The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-10-10


Is; that many OF the things which
Tore said were meant to be heard BY
the old man that they might taunt and
mock him; / think that Torres men
down there heard the crashing glass,
the words which went with it. i think
that we are going to find De la Guerra
and Teresa there"
He studied the walls.
There was nothing to hint at a secret
door.
He moved out the bed, found the
spot which Teresa's note told OF, set
his thumb to II, and saw a panel drop
down, shelfwise, showing great iron
safe set in the wall. The safe was
locked the key missing. But he knew
that ne had found De Ia Guerra's bank.
He closed the panel swiftly as Gaucho
and his men came to the door,
"Que es. senor7'' Gaucho asked
quickly And the black eyes of the
dark-faced men thronging behind him
eager, expectant--told as well as
words that Gaucho had whispered TO
his men that the Americana had plan.
that hope lay behind It.
Come In. Gaucho. Shut the door.
How many men?"
They entered as he spoke. He count
ed as the last man closed the door be-
hind him.
"ren. senior. Five more are com
ing"
"And"-sternly-'syou can vouch for
them. for all of them? You can trust
every man to the uttermost, Gaucho?'
TO the uttermost, senor," as stern
~. ITO the death In the service Of
the master and'--his voice breaking
little-"the senorita."
'And the other five?"
"The same"
Good This is my plan. Come
close, all Of you"
He addressed them in Spanish
speaking swiftly, his voice lowered so
that the men must crane their necks
and lean forward to hear. He told
them of his hope that those they
sought had never been taken out of
the hacienda.
Now" he ended, "there Is no doubt
passageway running from here to the
senorita's rooms, If we find this end
Of 1t and attack they may escape at
the other end. So we must be ready
"Gaucho, send two men into the
senurlta's rooms. Let them be ready
armed and watchful. Send two more
to the stairway. Let Tore and Juarez
be bound and watched over by one
man only, man whom you can trust
and who viii blow their brains out be-
fore he let's them escape"
LET every other man In the hous .
be armed and ready. Then"
Then, senor?" eagerly.
"Then"--with quiet determination
we shall find where the passage is if
we have to tear down the walls. Hurry,
GauchoIn
Gaucho ran upon his errand, calling
by name the men he wished to 20 with
him. Stairway, bidding those with him
to be very silent, not knowing what
means the men he sought might have
of oyerhearing what happened in the
room, began a silent search for some
sign Of a passageway in the thick
walls.
And now at last fate and the quick
eyes of q vaquero aided him. There
was little scratch on the redwood of
the wall just opposite the door
through which they had entered. a
fresh white scratch. 1t was Mendoz,
a young Mexican, who saw IT.; it was
Mendoz who found mark of a greasy
thumb upon the same panel, some four
feet from the floor
"Aqui estal" he muttered. "Senor,
look r.
Stanway's heart beat wildly when he
saw what Mendoz had found.
"The door Of the passageway!' he
whispered, Ssh! Be still! Even
take Off your boots, companeros. We
are going to give them no warning.
But first, Mendoz, bring Dempton
here, quick think he is going to
talk now"
Mendoz hurried, and presently came
back, he and the immense Vidal, walk
Ing at Dempton's right and left.
'DemptOn," whispered Stairway,
meeting him. make no sound. If he
cries Quito Vidal and Mendoz-
''if he makes sound choke the life
out of him. Do you understand,
DemptonY"
CTo BE CoNTINuED9
-