Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-08-28

ed her. "As l have said, I knew that
it would be useless to talk with him.
He knows only that he is being held;
he does not know why. l know only"
and he resorted to the shrug so much
part of his method of speech, "tnae
rumor has 1t that you are his helress,
and this paper states that Tore In
herits."
"Rumor at times is misinformed,"
Tore said smilingly. "You have tho
viii and testament itself before you.
II 1t is sufficiently plain that ! and
not the senorita," with an apologize
bow to Teresa, represent my kins-
man; trust that you win state your
errand concisely."
1T Ia this" said Juarez shortly. "El
Senior do la Guerra is held by my
men for ransom. Twenty thousand
dollars win bring him back to you
promptly, without scratch on him.
A refusal to pay win be signal for
his death"
$50" remarked Tore coolly. ut is
only twenty thousand dollars. You
are modest, senorl"
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. Te-
resa and Stairway looked at each other
swiftly.
Tore, smiling as though the whole
matter were merely amusing, adj
dressed himself to the girl.
"Teresita," and she flushed under
the easy familiarity, perhaps the val
liant captain has not yet breakfasted.
He has a 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 / might discuss
the situationp
yes" 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
captain. If you will go with Pedro he
win 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.
IAN interesting situation, Is 1t not,
senor?v he asked lightly.
IAN extremely hazardous game you
are playing. Tore" cried Stairway an
grily.
"TT Tore lifted his brows. ut
is not I who play. 1t Is / 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, Torre2 Why, man, 1t smells to
| heavenl"
Determinations aside-at least shall
we postpone them? There is a crisis
demanding attention. Now" lifting
his hand against Stanway's words, II
have proposition to make-to you,
Teresa"
"What is it?' she asked coldly.
Merely this: AS heir TO the De la
Guerra estate may be prejudlced
person. You, with no personal inter.
est" and quick light fiicked in his
| eyes at the girls wincing ut his words,
"are the one to decide. Shall the cap
taln's request be granted2 leave 1t
to you, senorita. Entirely to you"
Teresa bit her lip, the color surging
angrily into her cheeks. She saw the
trap as plainly as did Tore, as plainly
as Stairway saw 1t. And she did not
see the answer to make.
at is perhaps not impossible went
on Tore evenly. that large part of
the sum mentioned is now on the
premises. We all know that my kins-
man has always been his own banker;
that he at all times has been able to
produce a large amount of gold at
moments notice.