Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-08-07
CHAPTER III.
Eduardo Ramon Tore.

Eduardo Ramon Tore.
Their master was not here; their
intent eagerness upon the young
American owner Of the Painted Rock
range, and so the servants, each of
them, turned to Stairway expectantly.
Stairway waited in silence a moment
until a new set of faces in the doorway,
darker, sun-kissed, bearded faces, told
him that the vaqueros had risen to
Pedro's clamorous call.
Then he spoke to them all, swiftly,
with rising emphasis, calling upon
them by name, addressing them in
mixed Spanish and English, taking the
word which came first to him that
they would grasp.
"Gaucho," he called as a very tall,
sinewy, ~Arab-looking nan pushed his
way through the cluttered door. "Tus
vaqueros have work to do tonight. Are
they all here-todos"
mo. senor," he answered simply.
clos otros comm muy queek."
"Listen, then, while they come" ran
On Stairway. "It is the Mexicans, I
think, who have taken your master.
There was the noise of caballos run
ming back toward the border. They
Ire not ten minutes ahead. How
many? Quien sabe, Gaucho? Prob
ably just a band of raiders, not many.
How many men, with rifles, can you
get to horse pronto?"
"Twenty-five,'' replied Gaucho
promptly.
"Good," cried Stairway. "Take
twenty men with you; send the other
five to the house. Pronto, Gaucho."
Gaucho turned and ran, calling to
his vaqueros as he went.
"Pedfo," called Stairway to the chief
of the house servants.
"Aqui, senor."
"Have the doors and windows shut,
the shutters locked. When Gaucho
sends the five men, put n of them
upon the senorita's balcony, the 9TH
ers at the windows, especially the
south windows, Pedro. Then put out
all the candles and be silent, all Of
you.
mo one goes to bed again tonight.
Each one, man and woman, find a gun
of some sort. I do not think that
there is danger, but remember that
the border is just there, remember
that they have taken the good senior
from you, remember that we are leav-
ing the senorita in your protection"
He spoke swiftly and turned to
follow Gaucho out into the dark. Te-
resa, who had been watching him in
silence, came to him and put her hand
upon his arm.
t'Senor Billy. she whispered. "You
are going with Gaucho and the rest?'
eyes," he answered shortly. "You
are safe here; they do not dare an
open attack in United States territory.
And no doubt we shall be back before
morning."
"What have they done with him?'
she was asking, trying to speak stead
lily. "What do you thinK-did they
She broke off. He could see her
lips trembling. One of the Indian
women, through habit beginning to
tidy the room, moved the rug Stairway
had placed by the table, discovered
the stain, went down on her hands
and knees, and her rose with a
shrek.
"Sangrew she cried. "Jesus Maria +!
sta muerto! He is dead. They have
killed him. The beloved senor, who
was so good"
Stairway strobe back to her, taking
her by the shoulders and commanding
her to stop her noise and 60 help Pc
dro lock the doors and windows. But
Teresa had heard; they had all heard.
She stood very still then, looking
tall and slender and white.
go to the doors and windows as
the American senior commands" she
said steadily. "Leave no light to show
that anyone is awake. Do whatever
Pedro tells you to do, in swiftness and
in silence. I shall come to see what
you are doing In q moment now. Co.
They left as she commanded, in
swiftness and silence. The doors
closed behind them, and Teresa turned
her great eyes, full Of dread and suf.
fering, upon Stairway.
"You saw it before?"
He nodded.
"YOu think that they have-killed
Ai--a
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