Chapter I: Front Matter

The Rambler Club on
the Texas Border

BY W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD

AUTHOR OF

“THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S WINTER CAMP”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S AEROPLANE”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S HOUSEBOAT,” etc.

Illustrated by the Author

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
MCMXV

COPYRIGHT
1915 BY
THE PENN
PUBLISHING
COMPANY

The Rambler Club on the Texas Border

Introduction

The members of the Rambler Club of Kingswood, Wisconsin,--Bob Somers, Dave Brandon, Tom Clifton, Dick Travers and Sam Randall,--have taken advantage of an opportunity to visit the state of Texas. Shortly after their arrival, Cranny Beaumont, an old-time friend, comes on to pay them a visit. And whenever Cranny is around adventures and excitement of some sort always seem to follow.

The crowd is thrown a great deal in the company of the Texas Rangers, the “policemen of the plains,” who have many achievements to their credit in the suppression of lawlessness along the border and elsewhere in the Lone Star State.

Four of the lads, in the company of two travelers, cross the famous Rio Grande del Norte and enter Mexico, which at this time is shaken by some of the most troublous events in all of its stormy and eventful history.

In a little frontier town they meet a newspaper man and a mysterious young pianist, and through a peculiar combination of circumstances are plunged into the midst of a series of thrilling adventures.

What happens to the pianist and how a certain event plays a very important part in the career of Cranny Beaumont is related in this story.

Other books telling of the adventures of the club are:

“The Rambler Club Afloat,” “The Rambler Club’s Winter Camp,” “The Rambler Club in the Mountains,” “The Rambler Club on Circle T Ranch,” “The Rambler Club Among the Lumberjacks,” “The Rambler Club’s Gold Mine,” “The Rambler Club’s Aeroplane,” “The Rambler Club’s Houseboat,” “The Rambler Club’s Motor Car,” “The Rambler Club’s Ball Nine,” “The Rambler Club’s Football Team,” “The Rambler Club With the Northwest Mounted,” “The Rambler Club’s Motor Yacht.”

Contents

I. CRANNY 9

II. MACHINE GUNS 21

III. THE RANGERS 33

IV. THE INVADERS 46

V. NEW FRIENDS 53

VI. IN THE SADDLE 65

VII. SCOUTING 77

VIII. IN MEXICO 89

IX. A LONE HORSEMAN 99

X. MOVING PICTURES 108

XI. SOLDIERS 117

XII. RIFLE SHOTS 129

XIII. THE STORM BREAKS 134

XIV. THE STAMPEDE 148

XV. THE FIGHT 154

XVI. A WILD RACE 167

XVII. A NIGHT IN THE OPEN 174

XVIII. ON THE TRACK OF “RUSTLERS” 186

XIX. CAPTURED BY COWBOYS 204

XX. UNDER FIRE 223

XXI. THE FUSILLADE 238

XXII. KIDNAPPING JIMMY 257

XXIII. SAFE AGAIN IN TEXAS 273

XXIV. JIMMY GETS BACK 289

XXV. CAPTURING THE “RUSTLERS” 307

XXVI. GOOD-BYE TO THE RANGERS 315

Illustrations

PAGE

THE CROWD WATCHED THE POLICEMEN _Frontispiece_

“INTO THE SADDLE, BOYS!” 73

ONCE MORE HE TURNED 149

“OWN UP--NOW!” 206

SILENTLY THE LADS OBSERVED THEM 261

The Rambler Club on the Texas Border