The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-10-24
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER xli-consInusd.

CFhbH GthuWhts 4 aNoufu DC Bthu W
hnye ron accompany me.
Already his foot was upon the first
step. stairway laid quick hand upon
hts arm.
surely you DO not think of coming
upon them this way"
Surely" smiled the old man, 'they
are my guests. | am the host. | am
going to them"
He went slowly up the short flight
OF stairs. stairway close at his heels,
wondering, AZ the top was a little
door De Ia Guerra raped softly with
the barrel OF his revolver.
There was a sudden silence Ia the
room, voices dropped to whispers. DE
Ia Guerra knocked again.
"WellT' II WINS Torres voice,
sharp. impatient who Is ltT'
1T Is l, Senior Tore. answered the
old mnn, quietly "And ana Antonio
de Ia Guerra. bring my apologies for
being 80 tardy 10 walt upon guest
and ! come 20 talk with you"
Again silence, again hurried whis.
pers. then Tore crying cut:
what have you 70 suy7 can pat
bullet through the door which will
find youl IL you will open the safe,
let MS take the gold and 20; you may
keep the silver and stay. What do you
sny7'
DE Ia Guerra laughed softly, And
then, seriously, he answered:
Il say, my dear Senior Tore. you
nre talking hrayely; but that you az
last are IN no position TO dictate. II Ii
who dictate. Let me come in that
we may talk. or shall have TO have
Vidal chop down some more OF my
doors. And do not like TO do that
Tore hesitated. Why7 Stairway
thought because he was studying his
men with those keen eyes OF his, trying
70 guess how far he could count ON
them now.
Evidently not very far, For In a
moment came his soft laugh, aud his
short command:
"NuHez. open the door. Let my
kinslnan come just 10 the threshold.
If any Of his men try to enter-well,
leave them to me Enter, senorr
The door slid open. De Ia Guerra
stepped Just to tho threshold. Stan
way close behind him.
Good evening, caballeros" said the
old Spanlard courteously, "Now for
my word with Tore. All Of the men
he has brought with him may go free
and unframed. provided that am as.
sured Pedro Celestlno, and poor Al.
frcdo there viii live. II any Of them
IL 20 die. then the man who has killed
pempton may 60"
''You are pleased to be gracious,
my high and mighty kinsman l"
sneered Tore impudently. soho,
Senior Stairway You are there. tooI
Castro" sharply 10 black.browed
rufilan at his side. "you ure the best
marksInan ever saw. and. besides,
you are an admirable soldier who
knows how to take q command. II
the Senior Stairway moves a hand or
takes step this way win you blow
his brains out for me7"
Castro's answer was 10 fling down
his revolver SO that Il ratified noislly
on the floor.
You have led us into trap" he
resorted sullenly Il accept the Senior
de Ia Guerra's word that | may 20
free. have harmed no one !"
A black frown gathered Torres
hrows A little smile crept into De
Ia Guerra's stern eyes.
The first sign that you lose, Tor
re, he said quietly. THE first sign
that whit
do you know. my kinsman." re-
piled Tore insolently, Struggling his
shoulders sc the matihy Of Castro,
that ! may lose and s3iIl you not
winf Hgw7 Why. 10 he explicit to
al Old m4n. can at least have the ex.
gzkstte pleasure ~ ending my gay III
ne sEistelea gaiIF-aad 10 shooting
ypa fzst bsaween the eyes. senarl7
Stanway EzHsdsred. seeing the
eeassE earnest thrsat 10 Torres l0w.
Kidd srs4 Bat ~ "a Gaerra's gaze
I'D aoe NaEeF ard - answered:
BTSA hat TSrrs. 4 6snEe1 "a
Fou Re EaExs& ssffg. FER
aaeae an shaaas. qau are a gaashles
aaG VII take galntsrs eaa&es YaG
e2n Fa1 his. qss- Eersapss SID {.
Fau fsGs NJ pzsgIsxss waaG& susE n
Asras and 81 Zane Ter ne e. see F6l
elss TcU kaaw tiias There Noui6 IL
~ chance 81 i Gar yaE ofs.sr ser 4
estaaes---ff PsH Ter 6aese mesr 20 4
ron tfrBw down geae gIr sssd agree "a
fake 6ae eaanes otfer 98ut &a6 bel
sssH a gasafi.sfr above aslggsi19 else "a
fsie world why gsu WIN ssseps ese
one Brittle esisaacs : offer gafs
gosre hesfsated Ffss aesitsfiou
was plain ia his sfJsfades elis bead
ssoypef a little, tie moody gathering
q TIE bspws He booked swiftly q