The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-08-29
CHAPTER lll--centlnusd.


twenty-five" replied Gaucho
promptly
Good. cried stairway. 'Take
twenty men with you send the other
ave 10 the house. Pronto, Giaucho."
Gaucho turned and ran. calling 70
his yaqucros as he went
Pedro called stanway 10 the chief
Of the house servants
~Aqni. senior"
snave the doors and windows shut,
the shutters locked When Gaucho
sends the Eve men. put one of them
apon the seaoritA's balcony. the 9TH
ers AZ the windows. especially the
south windows Pedro. Then put out
Ell the candles and be silent. all OF
ron.
aNp one goes 10 bed again tonight.
Each one. man and woman. find gun
II some sort. | do NOT think that
there IL danger, but remember that
the border IL just there remember
that they have taken the good senior
from you. remember that we are leay-
ing the senorlta Ia your protection"
lie spoke swiftly and turned 10
follow Gaucho out into the dark. TIE
resa. who had been watching him In
silence. came 10 him and put her hand
Hpen his arm.
-Senor Billy" she whispered. ''You
are going with Gaucho and the restf"
'Yes." be answered shortly. you
@se safe here; they do not dare an
open attack In United states territory.
AID no doubt We shall be back before
morning"
~what have they done with himY"
she was asking. trying 20 speak stead
liY. ''what do you think--did they"
She broke on. He could see her
bps trembling. One OF the Indian
wousen. through habit beginning 10
tidy the room. moved the rug Stairway
had placed by the table. discovered
the stain. went down on her hands
sd knees, and then rose with a
shriek.
"Sangrel" she cried. "Jesus Maria I
Sta muertoi He Is dead. They have
kiEicd him. The beloved senior. who
Nas 50 good"
Stairway strobe back 10 her, taking
her by the shoulders and commanding
her 20 stop her noise and so help Pc
dru lock the doors and windows But
Teresa had heard; they had all heard.
Shs stood very still then. looking
tail and slender and white.
Go 20 the doors and windows as
the American senior commands" she
said steadily. Leave no light 10 show
tsat anyone Is awake. Do whatever
Pedro tells yon 70 do, in swiftness and
"a Slence. / shall come 10 see what
yoa are doing In a moment now. Go"
They left as she commanded. In
swiftness aud silence. The doors
closed behind them. and Teresa turned
her great eyes, fun OF dread and suf-
tering. upon stairway.
-Yon saws il beforef'
tie nodded
you think that they haye-killed
himT
@No." be cried, more assurance In
his voice than Ia bis heart. 1T means
nothing II there Is little blood after
men hnve struggled as they must have
fought here. And II they killed him
then Why carry the body with them
lie i alive; he must be-"
HYes." shs answered. II should fee
It here" Her hands were pressed tighi
apon her breast 'N0s go with them
senor Bllly. Yeu are good TO us"
Good 10 myself" he laughed bach
al bier. trying TO speak easily.
SlaBway passed Out into the patio
running toward the corrnis where h
had left bis own horse sEddled unde
. i've oak. As he ran he heard tn
girls voice calling 10 him
Remember. Senior Billy, that yol
are riding across the border tonigh
into Mexican territory There b dan
eer there And--weii, perhaps Their
is one who viii pray for your speed
and safe return
He saw the fiugter 0f her gov
through The misty moOnllghs, swept d
his hat, called back CHEEKY wor'
md ran %.
He saw a group of men mounted {
mounting nov. IL the corral. and kne
Gauci0 and his yaqueFns were read
re could see the CLINT of the pa
pi4t lisit upon the rifles In the
8fug hands.
own horse. a tuli. re
ng into the saddI
~ Gancbo, and tbs