The St. Mary banner., 1919-10-25
euApTER xIl-Continued.

ksgk you. GaucLo'
rbe seuorita? Thank you. And
=, stapway, | should be glad TO
= you accompany me-"
.,,eodv his foot was upon the hrst
i stanway laid quick hand upon
arm.
.surely you do not think Of coming
bou them this way
asurely," smiled the old man, they
nv guests, / am tie host. am
ling to them
He went slowly up the short flight
stairs Stairway close at his heels,
ondering. At the top was Q little
~. De Ia Guerra raped softly VITA
barrel of his revolver.
There was a sudden silence in the
om voices dropped to whispers. De
Guerra knocked again.
aWplIY 1t was Torres voice,
aYp impatient. "Nho is it?"
IT Is |, Senior Tore" answered the
man, quietly. "And l am Antonio
IA Guerra. | bring my apologies for
Ling so tardy to wait upon a guest
u I come to talk with you"
Again silence, again hurried whis-
y, then Tore crying out:
sThat have you to say? / can put
bullet through the door which will
IA youl If you will open the safe,
rs take the gold and go; you may
p the silver and stay. What do you
gr
De la Guerra laughed softly. And
y, seriously, he answered:
4 sny, my dear Senor Tore, you
i talking bravely; but that YOU at
II are in no position to dictate. 1t Is
Who dictate. Let me come in that
I may talk, or l shall have to have
Idal chop down some more of my
boS. And l do not like to do that"
forre hesitated. Why? Stairway
eught because he was studying his
y with those keen eyes Of his, trying
gness how far he could count on
em now.
Evidently not very far. For in n
pnent came his soft laugh, and his
mt command:
Nunez, open the door. Let my
nsman come just to the threshold.
any of his men try to enter-well,
I'VE them to me! Enter, senor!"
The door slid open. De la Guerra
kpped just to the threshold, STAN
" close behind him.
Good evening, caballeroS," said the
. Spanlard courteously. "Now for
b word with Tore. All of the men
has brought with him may go free
q unharmed, provided that l am as
red Pedro Celestino, and poor AL
ITO there will live. If any of them
to die, then the man who has killed
Is not to go! Juarez may go.
fapton may CO."
sfou are pleased to be gracious,
high and mighty kinsman -
lsed Tore impudently. "O-ho
,or Stairway! You are there, too!
mo" sharply to a black-browed
an at his side, "you are the best
eman | ever saw, and, besides,
are an admirable soldier who
- how to take a command. If
Senor Stairway moves a hand or
= . step this way will you blow
hains out for me?"
Nmtro's answer was to fling down
Rvolver so that it ratified noisily
the floor.
siou have led us into a trap" he
sted sullenly. II accept the Senor
= Guerra's word that l may &c
! have harmed no one!"
4 black frown gathered Torres
A little smile crept into De
tuerra's stern eyes.
me first sign that you lose, Tor
ne said quietly. "The first sign
n win!"
9 you know, my klnsman," re.
Tore insolently, struggling his
ders at the mutiny of Castro
may lose and still you not
How? Why, to be explicit to
man, I can at least have the ex
e pleasure of ending my gay lit
lstence gaily-and In shooting
at between the eyes, senior! J"
1Eay shuddered, seeing the
earnest threat In Torres low
eyes. But De la Guerra's gaze
g waver and he answered:
en that, Tore, is denied te
he laughed softly. For
III things, You are a gambler
" take gamblers choice! You
u me, yes-perhaps! And II
~ My vaqueros would rush in
20 on time for me to see you
Aou know that. There would be
nee In it for you. / offer you 9
u You let these men 60, II
~ down your gun and agree te
chance I offer you! And be