_TO THE READER._
Only in the _Adventure Series_ can you get the absolutely true and
authentic history of the lives and exploits of the
JAMES BOYS,
YOUNGER BROTHERS,
HARRY TRACY,
THE DALTON GANG,
RUBE BURROW,
and the other Notorious Outlaws of the Far West.
We are the authorized and exclusive publishers for Jesse James' only
son,
JESSE JAMES. JR.,
and are the publishers of his great book,
JESSE JAMES, MY FATHER,
which is for sale everywhere. Buy it where you bought this book, and
read the inside history of the life of Jesse James.
[Illustration: THE HOLD-UP AT THE STE. GENEVIEVE BANK.]
Jesse James' Desperate Game
OR
THE ROBBERY OF THE
STE. GENEVIEVE BANK
With dare-devil recklessness the notorious bandit eludes a posse of
detectives and, assisted by only three companions, steals $10,000.
BY
WILLIAM WARD
_Adventure Series No. 18_
Published by
THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY
CLEVELAND, U. S. A.
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I. A Thrilling Rescue 7
II. Consollas' Accusations 15
III. The Plot Proves a Boomerang 24
IV. Young Rozier Makes a Startling Discovery 34
V. Gathering Clouds 45
VI. The Battle of Wits 56
VII. Jesse Bests the Detectives at Their Own Game 70
VIII. An Unexpected Complication 81
IX. The Storm Breaks 92
X. The Dash for Liberty 104
XI. Clell is Wounded 117
XII. The Outlaws Avoid a Trap 126
XIII. A Midnight Rescue 137
XIV. "Prince Charming" 147
XV. Jesse Gets His Revenge 162
XVI. The Butchery at Chalk Level 175
XVII. Conclusion 185
Jesse James' Desperate Game
OR
The Robbery of the Ste. Genevieve Bank.
CHAPTER I.
A THRILLING RESCUE.
The population of Monegaw Springs was transitory. Situated in the
central part of St. Clair county, in Missouri, the town was famed far
and wide for the medicinal qualities of its waters. And when the war of
the rebellion came to an end and the countryfolk could once more live
without fear of a raid by Federal troops or guerrillas, they flocked
thither from far and near.
No luxurious hotels were there, as in present-day health resorts, with
maws agape for money of their patrons; those who were early on the
ground secured board and lodging in the few houses of the hamlet, while
those who arrived later were forced to be satisfied with tents.
But the life of the place was not impaired by the lack of
accommodations or conveniences. Rather was it enhanced.
Convention was thrown to the winds. Campers, whose tents were near
together, spoke without waiting the formality of introductions;
mothers exchanged confidences, knitting and gossiping; fathers swapped
yarns and played cards together, while their children, both young and
grown-up, indulged in the pastimes of wide awake, red-blooded youth.
About the Springs all sorts and conditions of men were to be seen; army
officers, still believing in the subtle powers of their faded uniforms,
vied with civilians for the favour of the vivacious, rosy-cheeked
belles; men who lived by their wits hobnobbed with men who possessed
substantial incomes; churchmen rubbed elbows with criminals--and never
a question was asked.
Not a night passed without some excitement; often the silence that
fell only with the early hours of the morning was rent by the crack of
a pistol; men, their blood heated with copious draughts of the "stuff
that cheers," wrangled over the merits of their horses or families,
settling the former by quickly organized races and the latter by
recourse to fists or shooting-irons.
For those who wished to toy with fortune, there were always games of
poker and faro in the shanties that served as saloons; and far from
these bacchanalian orgies, on canvasses spread over the fragrant
needles in the pine groves, through whose boughs the moonlight glinted,
youths and maidens danced to the lively melodies of banjos and guitars,
played by grinning darkies.
Now and then, the rivals for the favour of some sloe-eyed beauty
clashed, there were a few excited, whispered words, giving and
accepting a challenge for a fight to the death on the morrow, and the
frolic was resumed.
And from sunrise to sunrise, the Springs throbbed with the emotions and
passions of the shifting, cosmopolitan throng.
