The Lamar register., 1919-07-16

plClOuS dS Ut tHt Debiuuiub Ol tntli
vigil at dusk.
And yet, in spite of all this secur.
ity. In spite of the fact that StanwaN
and the De la Guerra servants were
armed and their two prisoners un
armed, the rancher had the odd feel.
ing that there was weakness In hi,
position which he could not see. buI
which was very plain to the smiling
Tore. And then his curiosity de-
cided him.
Come" he said after a brief mo-
ment. And then again: "NOw. what
is it?"
He had stepped to the far corner of
the room, motloning two of the lOung-
ing cowboys out of earshot Tore,
iebonair, his manner gracefully in
different, stopped at the big mahog-
any table to light his cigarette at one
Of the candles and came to Stanway's
side
THANK you, senor." he said, his
voice very low now. his words guard
ed so that none but the rancher
might hear them. "For this Is In the
way of kindness 10 me, although
you do not know that yet"
at is not meant that way, so keep
your thanks" returned Stanwuy 81
am waiting"
"Bueno Now first ] want you to
remember this: | am In the position
TO be the key to the situation. and
you must see that. If for any reason
The vaqueros in some sudden fit of
rage should seek to put violent end
10 my gay little existence" He
shrugged at would be like man
IN prison cell destroying the key
10 his liberty. senor."
Go on. Needless to say / don't
understand"
You will in moment" He
glanced at his watch. at is almost
three. This you must understand: If
such thought should come into the
saqueros' bloody minds | shall look to
you as my protector.
"Now"-his air. his smile. his very
carriage eloquent OF laughing I'm
pudence. he stepped close to the
shuttered window-''now something
- etlns 10 uhpptH
Suddenly his hand shot out and
pane fell from the window broken
into many pieces. tinkling upon the
carpet. Tore put his face to the
opening he had 20 rudely made and
called out sharply, aloud:
'Ahora. conpaneros Striker
A revolver flashed into sight In
stanway's hand; revolver was In
the hand OF each vhquero In the
room. The air was charged with ex-
pectancy.
watch him. called out Stanway.
Jerk him bnck from the window I"
While he was speaking he had
struck one of the cnndlestlcks from
the table; Gaucho had understood
and had put out the other lights. The
room sank into swift. impenetrable
darkness.
Three of the cowboys had thrown
themselves upon Tore. dragging him
back. holding his arms pinioned at
his sides Stnnway. with no minute
lost. threw open the shutters. raised
the window and peered out into the
night
II was very still. He could see
little enough. but his straining eyes
ran buck and forth along the wall of
the house and were certain that there
were no lurking forms there. His
ears told him OF the heavy breathing
OF the men behind him, but brought
him no sound of men without.
"Remember. senor," called Tore.
his painting voice telling Of the treat
ment he was being accorded by men
who hungered to take justice Into
their own hands. "Remember about
the keyl'
Stairway closed the window and the
shutters. calling to Gaucho for
light. The flicker Of the match
showed him Tore in the grip OF the
three men. his face looking a little
pale. his eyes very bright.
"It we are attacked" cried the
rancher sharply. 'lt is Tore who has
given the signal. Remember he Is
not to go free
Fierce fires leaped up In the saw
age eyes OF the vaqueros. and the
big. brown, muscular hands corded
ominously.
A clock somewhere In the house
struck-one, two. three. Stairway
counted. every sense on the alert. his
N