The Ordway new era., 1919-07-25

Shortly before midnight they. had
come upon three men, ragged. ugly
looking Mexicans. sleeping about
camp fire which was fast dying. The
men knew nothing or professed at
ignorance. Stairway could not tell
which.
After that nothing. although they
had pushed many miles into the Mexi-
can country until they realized the ut
ter uselessness of riding farther.
1--WE may as well go back. Gaucho."
Stairway said =. last. "They will want
ransom. suppose. When they speak
Wen know what to do
And reluctantly, his face black with
the wrath upon him, Gaucho Morales
called to his men to turn back.
The sunlight lay bright and warm
upon the oranges and their blossoms
when they rode back to the rancho,
Stairway threw himself from the
saddle, bit stlff from long hours Of
hard riding.
Then. walking slowly now. loath to
greet Teresa de la Guerra with news
of their failure. he came into the patio.
She was there waiting for him.
Nothing" he blurted out. "We
have found nothing"
II KNOW" she said quietly. She
came toward him, putting out her
hands "You have been good to us.
Senior Billy"
He laughed bit awkwardly.
II don't know how" he retorted. IT
have done nothing. You have not been
molested here?"
She hesitated. He saw quick
frown gather her brows. Then.
speaking lightly, she replied, saying:
"No. But come; you must be hun
cry and tired out. Coffee is ready"
He went with her to the broad-open
doors.
"Torre is here?" he asked, his eyes
intent upon her face.
The frown came again, and was
gone quickly. But he had seen it.
HE is here, yes. Asleep, I think.
He was wounded. You known
"He is not badly hurt2"
Her tired eyes, into which sleep had
not come during the long night. grew
brightly contemptuous.
at is only his beauty which is
harmed" she said swiftly.
Good morning. prima mia" called
deep, laughing voice. "Ah, still with
us, Senior Stanway?"
Tore, debonair in the dark, youth
full beauty Of him, greeted them at the
doorway.
Certainly Senior Stairway is still
with u.s." said Teresa coolly. "He is
my guest. my grandfather's friend,
Senior Torrew
Tore laughed and lifted his shoul.
ders.
"Enter," he said with graclousness
which was in some strange way vague
'ly insulting; 1t was as though he were
the master here, and because of his
generosity not only Stairway but the
girl as well were allowed upon the
premises.
Now 1t was Teresa who flushed.
"Come. Senior Billy" she said qui-
city. ''We are going to have coffee
together
| For the fraction of a second the
two men stood fronting each other,
their level eyes filed with challenge,
with mistrust which was little less
than hatred.
Then the Spaniard. bowling again,
turned away, with slight smile play
ing under the small, pointed mustache,
and Stairway followed his hostess.
Pedro himself superintended the
serving of the simple breakfast.
"Senorita." Stairway said at last,
pushing back his chair, 81 should like
to go back to the drawing room. There
might be something there to give US
a hint that Will help u.s."
"Sl." she said. II had thought of
that. I looked last night carefully
after you had gone"
"You found nothing?"
Nothing that could understand"
she answered quietly. Something
could not"
He looked up at her quickly. his
eyes full Of question.
"This," she answered, not waiting
for him to speak.
She placed folded paper before
him. He glanced at 1t, frowned.
looked again, and turned once more
to her.
"It is his will. Dated last night.
But why has he made a new one?"
"Read it." as quietly as before,
though her eyes were Frightening with
some surge of emotion he could not
guess