Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-09-18

again."
Pardon, senior. You are very kind.
/ already wv you much. But now l
shall take care of these bandits"
1t was the old Spaniard, Senior Don
Antonio de la Guerra, his old-fash-
toned black coat faultlessly clean Of O
speck of dust, his fine white mustache
curled nicely, his eyes glowing very
brightly, for q moment gentle and fun
Of gratitude as they rested upon the
rancher, then very hard as they turned
toward the ceiling.
His vaqueros cried out sharply at
the sight of him. standing there so I'M
expectedly in their midst. From him
they looked to the slender form of the
white-faced girl at the door of a little
closet which De la Guerra had sud-
denly thrown open.
"You, senor!" cried Stairway, as
founded. "Not hurt?"
II, senor?" De la Guerra lifted one
white hand, showing for a moment
the revolver in it. "At your attack ]
seized this. One man I quieted. III
the rush I got Teresa. into the closet
there. She, too, is unhurt. And now
Again his fine old face hardened, his
eyes were burning black pools Of mer-
CHESS rage. He stepped across the
room, set his hand to a spot which his
thumb found readily, and a narrow
door flew back, showing a stairway.
"This way, enc May I go first?
Thank you. Gaucho, will you stay
with the senorita? Thank you. And,
Senior Stairway, I should be glad to
have you accompany me-"
Already his foot was upon the first
step. Stairway laid a quick hand upon
his arm.
"Surely you do not think Of coming
upon them this way"
Surely" smiled the old man, "they
are my guests, I am the host. I am
going to them"
He went slowly up the short flight
of stairs, Stairway close at his heels,
wondering. At the top was a little
door. De la Guerra raped softly with
the barrel Of his revolver.
There was a sudden silence in the
room, voices dropped to whispers. DE
la Guerra knocked again.
swell" 1t was Torres voice,
sharp, impatient. "Who is it,"
ut is I, Senior Torre," answered the
old man, quietly. "And I am Antonio
de la Guerra. I bring my apologies for
being so tardy to wait upon a guest
and [ come to talk with you"
Again silence, again hurried whis.
pers, then Tore crying out:
"What have you to say? I can put
a bullet through the door which will
find you! If you will open the safe,
let us take the gold and go; you may
keep the silver and stay. What do you
say?"
De la Guerra laughed softly. And
then, seriously, he answered:
II say, my dear Senior Tore, you
are talking bravely; but that you at
last are in no position to dictate. 1t is
I who dictate. Let me come in that
we may talk, or 1 shall have to have
Vidal chop down some more of my
doors. And / do not like to do that"
Tore hesitated. Why? Stairway
thought because he was studying his
men with those keen eyes of his, trying
to guess how far he could count or
them now.
Evidently not very far. For in q
moment came his soft laugh, and his
short command:
"Nunez, open the door. Let my
kinsman come just to the threshold
If any of his men try to enter-well
leave them to me! Enter, senor!"
The door slid open. De la Guerrs
stepped just to the threshold, Stan
way close behind him.
"Good evening, caballeros," said the
old Spaniard courteously. "Now fol
my word with Tore. All of the mer
he has brought with him may go free
and unframed, provided that I am as
sured Pedro Celestino, and poor AL
fredo there will live. If any Of then
Is to die, then the man who has killed
him is not to go! Juarez may go
Dempton may 60"
"You are pleased to be gracious
my high and mighty kinsman !
sneered Tore impudently. soho
Senior Stairway! You are there, too
Castro" sharply to n black-browet
rufilan ut his side. "you are the hes
marksman l ever saw, and. besides
you are an admirable soldier VIII,
| knowa how IN taka N command II