The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-09-19
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER x-continued.

1t seemed to him that suddenly it
had grown cold there in De la Guer-
ra's bedroom.
He shivered and. taking up his
candle, went his way back through
the drawing room, with no word to
Tore, with no glance even, for he
feared that now he could not let his
eyes go to the handsome, evil face
and keep his hand back, and at last
to Pedro's bedside.
Pedro, waiting for him impatiently,
tried to lift himself upon an elbow,
and failing in that turned his bright
black eyes upon the American.
What did she say, Josefa?" he
asked quickly. TT is the masters
key?"
Eyes. Pedro" answered Stairway
dispiritedly. "But what is the use?
She does not know what door it
opens"
But / know" said Pedro brightly
you know!" Stairway laid his
hand on the wounded mans arm.
"Tell me. Quick /"
when the master was young he
lived in Spain, where the old master,
his father, sent him TO go to school,
In the home there, builded of stones
like an old castle, senior, was room
where many times he was locked up
by his tutor because he was wild and
did not fall in love with his books
| have heard him laugh and tell about
it to the padre from La Panza. When
he came away he brought the key to
that prison room with him. That is
the key you have, senor.'
Stairway looked at. the man with
swift suspicion. Pedro seemed ex-
cited over the key; look of great
shrewdness was in his eyes, and the
key unlocked n door in Spain! If he
was becoming delirious-
81 am not in a fever, senor,," said
Pedro quickly, seeing the thought in
the Americans eyes. But that key
tells me something. Every night be-
fore going to my bed l go to the mas
ter's room to see if he wishes any,
thing to take any commands for the
next day. l went last night after it
was late, just before l went to the
senorita's door. 1t was habit, senor
could not have gone to sleep unless
| went there"
''Well?" sharply
Il heard a little sound 1t was the
scratching Of a window shade l
went, closed the window, and locked
it tightly. And while looking for the
sound / saw the key in its place. 1t
was there at eleven o'clock last night
senor."
you are sure, Pedro? You are
very certain that this key was in the
masters room at eleven o'clock?"
VERY certain, senior"
"Then- But it is impossible, Pc
dro You say that you locked the
windows? All of them?"
"All, senor."
"And the door as you came out?"
II locked, senior. The key was I'M
der my bed. I gave it to you just
now And there is only one key upon
tHe TEHCllO-oilly UHe III tlle WOTlu
which will unlock it,"
BIT then it is impossibler
Stairway, restless, upon his feet,
strote back and forth, frowning. If
the key had been there last night, if
doof and windows had been locked,
if they had been locked when he went
to she room-then how could one of
the men who attacked Pedro have
had it in his hand at three o'clock
in The morning?
You mean," he said slowly, COM
tng back to the bedside, "that the at
tack upon you and Celestino was
mrde by men who are among the
bmse servants or the De 10 Guerra
raqueros?"
mo. senor." There was no hest
:ation-the voice was confident. "The
men wore handkerchiefs about their
faces, but l know that they were not
Of our men. They were strangers to
me-"
But" cried Stairway, "how could
such a thing be? How could they
have gotten into the masters room?
Then how could they have gotten to
the senorita's room without some one
of our men seeing them? And why
should they have brought the key?"
1.-THE key is heavy, good to strike
hard blow" replied Pedro. IF a
man had lost his knife and needed a
weapon he might take it. No, senior"
But how"
Stairway broke off. his eyes ran
from Pedro's face to sweep the room. a
sudden light came into them, and the
blood ran into his face.
My God" he cried. Il see itr'
You are wiser than l, senor" Pc
dro smiled contentedly and closed his
eyes, looking very pale and weak.
You will let me have news when
there is anything, senior? 1 could get
well quickly with good news"
Stairway promised, took Pedro's
hand quickly, turned and hurried out
of the room. His step was quick, his
eyes very bright.
81 understand now Torres signal
on the window" he muttered as he
went. "And-by heaven, how blind
| was | know what he meant when
he said he was haunting a man whom
he did not like! It's the boldest game
man ever playedn'
CHAPTER XII,