In this Mecca of license uncontrolled, the world-famous Jesse James
had bidden his men join him. In the complexities of its life, he knew
they would be able to forget the godless act of the killing of Daniel
Askew, a murder that baffled police and public alike. Secure in its
very openness, they could laugh at the futile attempts to corral those
members of their gang who had raided the town of Chouteau, in the
Indian Territory, so effectually freeing the desperadoes from suspicion
of complicity in the act of cowardly assassination.
And little did the patrons of the Springs think, as they watched the
arrival, one beautiful spring afternoon, of three well-dressed, bearded
men, whose dash and debonair appearance sent many a maiden's heart
aflutter, that they were gazing upon three of the most desperate men
the world has ever produced, for whose corpses, even, the police and
railroad officials would pay thousands upon thousands of dollars.
For Jesse had not ridden to Monegaw Springs with Clell Miller and his
brother, Frank, in the garb of woolen shirts, "chaps," high boots,
black slouch hats, with knives and guns bristling from their belts, in
which alone the public fancy seemed able to picture them, but clad in
the height of the fashion of the day.
Guns they had--and cartridges and knives--but so cleverly were they
carried in their pockets that the presence of the death-dealing
weapons would escape even the most suspicious eye.
Reining in their mettlesome thoroughbreds, the outlaws dismounted in
front of one of the stores and passed inside to purchase tents and such
other things as they might need.
Those who had seen them eagerly asked who the new arrivals were,
attracted by their confident bearing and well put-up figures.
But none could answer and when they reappeared from the store, they
were followed by a curious coterie of idlers who watched them select a
place and pitch their tents, at the extreme southwestern corner of the
grove that had been set apart for the campers.
This very necessary work completed, the bandits had remounted and were
riding through the camp on a tour of reconnaissance to learn if any of
their enemies, the detectives and sheriffs, were among the sojourners
at the Springs when they were startled by a frenzied cry of warning
that swelled to a hoarse roar as throat after throat took it up.
Turning in their saddles as they heard the inarticulate shouts, the
three desperadoes dropped their hands to the pockets in which they
carried their shooting-irons.
With hundreds of man-hunters on their trail, whenever a hue and cry was
raised, the outlaws naturally believed themselves to be the cause.
"It may be Cole and Texas in from Chouteau with a pack of devils at
their heels," exclaimed Clell in a low voice.
But the next instant their apprehension was banished.
With frantic haste, the throng that had raised the alarm parted,
shoving and pushing those behind them in their effort to break through
to places of safety.
And tearing along the lane thus opened, the outlaws beheld a runaway
horse, nostrils distended, eyes wild, ears laid back, a young girl
clinging with the desperation of terror to its mane.
Maddened by the shouts of the people, the animal leaped from side to
side of its narrow path.
"Pull your foot out of the stirrup and slide off!" cried a score of
voices.
And as the silence of fear fell over the throng, the terrified voice of
the girl responded:
"I can't! It's caught!"
With a gasp of horror, the crowd heard.
Several men leaped for the bridle, but the infuriated horse dodged them
or shook them off.
Straight for the gate of a corral, less than two hundred yards away,
was the animal rushing.
The opening had been cut in a solid wall and the lintel was so low that
it would barely clear the saddle pommel.
If the horse were not stopped, it would dash inside.
Unable to release her foot, the girl would be knocked from her seat and
horribly crushed, if her leg were not torn from her body.
"Shut the gate!" yelled somebody.
A score of men sprang forward, but the distance was too great.
With a groan the spectators realized it. Women turned away their heads
that they might not see the awful sight, men nerved themselves for the
crash of the impact.
Suddenly through the lane dashed a young fellow, his coarse, sensual
face white with terror.
Seeing him, the crowd took hope.
"Ride, Consollas! Hurry, man! Use your spurs! Head him off!" rose from
an hundred throats.
Yet it did not take the anxious men and women long to realize that the
youth was too scared to be of service in the emergency and once again
despair seized them.
