The Merciless Marauders; or, Chaparral Carl's Revenge

This issue of *Beadle & Adams' Half-Dime Library* (Vol. XXXII, No. 642, March 19, 1884) features "The Merciless Marauders: or, Chaparral Carl's Revenge" by Major Sam S. Hall, writing as "Buckskin Sam." The opening establishes the Dean Ranch on the Rio Frio in Texas, describing Colonel Donald Dean and his family—his wife, daughter Dora (sixteen, "the belle of the Live Oaks"), and son Dick (twenty). Carl Clayton, called "Chaparral Carl," is a family friend and skilled frontier scout whose parents died of yellow fever. He excels at horsemanship, shooting, and lassoing, and has guided Texas Rangers against the bandit Cortina. At Rio Grande City near the Mexican border, two Mexican assassins—Pedro Lapato and Antonio Garcia—conspire to kill Carl, fearing he has discovered a trail that will compromise Cortina's planned assault on Dean's Ranch. Cortina has sworn to burn the ranch, shoot Dick, and scatter the cattle. The conspirators plan to murder Carl at a fandango dance that evening.