The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-09-12
CHAPTER V-continued.

unfortunately, in answering his
summons to the rancho, / came too
late for him to make me cognizant
of the hiding place. Perhaps you,
prima mia, are better informed?"
Perhaps" she answered him quiet
ly, though the color still ran red in
her cheeks.
"And perhaps" added Stairway sig
nificantly, "Senor Tore would be glad
to have knowledge of this banco !;
would be glad to have the money
handed over to his emissary?"
"Emissary?" Again Torres black
brows arched. "The fabrications Of
the Americano's suspicious are truly
wonderful! He would suspect me of
robbing myself?"
He laughed insoIently. Stairway
looked questioningly at the girl.
"Prima mia" began Tore.
The girl whirled upon him, her eyes
flashing.
"Senor Tore" she cried passion
ately, ''you make it necessary for me
to remind you that our relationship is
not of my choosing, and that we are
not close enough for you to call me
cousin! If you find it necessary to
address me at all 1 should like to be
addressed as Senorita de la Guerra.
Please remember"
Tore flushed angrily but managed
his careless smile.
"As you wish, Senorita de la Guer-
ra," he retorted. MAY 1 suggest
something's"
"What is it?" shortly.
merely this: This man who calls
himself Captain Juarez may be a rank
impostor, as well as scoundrel. Be
fore even considering the matter of a
ransom would it not be well to ask
him to prove to us that he knows at
least where our kinsman is? If you
rang for Pedro again and sent him
with the message"
Teresa rang and sat in a musing
silence until Pedro came.
"Pedro," she said then, "tell Captain
Juarez that we are considering his
proposition. Tell him further that we
wish to be certain that he really
comes from the senior"
Pedro bowed, withdrew, and re-
turned almost Immediately, his face
strangely white, his hand shaking as
he held out something to the girl.
'It is the masters ring" he said,
deeply agitated. 1.-THE ring he wore
always upon his left hand. Senorita,
senorita," his voice choking, his eyes
glistening, you will not let them kill
himf"
"No, Pedro" She took the ring, her
own eyes shining. ''If harm comes to
him, Pedro" she went on steadily, tive
shall know what to do, shall we nOt?"
Pedro made no spoken answer. But
his eyes, suddenly hard and cruel,
went straight to Tore, resting full of
meaning upon him. Then, turning abb
ruptly, the servant left the ROOM
at is papa grande's ring, Senior
Stairway" She ignored Tore entirely.
81 am afraid that Captain Juarez
speaks the truth"
Stairway stood with drawn brows,
staring at the floor. The whole affair
was so eloquent of rascality on the
part of the debonair, black-mus-
tached Tore it was so inconceivable
that his presence here now was not a
part of dark design, so ridiculous to
suppose that Antonio de la Guerra had
ever really purposed disinheriting the
girl who was dearer TO him than
daughters to most men-and yet what
to do?
Suddenly Stairway bent forward,
whispering swiftly, guardedly, to the
girl.
And then, after Stairway had fin
ished and stood erect again, looking
down upon her, as Tore watched, his
eyes narrowing suspiciously, her
hapd cleuehed. her chin squared, &C.