Engrossed in following the runaway, the people had not seen three
horsemen riding like the wind toward the helpless girl and it was
not till a sharp command, "make way!" rang in their ears that they
were aware of their existence, turning to see the handsome, bearded
strangers, whose advent had aroused so much speculation, bearing down
on them.
Their surprise did not paralyze their limbs, however, and, as if by
magic, the dense throng parted and Jesse, Clell and Frank dashed
between them.
Fully an eighth of a mile away had the outlaws been when the shouts had
come to them, but the instant they had discovered their cause, they
raced to the rescue.
Skilled in the art of short dashes, they worked their thoroughbreds to
wonderful speed.
Not fifty yards from the corral was the runaway when the bandits swept
between the spectators. And all of twenty yards behind were they.
Their quick eyes noted the horrible fate that awaited the girl should
they fail to help her.
Caring not who might see, Jesse jerked his bowie-knife from its place
of concealment and jabbed it into the flank of his mount.
Unaccustomed to such treatment and terrified by the pain, the animal
leaped forward.
The burst of speed won cheers from the crowd, while cries of "go it!
good man!" broke from many lips.
Emulating their leader, Clell and Frank, knifed their horses.
As though the runaway were standing still did the outlaws gain on it.
Hearing the shouts and the thunder of hoofs behind her, the girl looked
back.
"Keep your nerve! We'll save you!" yelled the famous desperado while
the crowd howled its approval.
The boy who had been addressed as Consollas was far behind. Less than
twenty yards away was the corral and two yards separated the bandits
from the runaway.
Yet though they rode for all they knew, only inches, it seemed, could
they cut this distance down.
With wicked jabs, the knives laid bare the flesh of the thoroughbreds.
Neck and neck the three horses were running.
"Spread out!" snapped Jesse. "When we get to the horse, reach over
and cut the saddle-girth, Clell. Frank, you ride him off. Wake up! We
mustn't fail now we're so near!"
In amazement, the spectators beheld the three riders separate, two
bearing to the right, the brown bearded man to the left.
"They're gaining! They're gaining!" shouted the crowd, then held their
breath the next instant.
As though they were pieces of a machine, worked by the same power,
Clell and his leader closed in simultaneously on both sides of the
runaway.
"Now!" cried the latter.
As they dropped their reins, Jesse leaned far from his saddle and
seized the terror-paralyzed girl about the waist.
Failing to comprehend the movement men and women stared, believing that
precious moments were being lost, then some of them roared:
"Ride the horse off! Her foot's caught in the stirrup!"
But at the very instant, Clell slashed with all his might at the
saddle-girth.
True was his hand. The leather parted and before the spectators could
realize how it happened, the great outlaw jerked the girl, the saddle
hanging to her foot, from her horse, swayed a moment as he regained his
balance, then swung her in front of him.
Salvos of applause broke from the throng of men and women.
But the spectacular work was not yet ended.
So close were the outlaws to the corral when the sensational rescue was
effected that it seemed that they must crash into it.
Once more the crowd grew silent as it realized the new danger.
Yet even as the hush fell, Frank swerved his horse, riding straight at
Clell's.
There was the rubbing of saddle leather, an awful instant of suspense
as the colliding animals struggled to keep their feet, then both,
weathering the impact, bore down onto Jesse and his burden.
"They'll go down! They'll be crushed!" gasped the spectators.
But the famous desperado had anticipated the danger.
The instant he had set the girl in front of him, he had pulled on his
reins with his right hand, changing the course of his mount to such an
extent that when the other two rode into him, his horse only turned
more quickly, and shoulder to shoulder the three animals galloped along
the side of the enclosure.
Yet so narrow was the margin by which the rescue was accomplished
that as they swept up the length of the corral, Frank was forced to
throw his left leg over the pommel of his saddle to keep it from being
scraped and crushed against the rough boards.
A trice the crowd stood motionless, then with thunderous cheers swarmed
round the outlaws and the girl they had rescued.