The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1919-06-18

WISH TO deal. Am / not right, prim;
mia?" lightly to Teresa.
The girls eyes darkened. Juare;
looked from one to another curiously
Il think" he said slowly, "that
can have business with no one excep-
la senorita. She is the one to speaE
In a case like this one, since the ole
senior is not here to speak for himself
and she is his heiress."
Let your keen eyes rest ON this
Tore drew the will from his pocket
and carelessly tossed it into Juarez
lap.
The Mexican looked at it swiftly
his eye ran down the written sheet
and he started palpably when his
glance rested upon the name Eduardo
Ramon Tore.
Il have been misinformed." he
cried, starting to his feet. "The Sc
norita is not the heiress. 1t is Senior
Tore who inherits !"
"Seguro," replied Tore, putting out
his shapely hand for the will. "And I.
senior, am that Senior Tore. Now.
what do you want?"
'"This is true, senoritaT' Juarez
whirled about, his eyes bright and
hard upon Teresa's.
"YOu come from papa grande," she
answered him guardedly. did he not
tell you of a change In his willP
1--WE did not speak," Juarez remind
ed her. "As have said, knew that
1t would be useless to talk with him.
He knows only that he is being held;
he does not know why. 1 know only"
and he resorted to the shrug so much
part of his method of speech, shat
rumor has it that you are his heiress,
and this paper states that Tore in
herits."
"Rumor at times is misinformed,"
Tore said smilingly. "You have the
will and testament itself before you.
If it is sufficiently plain that 1 and
not the senorita," with an apologize
bow to Teresa, represent my kins-
man; I trust that you will state your
errand concisely."
at is this" said Juarez shortly. Eel
Senior de la Guerra is held by my
men for ransom. Twenty thousand
dollars will bring him back to you
promptly, without a scratch on him.
A refusal to pay will be a signal for
his DEATH"
$50" remarked Tore coolly. at is
only twenty thousand dollars. You
are modest, senor!"
American money" Juarez added as
coolly.
american money" nodded Tore.
"That is better than Mexican pesos,
at any rate. 1t is at least less insult
ing to my kinsman."
Captain Juarez made no reply. TIE
resa and Stairway looked at each other
swiftly.
Tore, smiling as though the whole
matter were merely amusing, ad-
dressed himself to the girl.
''Teresita," and she flushed under
the easy familiarity, perhaps the val
liant captain has not yet breakfasted.
He has long ride before him and 1t
would be better if he should not carry
away a misunderstanding of the De la
Guerra hospitality. Also, while he has
his coffee, you and 1 might discuss
the situation?"
Eyes" the girl agreed slowly. "That
would perhaps be best" Her hand
went to the bell cord to summon Pc
drO. "We have just breakfasted, senior
If you will go with Pedro he
will see that you are served. And Sc
nor Tore, Senior Stairway and myself
can avail ourselves of the time to
come to a decision"
The captain bowed, and with no hes
itation turned his back on them to
follow the servant to the dining room.
Tore came in, sat down, crossing his
legs with elaborate care to the crease
in his trousers, and favored Stairway
with a look which Knocked openly.
can interesting situation, is it not,
Senor" he asked lightly.
can extremely hazardous game you
are playing, Tore" cried Stairway an
grily.
'IT Tore lifted his brows. at
is not who play. 1t is 1 who watch
the game"
watch the pawns your own fine
hand has set movingp' was Stanway's
heated retort. ''Do you think that you
can get away with a thing of this
kind, Tore? Why, man, it smells to
heavenv
determinations aside-at least shall
we postpone them? There is a crisis
demanding attention. Now" lifting
his hand against Stanway's words, 81
have a proposition to make-to you,
Teresa"
What is it?" she asked coldly.
Merely this: AS heir to the De la
Guerra estate may be a prejudiced
person. You, with no personal inter
EST" and a quick light flicked in his
Eyes at the girls wincing at his words. |
are the one to decide. Shall the cap
aims request be granted? 1 leave it |
o you, senorita. Entirely to you"
Teresa bit her lip, the color surging
lngrily into her cheeks. She saw the
rap as plainly as did Tore, as plainly |
IS Stairway saw it. And she did not