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Johnston McCulley (1883-1958) http://tinyurl.com/McCulley

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Clash of Blades

From The Mark of Zorro, 1924. Read Online Download PDF

Reader: Wm Leslie Howard

California is alive with stories of virtuous bandits and likable rogues but within this rich tradtion one masked man stands alone.

In 1919, Johnston McCully wrote a serial for the pulp magazine All-Story Weekly introducing one of California's most enduring literary heros—Zorro. Here, the skilled swordsman confronts the odious Captain Ramon, "insulter of girls!"

The ringing blades, the shifting feet on the floor, the heavy breathing of the combatants . . . were the only sounds in the room. . . .

Captain Ramon rushed again, calling into play his last bit of strength, fencing with what skill he could command. His arms were as lead; his breath was fast. He thrust, he lunged—and made a mistake of a fraction of an inch.

Like the tongue of a serpent, Senor Zorro's blade shot in. Thrice it darted forward, and upon the fair brow of Ramon, just between the eyes, there flamed suddenly a red, bloody letter Z. "The Mark of Zorro!" the highwayman cried. "You wear it forever now, comandante!"

In 1924, Johnston McCulley's original story, The Curse of Capistrano, was republished under the title The Mark of Zorro after the success of the 1920 Zorro film starring Douglas Fairbanks.