The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-09-26
cHAPTgR vIlI-contlnued.

-
"A word In your ear, senior" he
said, his voice and manner gayly i'm
pudent, his words low so that they
reached no ears but those he intended |
to hear. Twenty thousand dollars
now, Immediately, or / give you my |
word as a gentleman that when the sun
is up you viii rush TO m, trying to |
make terms, and I shall then answer |
you by demanding fifty thousand"
The threat in the mans voice again !
disturbed Stairway. He had a feeling
which he could not entirely reason
down that Tore meant what he was
saying. Then he looked at the half
dozen stern-featured, faithful servants.
who served the De la Guerra as old
subjects served a beloved sovereign;
saw them watchful, armed, eager for
an excuse to fling themselves upon
their two captives; and, frowning at
his own fears. he went to his room.
His windows faced westward and to
the south.
He stood before one of them which
looked to the border, half ready to ex-
pect a rush of cavalry through the
olive trees.
He saw the olive trees sway to the
little, warm wind from the south;
watched his window curtains pulsing
slowly like one breathing; noted how
the moonlight gilded the ripe fruit
upon the orange trees, and, with last
/ &c hn
house, where a little balcony jutted
! out among roses, he jerked down his
\ shade, fastened his window, placed
revolver upon the chair at his side,
and went to bed.
A low, insistent rapping at his door
| way awakened him.
Stairway sat up in bed. a sudden
shiver of uneasiness upon him.
"Who it Isl" he called sharply.
"It is Lugo, senior. Senior Tore
sends me with message. 1t is to
come to the drawing-room immediate
IL. He has something to say to you
He says it is very important. He in
sists you come TO him before it is
three o'clock-within fifteen minutes. ="
HE has his nerve" muttered Stan
way. 'TeIl him to be more explicit or
to go to the devil"
ISL, senior"
Lugo chuckled his approval, and
hurried away through the still house
Stairway lay back upon his bed and
closed his eyes, only to open them
quickly to stare into the darkness OF
his room.
He was remembering those forebod,
ings which had come to him with Tor
res yelled threats; he was feeling an
uneasiness which he could not drive
out. Tore had sent for him in the
middle of the night
Again he sat up, cropping for matche:
and a candlestick. In the little yellow
glow he saw that it lacked but ter
minutes of three. He sprang out Of
bed, drew on his clothes hurriedly, anC
fastened to the drawing-room.
"Ah, senior, you are very kind" Tor
res smile was full of mock-politeness
ITO trouble yourself so at the lightes
wish of a guest is"
sect down to business If you hav,
any" Stairway interrupted bluntly
'What is it?''
Il want a word with you In pri
vate," Tore answered quietly. Tn,
man was fully dressed and now ros,
from the couch upon which he hat
been lying. There is no objection Il
the others being in the room, but a
least let US stand at the far side Of tn,
chamber so that they may not hear.
IF you have anything to say. sa,
it aloud" Stairway retorted. Il an
tired of your way of doing business
Tore. Now, what is it,"
Tore shrugged.
'Then / shall be silent" he salt
earelessly. Il think that you are max
ing mistake, senior"
Was he? Stairway didn't know. H
looked about the room. Juare
seemed to be sleeping heavily upOl
his couch; the vaqueios, seven o
them, sat along the walls or lounges
. about the room, each man of them a
, watehful. his eyes as keen and sus
! picious as at the beginning of thei
, vigil at dusk.
: And yet, in spite Of all this seeur
/ ity, In spite of the fact that Stanwa
and the De Ia Guerra servants wer
armed and their two prisoners III
armed, the raueher had the odd fee
ing that there was a weakness in hi
position which he could not see, bu
1 ~, ~ =,
Tore. And then his curiosity De
, cided him.
Come" ne said after a brief me
ment. And then again: Now, VIVA
is it?"
He had stepped to the far corner 0
the room, motioning two Of the loung
ing cowboys out Of earshot. Tore
. | ,,,apnaF onLaff,Ilx- ~