The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-08-14

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"A word In your ear, s~enor," he
said, his voice and N gayly i'm
pudent, his words low 80 that they
reached no ears but those he intended
TO hear. Twenty thousand dollars
now, Immediately. or I give you my
word as a gentleman that when the sun
is up you will rush to me. trying to
make terms, and / shall then answer
you by demanding Atty thousand"
The threat In the mans voice again
disturbed Stairway. He had a feeling
which he could not entirely reason
down that Tore meant what he was
saying. Then he looked at the half
dozen ste~rn-featured, faithful servants,
who served the De la Guerra as old
subjects served a beloved sovereign;
saw them watchful, armed, eager for
an excuse to fling themselves upon
their two captives; and, frowning at
his own fears, he went to his room.
His windows faced westward and to
the south.
He stood before one Of them which
looked to the border, half ready to ex-
pect a rush Of cavalry through the
olive trees.
He saw the olive trees sway to the
little, warm wind from the south |;
watched his window curtains pulsing
slowly like one breathing; noted how
the moonlight gilded the ripe fruit
upon the orange trees, and. with a last
look toward the eastern wing OF the
house, where a little balcony jutted
out among roses, he jerked down his
shade, fastened his window, placed a
revolver upon the chair at his side,
and went 10 bed.
A low, insistent rapping at his door
way awakened him.
Stairway sat up In bed. a sudden
shiver Of ~uneasIness upon him.
who II ISL" he called sharply.
1T Is Iugo. senior. Senior Tore
sends me with a message. 1t is to
come to the drawing-room immediate
". He has something to say to you.
He says II Ii very important. He in
sists YOU come to him before 1t is
three o'clock-within fifteen minutes"
sHe has his nerve" muttered Stan
way. @Tell him to be more explicit or
10 20 to the devil"
"Si, senior"
Lugo chuckled his approval, and
hurried away through the still house.
Stairway lay back upon his bed and
closed his eyes. only to open them
quickly to stare into the darkness of
his room.
He was remembering those f0rebod-
ings which had come to him with Tor
RES yelled threats; he was feeling an
uneasiness which he could not drive
Out. Tore had sent for him In the
middle Of the night
Again he sat up, cropping for matches
and a ~candlesfick. In the little yellow
glow he saw that 1t lacked but ten
minutes OF three. He sprang out of
bed. drew on his clothes hurriedly, and
FASTENED to the drawing room.
"Ah, senor, you are very kind" Tor
res smile was full Of mock-politeness.
ITO trouble yourself so at the lightest
wish OF a guest is"
"Get down to business II you have
any" Stairway interrupted bluntly.
"What Is ttY
II want = word with you In pri-
vate," Tore answered quietly. The
man was fully dressed and now rose
from the couch upon which he had
been lying. 'sThere Is no objection to
the others being In the room, hut at
least sct Is stand st the Far side OF the
chamber 50 that they may rot hear"
III yOu have anything to say, SAY
Il aloud" Stairway retorted. II am
tired Of your way Of doing business,
1orre. Now, what Is III"
Tore shrugged.
sThen I shall be SILENT" he said
careiessly. II think that you are MAX
Ing . mistake. senor.r
Was he1 Stairway didn't know. He
looked about the room. Juarez
seemed to be sleeping heavily upon
his couch: the vaqueros. seven Of
them. rat along the wallis or lounged
about the room, each man OF them as
wefchful. his eyes as keen and sus-
picious a. at the beginning Of their
vigil = dusk.
And yet. IN spite 81 an this secur-
~. II spite az the fact that stairway
and the Dc Ii Guerra servants were
nrsmo6 ana fhclr fwo n-r1n0narn mn