The Holly chieftain., 1917-03-16

no One was ubteu1uB. luz" NC w
turned to his seat. Tonight. when
the Senorfta sleeps. you. Tienda. must
60 get her."
But howl She sleep upstairs" said
the Mexican. who was not particularly
pleased that Lopez had selected him
for this particular Job.
II arrange for that" assured the
black devil with grin at his aides.
"You will find someone there with lad
der"
"But. Theresef' continued Tienda.
''She no sleep there tonight" gigeied
the chief "You know she no like
the Senorita. She think Manuel throw
her down because he likes Sen"r'ta.
fix that all right. She NO he there.
"You mean to steal Senoritaf" In
quired Peso.
"Si. ST." returned Lopez exciteily.
I'VE fix like this. Tienda. he go to
room Of Senorita tonight. when she
sleep. Peso he help you. You bring
her down. Bring her here. where you
find us. If they make too hot for us
we take her chihuahua mountains.
keep her there till they pay money"
Then. as he grinned in his fiendlsh
glee. he added. '.you know l very fond
Senorita, too. ! show that white rat.
Rutledge. that Lopez can get her too.
He beat me in that horse race to-day.
But. tonight beat him."
Maybe the SenOrita make big noise
when we take her." said Peso.
''If she does choke her. you hearT
replied Lopez gruffly.
Then they all left the hut. each
going in different directions.
In order not to arouse suspicion.
Lopez made his way to the house. and
mingled with the others in the ball
room. AS soon as he entered he saw
Liberty seated on lounge. In the
alcove. with Captain Rutledge. and a
sneer spread over his wicked face rs
he thought of what was going to hap-
pen few hours later.
AS he passed the couple. Liberty
saw him and spoke. Il say. Lopez,
why aren't you danclng?"
"Ah SenOrita, | can no dance like
you Americanos." be answered with
a .gracious bow.
LOPEZ Is better rider thnn dane
err laughed Rutledge. as he recalled
bow he had defeated the Mexican that
afternoon.
The eyes Of the Mexican cleaned
fire at these words, and insfinctively
his hand clutched his holster. Rut-
ledge was on his feet In an instant.
But Lopez decided this was no time
to stnrt anything. and ms he slOuched
AWAY he remarked with hented anger:
Lopez will show you soon how fast
he can ridei" Then he left the room
and went to his hut.
Il wonder what he theantY' said
Liberty after he had gone.
"You never know what Is In the
llenrt Of Mexican" answered Rut-
ledge as he led his FUR partner out
On-the floor.
PanchO broke up the purity earlier
thnn was customary that night, upon
request of Liberty. who explained that
she was tired from the long Journey
and the excitement which had fol-
lowed. So. nbout half hour before
midnight the cowboys and servants
started for their lodgings. After lib
erty had bid the Major and Captain
Rutledge goodnight she went direct
to her room and threw herself on
the bed to wait for the return of
Tlierese, who had gone to FL Pnso
with Manuel to attend a Mexican
DANCE. Tired as she was. 1t didn't take
her long to fall asleep. and few
minutes later she WAS living over
again, In her dreums. the events Of
p duy that hud turned out to be the
happiest in her young life.
How long she slept she didn't know,
but she was suddenly awakened by
a noise just outside her window. She
rubbed her eyes and sat up. What
she saW5 made her blood run cold.
For, as she looked the dark figure
of man was cautiously climbing
through her windowl With the aid
of the moonlight she noted his fea-
lures were that Of a Mexicanl She
started to cry. out, but before she
found her voice the grim figure made
leap at her and clapped his hand
over her mouth, at the same time rails
ing her bodily from the bed in his
big brawny arms as though she mad
been an infant. She fought madly to
free herself. But he held her In q
death-like embrace while she kicked
wildly at him. With one hand she
struggled to tear his from her mouth