The Curse of Capistrano (The Mark of Zorro), and Other Stories : 5 Stories of Johnston McCulley

The Curse of Capistrano or The Mark of Zorro and Other Stories is the collection works of Johnston McCulley. In this edition contains 5 works and free audiobook link of some books.

1. The Curse of Capistrano or The Mark of Zorro
“The Mark of Zorro tells the story of Don Diego Vega, the outwardly foppish son of a wealthy ranchero Don Alejandro in the old Spanish California of the early 19th century. Seeing the mistreatment of the peons by rich landowners and the oppressive colonial government, Don Diego, who is not as effete as he pretends, has taken the identity of the masked Robin Hood-like rogue Señor Zorro, champion of the people, who appears out of nowhere to protect them from the corrupt administration of Governor Alvarado, his henchman the villainous Captain Juan Ramon and the brutish Sergeant Pedro Gonzales. With his sword flashing and an athletic sense of humor, Zorro scars the faces of evildoers with his mark, "Z."

2. Black Star
“Black Star was what was once termed a "gentleman criminal", in that he does not commit murder, nor does he permit any of his gang to kill anyone, not even the police or his arch enemy Roger Verbeck. He does not threaten women, always keeps his word, and is invariably courteous, nor does he deal with narcotics in any of his stories. He is always seen in a black cloak and a black hood on which is embossed a jet black star. The Black Star and his gang used "vapor bombs" and "vapor guns" which rendered their victims instantly unconscious, a technique which pre-dated the Green Hornet's gas gun by several decades.”

3. The Spider Strain
“IT WAS not the first time that John Warwick had felt very thankful that his training as a member of society, and in the world at large, had been such that it enabled him successfully to talk about one thing and think of something else entirely different at the same time.”

4. Tragedy Trail
“SWEAT seemed to cover the buildings, the air was stagnant, the gathering darkness had a peculiar quality, somehow suggesting coming tragedy. So thought Mrs. Burke as she opened the front door and stood at the top of the small flight of steps, wiping her hands on her apron, and looking up and down the street, and then at the threatening sky.”

5. The Stolen Story
“TEMPTATION often had come to John Branton, in one form or another, as it comes to the best of us, and generally he had turned his back upon it and gone on his way a law-abiding and self-respecting citizen, if not an affluent one.”