The Ordway new era., 1919-09-05
CHAPTER xI.

CHAPTER xI.
AYou Have Overpiayed Your Hand.
81 am afrnid that have been indis-
Greet, Senior Stanway." Tore. with
his old smile charged now with some
thing of mockery and much Of triumph,
held out little piece Of white paper
to Stamway, who. key in hand, had
Just come from Pedro on his way to
the masters room. But I think that
I can plead an altogether unusual po-
sition as my excuse. You will pardon
me. senorT
Stairway took the paper, guessing
what It was, and read 1t swiftly:
Nj ouerido Senior Billy;
TO save papa E1an.dhes; EaaI.hs. t1 t,sra save me me-
~ way but a to Ad do what Torre asks. In
grandfather's room. behind the great
mahogany bed. there is a. painting on
There ,gs. @ soos IN the ,.s yqeswo5N 2esm shs
ppsss i.h yogT hse heFs Il wiz
the banco. Give him the money-for
e Your Teresa.
You will pardon my having read
1T" again smilingly from Tore.
where did you get this thing"
cried Stairway.
Tore pointed to the window. whose
panes he had broken Just before three
o'clock.
There. On the floor. Some one
threw 1t In on the floor while you were
running SO giddily across the border.
You see this is very well planned,
senior. Is It not7 Even my lieuten-
ants"
'If do not do as she aslzs?" cut In
Stairway, his low-lldded eyes sharp up
on Torres.
Tore shrugged.
"who knows? Perhaps they will
take the trouble to find a priest to give
the senorita In holy matrimony to"
In sudden rage Stairway. his nerves
jangling, his rage reddening his face,
leaped at the man, and as he leaped
struck, struck hard-his hard, clenched
fist smashing into the evil smile, cut
ting the lips SO that the blood ran
from them, sending Tore reeling
DaCkWdIu dCIOSS EOOlu.
"Shut up!" he cried hoarsely. 'YOu
mention the senorita once more and
His teeth closed with a little omi-
nous click. Tore. wiping the blood
from his lips, glared at him with q
boundless. almost speechless. rage.
Coward ~ he sneered. "Since I am
a prisoner, with half dozen men
ready to spring upon me, you attack
| me"
"Gaucho!" called Stanway.
ISL. senor!" Gaucho's brown face
Frightening, his eyes looking happier
than they had looked for two days.
do not interfere. Do not let your
men take hand, no matter what hap
pens" Then he swung about upor
| Tore do you want to finish II
now?" he said curtly.
But Tore was once more himself
smiling, at ease, only a fierce hatred
In his eyes.
"Gracias, senor!" he returned. :"
shall merely make you pay for tina
blow in my own way. And now / asl
another ten thousand dollars as ran
| Soln tlt olu tnC Slii. iCi
thousand dollars for a blow, senior
Do you care to strike again7"
Stanway shrugged.
"You have overplayed your hand
Torre." he said quietly. "This not
from the senorita makes me sure o
what was beginning to suspect
Gaucho. come with me-"
With no further word. leavin
Torres mystifed face looking afte
him. he went out, Gaucho at his heels
"Gaucho." he said. speaking swift
from beyond the closed door. II wan
: you to come to the masters room
Bring some men with you-six, ten
} don't know how many we shall neet
Let two Of them bring axes. Let a
! carry side arms. Bring the picke
men, Gaucho; the hardest men on tn
/ rancho. 1 think that there is going
/ be fighting this time"
, "The masterT cried Gaucho. 18th
senorita7 You know"
"I know nothing. But I think
4 that they have never for a second le
A the house! Hurry. Gaucho"
Q And Gaucho hurried, his own fat
as mystifled as Torres. Stairway wei
quickly to the bedroom.
: Somewhere In these great thiC
s walls there is passageway," he whi
:. pered to himself. "It runs from tn
n room throughout the house and to Il
t east wing where Teresa's rooms are.
Somewhere. down below perhap
s there is room. dungeon. 1 thir
t that It Is just under the drawing room