The Lamar register., 1919-07-30
CHAPTER XII.
COPYRIGHT
The Senior Again.

WIN spiiuttTs HylhB, sHOcheu upon
its heavy hinges. the great oak door
was open. Stanway Tipped through;
Vidal. his deep chest painting from his
herculean labor, AK still gripped in IN
enormous hand, came after him, his
fellows crowding after them.
A large room this time, some thirty
feet square. furnished well; blankets.
scattered mOrsels OF bread and meat.
showing that here Torres men had
been. A glance showed that the room
was empty OF human occupants; a sec
ond glance found one man lying close
to the, wall. limp and inert, red stain
upon his breast.
Stairway ran to him. stopped, stood
straight with little grunt of satisfac-
tion. 1t was not any one of the DE la
Guerra household.
shot accidentally by one OF his fel-
lows. he muttered. "Or else De la
Guerra has got his hands on a revol-
verr
A door at the far side of the room
stood open; candle still burned
brightly upon little stand. There
had been no time lost IN leaving.
II hear men running yonder!" Vi
dale big finger pointed through the
open door. Come. compadrssi'
They ran with him. crowding to-
sether.
Again there was a hallway. this one
far, down under the main floor and so
wide that three men might pass
abreast through II. There came sharp
turn. the footsteps were louder. men
we're running toward them. And then.
a. several men shot into view:
"StopT cried Stairway. loudly. his
hand knocking vidsrs weapon up
ward. at is Gaucho and his men !"
"Where are theyf" cried Gaucho. ex-
citedly. "The master? The senoritaf
You did not nnd themf'
you did not meet themr In a sharp
cry from the rancher
I'VE met no one" Gaucho answered.
q look Of wonder In his eyes.
Then there is another door. They
have fooled US. Comei They can't
get out of the house"
They turned. rushing back toward
the room they had just quilted. And
at the instant Stanway plunged back
through the doorway he knew where
were these men OF Torres.
For he heard Torres voice shouting
loudly Just above his head where he
had already Judged the drawing room
must be: he knew that through some
other passageway the men they had
thought to trap had made their way
there. and he remembered that his own
orders had been for one man only to
watch over the bound Tore and
Juarez.
"Nunezl Castroi" Tore was call
ing. his tones ringing out clear. the
tones OF command, calling for haste.
for swift obedience There is one
man here only. XIII hIml Ali"
There was the crack Of revolver.
n cry. the sound of body falling.
"Nowl" and again Torres voice
rang triumphant "Cut these damned
ropes. Castrol You others free Juarez.
Watch the doors. Guard the passage
way. By the lord OF hell. well win
this game yetT
They are too many" painted dis
renting voice. We"
Coward and fool" cried Torres
echoing voice. Give me that gun.
Now. listen. | have found where the
De la Guerra banco Isl It's Just yon-
der In the old mans bedroom. It's
full Of gold. cOmpaneros. And then
watch the doors. amigos Then cross
the border with our pockets full "
There came answering shouts. the
noise of heavy furniture being dragged
across the floor and piled at the doors,
Torres voice giving commands.
But where is the masterT va
quero whispered anxiously. "They
hays killed himi'
"And the senorlta p cried Gaucho.
They ran about the room. seeking
d sign OF that other passageway which
had led these men directly into the
drawing room.
I'VE had better go back" command
ed Stairway crisply, after short
search which showed nothing. I'VE
can break down the door into the room
where they are. Gaurto. Mentor, vi
dal, you men stay here so that they
cannot play hide-and-seek with us
again"
Pardon, senor. You are very kind.
1 already owe You much. But now |