The Tomahawk., 1919-07-31
CHAPTER VljI-continued.

CHAPTER VIlI-continued.
80
"A word IN your ear, senOr," he
said, his voice and manner gayly i'm.
,pudent, his words low so that they
reached no ears but those he intended
to hear. ~Twenty thousand dollars
now, Immediately, or I give you my
word as q gentleman that when the sun
is up you will rush to me, trying to
make terms, and shall then answer
you by demanding fifty thousand!"
The threat in the mans voice again
disturbed Stairway. He had a feeling
which he could not entirely reason
down that Tore meant what he was
saying. Then he looked at the half
dozen stern-featured, faithful servants,
who served the De la Guerra as old
subjects served a beloved sovereign ;
saw them watchful, armed, eager for
an excuse to fling themselves upon
their two captives; and, frowning at
his own fears. he went to his room.
His windows faced westward and to
the south
He stood before one of them which
looked to the border, half ready to ex-
pect q rush Of cavalry through the
olive trees.
He saw the olive trees sway to the
little, warm wind from the south ;
watched his window curtains pulsing
slowly like one breathing; noted how
the moonlight gilded the ripe fruit
upon the orange trees, and, with a last
look toward the eastern wing Of the
house. where q little balcony jutted
out among roses, he jerked down his
shade, fastened his window, placed a
revolver upon the chair at his side,
and went to bed.
A low, ipsistent rapping at his door
way awakened him.
Stairway sat up in bed, a sudden
-shiver of uneasiness upon him.
"Who it is?" he called sharply.
1T is Lugo, senor. Senor Tore
sends me with a message. It is to
come to the drawing-ro0m Immediate
ly. He has something to say to you.
He says it is very important. He in
ssists you come to him before 1t Is
three o'clock-within fifteen minutes. !"
HE has his nerve" muttered Stan
way. ''Tell him to be more explicit or
to go to the devil"
"Si, senor."
Lugo -chuckled his approval, and
hurried away through the still house.
Stairway lay back upon his bed and
closed his eyes, only to open them
quickly to stare into the darkness OF
his room.
He was remembering those fOrebod-
ings which had come to him with Tor
res yelled threats; he was feeling an
uneasiness which he could not drive
out. Tore had sent for him in the
middle Of the night
Again he sat up, cropping for matches
and candlestick. In the little yellow
glow he saw that 1t lacked but ten
minutes of three. He sprang out OF
bed, drew on his clothes hurriedly, and
hastened to the drawing-room.
"Ah, senor, you are very kind" Tor
res smile was full Of mock-p0lfteness.
ITO trouble yourself so at the lightest
wish of guest is"
"Get down to business If you have
any," Stairway interrupted bluntly.
"'What is tt?"
II want q word with you in pri-
vate," Tore answered quietly. The
man was fully dressed and now rose
from the couch upon which he had
been lying. '"There is no objection to
the others being in the room, but at
least let us stand at the far side Of the
chamber so that they may not hear"
IF you have anything to say, say
It aloud" Stairway retorted. II am
tired of your way of doing business,
Tore. Now, what is it?"
Tore shrugged.
'Then I shall be SILENT" he said
.carelessly. II think that you a:e max
ing a mistake, senor.'
Was he? Stairway didn't know. He
looked about the room. Juarez
seemed to be sleeping heavily upon
his couch; the vaqueros, seven OF
them, sat along the walls or lounged
about the room; each man of them as
watchful, his eyes as Keen ana sus-
picious as at the beginning OF their
vigil at dusk.
And yet, in spite of all this secur'
ity, in spite of the fact that Stanway
and the De la Guerra servants were
armed and their two prisoners un.
armed. the rancher had the odd feel
ing that there was weakness in his
position which he could not see, but
which was very plain to the smiling
Tore. And then his curiosity de-
.ciGed him.
"Come," he said after a brief mo-
ment. And then again: "Now, what
IL itr'
He had stepped to the far corner Of
i the roam, motioning two Of the loung'
ing cowboys out of earshot. Tore
-lebonair, his manner gracefully in
different, stopped at the big mahog'