Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-08-21

your companion VIII wait for me in
the patio I'll call you when I want
you"
ISL, senor," responded the vaquero
promptly. And from. the door. as by
way Of afterthought: "We have not
searched him, senior. No doubt he Is
armed"
:No doubt" dryly, from the rancher.
ut is all right, Gaucho."
The two cowboys went out. Then
pleasantly, i%nsolently, Tore admitted
to Stairway that he had been respon-
sible for Senior de la Guerra's disap-
pearance, that he knew where he. was,
and that the captain was his own
agent.
"What," asked the rancher curious
ly, "d0 you gain from such an admis-
sion?"
"Two things, senior. In the first
place l am meeting you upon a basis
upon which we may be able to come
to terms. 1t seems that you are really
the one for me to deal with. In the
second place." and the smile in his
eyes was hard and cruel enough now,
II am haunting a man whom I do not
like. That is a pleasure"
Stairway frowned, not understand
ing.
"Bring us back the senior and you
gain your freedom-your safety, If
you don't waste too much time getting
out Of the country" he said.
"You ask a great DEAL" Tore
pulled thoughtfully at his little mus
tache. "And you offer a very little.
For I shall have my freedom and
safety-why, senior, at any time 1
pleased"
"You refuse my offer?"
absolutely"
"Even," went on Stairway coolly,
latter your personal danger is aug
mented by Dempton's confession of
complicity?"
For the first time the rancher saw
q quick light of fear leap into Torres
eyes. Then the lids dropped a little
a very little, but enough to hide the
eyes-and in an instant Torres man.
ner was again careless, Indifferent.
ga random shot that, no" He lift
ed his eyes nee more, and they were
frank and mirthful again. II am
sorry that it does not find a target"
"What will you say when you are
confronted with Dempton's written
and signed confession?"
suThot will novor no r lypouy tho+
he has confessed to nothing"
Stairway leaned forward and tapped
!. his forefinger upon the table between
them. Il shall have Dempton's con
, fession within twenty-four hours J"
Tore shook his head, smiling his in.
scrutable smile.
II have a counter-offer to make
said Tore. "Teresita is to pay to
Captain Juarez the money which he
demands-twenty thousand dollars
, Within twenty-four hours from the
> time that the money is paid her grand
l father will walk into this drawing
room unharmed."
"And if she refuses your offer?"
!, "Then, t~wenty-four hours after bel
n refusal, her grandfather will be dead
Then I shall be the heir to the entire
0 property. You will accuse me of hav
I ing murdered him, and / shall deny
1t will so to the courts. In the enc
I shall be cleared. You see, senior
q times are fortunately turbulent alon.
o the border, and what has happened
may so easily be laid at the doc
q Of the poor devils of insurrectos. Yo7
4 can create suspicion, you can maxi
!. trouble. But then there is the will
k properly drawn and witnessed, and
8 there is something else!"
q Sand that?" c%uriously, wondering
how far Tore would go in shown;
= his hand.
"There will be other witnesses o
whom you do not guess yet-witnesse
s carefully selected, who will not b
shaken in a point they make. An
they will swear that Senior de i
# Guerra became very angry with hi
o granddaughter upon the very day o
his disappearance; that he quarrele
r. openly with her; that he vowed h
would disinherit her, and that he sen
Immediately for his lawyer to max
the new will. Do you care, senior, t
know what these witnesses will prov
to be the cause Of the quarrel?"
"Well?" asked Stairway.
''It will be that Teresa, needless O
n her grandfather's hatred of all Amer
~ canos, had fallen in love with one Q
them; that she defed De la Guerra
and swore that she would marry
you"
"Why!" gasped the rancher. cit
perjury"
Certainly" The smile merel
d%eepened upon Torres handsome face
n But let us think not of the legs
morality of it but of the effect upo
a jury. Who, when this point is mad
y will seem the one who would be desi,
GUS of the disappearance of the oil