The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-10-03

Here knife had bit deep and had
cost Pedro much blood, but by for
tune and fraction OF an Inch no
vital point had been reached.
Celestino. as white and more weak
than Pedro, lay very still. not having
once regained consciousness. He
might live. for CeIestlno had n won
derful store Of health and vitality In
that great fyame of his. The doctor
would come again, tonight or early
tomorrow.
"Pedro." asked Stairway, with a
quick glance Mt the other bed and
then coming to Pedro's side. show are
things with your"
"Not so bad, senior" Pedro an
swered family. 1.-THE senorita?"
I'VE have not found her yet" Stan
way admitted regretfully. "But we
shall find her soon, Pedro. Did you
see the men who attacked your DO
you know where they came from?
We had sentInels out all night. They
swore that no men came from across
the border
ItuIu hHDoh his Hehus
II was asleep. senior. Then heard
Celestino cnlI out. / thought he was
dreaming. ! sat up, half asleep, you
know, senior. Then saw. There
We're three men, | think. Perhaps
four. don't know. One struck poor
Celestlno as he sat up. and another
sprang at him. But then they were
upon me too, and heard the seno-
rita cry out, and they struck me over
the head and put knife into me
here"
"And then they rushed into the Sc
norlta's room3'
at Is so hard 10 know what hap.
pened. senior. don't think that they
went Into the senorlta's room. When
| woke my eyes went first TO her door.
II is always the first thing which
see when l wake, II was closed
II think that II was locked. l tell
You / heard her call out while Celes,
tino was being struck. before they
made everything go black for me.
There were other men in there.
II suppose they came through the
balcony. But these men--where did
they GOT How did they come IMP
His voice sank 20 trembling whls-
per. "Senor can II be that some of
the servants are traitorsf That they
haye let these men In and let them
GOT"
"That Is what l haye been think
Ing all day, Pedro. But you mustn't
talk too much this time. I'll come
10 see you again"
"Walt a minute, senior. There is
one other thing"
Stairway came back swiftly.
"What Is it," he demanded sharply.
seeing light In Pedro's eyes which
had not been In them before.
ut is something which l found. II
fell from the hand OF one of the men
when Celestino struck back at him.
had them bring 1t to me here.
have not talked about Il; l have
waited for YOU"
His hand was fumbllng under his
blanket, and he brought key. very
heavy and old. made rudely of iron
aud, like the old keys OF the mission
days, some eight inches long.
II am not sure Pedro whispered.
his eyes feverlshly bright, "You can
tell. Call for Josefa. she cares for
the senor's rooms. Have her 70 there
with you. Let her see II anything is
missing. She win know; she has
cared for his rooms Tor twenty years.
WIN you let me know, senor2 Here
/ Is the key"
A sudden hope leaped up into Stan
ways heart as his hand closed about
the old key. hope which in no way
could he explain. II this were the
key which unlocked the place where
the old master-yes. and the yeung
mistress = had been hidden. what
then? He was as far as ever from
knowing where was the lock which
this key fitted. And yet Pedro's
words-Josefa-
"rH let you know, PedroE" he
called back from the door. And be
was gone. walking swiftly through
the house, asking for the old serving
woman.