The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-12-19

= think that that is where De la Guerrs
is; that llany Of the things which
Tore said WA meant to be heard by
the old man that they might taunt ant
mock him; think that Torres mer
down there heard the crashing glass
the words which went with it. 1 thinl
that we are going to find De la Guerra
and Teresa there"
He studied the walls.
1 There was nothing to hint at secret
door.
He novel out the bed, found the
spot which Teresa's note told of, set
his thumb to it, 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 he had found De Ia Guerra's bank.
He closed the panel swiftly as Gaucho
and his men came to the door.
"Que es, senor?" Gaucho asked
quickly. And the black eyes of the
dark-faced men thronging behind him
words that Gaucho had whispered to
his men that the Americana had a plan,
| that hope lay behind it.
"Come in, Gaucho. Shut the door.
How many men?"
They tered as he spoke. He count
ed as the last man closed the door be-
hind him.
"Ten, senior Five more are COM
ing"
"And"-sternly-"you can vouch for
them, for all of them? You can trust
every man to the uttermost, Gaucho?"
ITO 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
a passageway running from here to the
senorita's rooms. If we find this end
of it and attack they may escape at
the other end. So we must be ready.
"Gaucho, send two men into the
senOrita'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 will blow their brains out be-
fore he let's them escape"
Let every other man in the house |
be armed and ready. Then"
"Then, senor?" eagerly.
"Then"-with quiet determination
I'VE shall find where the passage is if
we have to tear down the walls. Hurry,
Gauchol''
Gaucho ran upon his errand, calling
by name the men he wished to go 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 silent search for some
sign of passageway in the thick
walls.
And now at last fate and the quick
eyes of vaquero aided him. There
was little scratch on the redwood Of
he wall just opposite the door
through which they had entered, a
'resh white scratch. 1t was Mendoz,
| young Mexican, who saw If; it was
hendoz who found mark of greasy
humb upon the same panel, some four
eet from the floor.
"Aqui. esta!" he muttered. "Senor,
ookl"
Stanway's heart beat wildly when he
aw what Mendoz had found.
THE door of the passagewayw he
whispered. "Sh! Be still Even
axe off your boots, companeros. Wei
re going to give them no warning.
'ut first, Mendoz, bring Dempton
ere, quick! / think he is going to
ak now"
Mendoz hurried, and presently came
ack, he and the immense Vidal, walk
az at Dempton's right and left.
"Dempton," whispered 4gtanway,
leeting him, make no sound. If he
ries QUITO Vidal and Mendoz-
If he makes sound choke the life
ut of him. Do you understand, o
Il
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