists at So-
noma.
At first he confined himself to running off their
horses and cattle, and to burning their ranch houses*
But as they either bought more or built new ones,
he conceived the idea of rendering them powerless
so to do by depriving them of their money.
In the fertile Sonoma valley there were some
twenty ranch owners, living their wish their fam-
ilies, servants and cowboys.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 141
Waiting until money from their cattle had been
paid, The Tiger split his band of fifty into three sec-
tions, placing them under command of Tomasso, Dato
and Pulque.
"You will bring the ranch owners and their fam-
ilies to the colony church," he instructed his lieu-
tenants.
"I will meet you there day after tomorrow. Be
sure to fix the punchers so that they cannot attempt
a rescue."
Never did church present a stranger appearance
than on the day of the appointed round-up.
White faced men, trembling women and cowering
children, sat in the pews fearful of what was to
happen.
And well they might be.
Entering the church with his sombrero on the back
of his head, Villa swaggered to the pulpit.
"I've called you together," he announced, "because
I need money.
"You have just received your pay for your cattle.
I want you to bring that money to me.
"You who are ranch owners, please step up and
tell me how much you can give."
But no one moved.
"Do you forget that I am Francisco Villa?" he de-
142 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
manded. "My time is precious. Don't make me ask
you again."
But this command produced no better results than
the first.
"Very well," snapped The Tiger, "if you won't
do it of your own accord, I'll make you.
"Tomasso, bring in the ropes. Dato bring the
branding irons."
As the men obeyed, the colonists groaned, women
and children crying and shrieking.
"Now, Bepo, bring out that little girl in the first
pew," he commanded.
Yelling and shrieking, the child was dragged forth,
other members of the bandit gang overpowering the
father and mother.
"Attach the ropes," The Tiger snapped.
Quickly they were adjusted to the child's feet and
shoulders, the feet in turn being attached to the base
of the pulpit.
"Ten of you take the other end and pull till I tell
you to stop. Don't jerk, pull steadily."
As the bandits walked down the aisle and the slack
of the rope was taken up, the father jumped to his
feet.
"You're an imp of hell," he shouted, "but I canr
not see my child tortured.
"I'll give you three thousand dollars."
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 143
"Now you have some sense," The Tiger exclaimed.
"Go with him Dato and get the money."
As the two left the church, Villa turned to Bepo.
"Bring up that woman in the second pew on the
left," he snarled.
The woman, a wife and mother, was dragged
cowering to the pulpit.
"Tear off her waist and brand her back," ordered
The Tiger.
Quickly hia men obeyed.
As the red hot branding iron approached the white
flesh of her back, the woman's husband leaped to his
feet.
"Stop! And I'll give you eight thousand," he
shouted.
Again the torture was prevented, and Tomasso was
dispatched with the rancher to fetch the money.
One after another, Villa went through the group
of colonists, and his threats of torture netted him
some $35,000.
144 FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT
CHAPTER XXIII.
VILLA BECOMES A GENERAL.
It was shortly after this raid upon the colony at
Sonoma that Villa met Raoul Madero, brother of
Francisco, who had launched his revolution.
What strange bond there was between the men
seems incomprehensible, so utterly unlike were they
in actions, thoughts and education.
The fact remains, however, that they became the
most intimate of friends.
As the Madero forces were being defeated by the
Diaz troops, Raoul finally wrote a letter to his brother,
acclaiming The Tiger as a hero and a military genius.
He begged him to enlist him in the cause as a
general.
Naturally Francisco Madero hesitated to elevate
a murdering robber, who had been hunted for fifteen
years by the Rurales, from outlawry to the status of
a military man.
FRANCISCO VILLA, BANDIT 145
\
At last, however, when his revolution was almost
suppressed, Francisco Madero, willing to grasp at
any straw in his desperation, sent The Tiger a com-
mission as general in the revolutionary army.
Quickly Villa gathered the bands of malcontents
and welded them into the army with which he has
achieved such remarkable results.
What these are, the newspapers and magazines have
described for the last three years.
But the changing of Francisco Villa from a bandit
to a general has not changed his nature.
When he feels like shooting a man, he does so,
regardless of who he is. He raids and plunders as
in the days when he was the quarry of the Rurales.
He burns and desecrates as his fancy pleases.
But his low origin, his hatred of Gringos and the
aristocracy, have endeared him to his troops and to
the masses, till he stands forth today as the one man
in Mexico who has the paradoxical title of the peo-
ple's idol and terror.
THE END.
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