The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-11-07

SnOrIly before midnight they nae
come upon three men, ragged, ugly
looking Mexicans, sleeping about a
camp fire which was fast dying. The
men knew nothing or professed al
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.
ave may as well go back, Gaucho,"
Stairway said at last. ''They will want
ransom, suppose. When they speak
| We'll know what to do"
And reluctantly, his face black with
the wrath upon him, Gaucho Morales
called to his men to turn back.
The suBight lay bright and warm
upon the oranges and their blossoms
when they rode back to the rancho,
Stairway threw himself from the
saddle, bit stiff 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"
81 know" she said quietly. She
came toward him, putting out her
hands. ''You have been good to US,
Senior Billy"
He laughed a bit awkwardly.
y don't know how" he retorted. 81
have done nothing. You have not been
molested here?
She hesitated. He saw quick
frown gather her brows. Then,
speaking lightly, she replied, saying:
mo. 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 know"
'.He is not badly hurts"
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
a 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 Torre!"
Tore laughed and lifted his Shout
ders.
ENTER" he said with a graciousness
which was in some strange way vague
ly insulting; it 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 it was Teresa who flushed.
Come, Senior Billy" she said quiz
city. 'We are going to have coffee
together"
For the fraction of a second the
TWO men stood fronting each other,
heir level eyes filled with challenge,
with a mistrust which was little less
han hatred.
Then the Spaniard, bowling again,
.urned away, with slight smile play
ng under the small, pointed mustache,
md Stairway followed his hostess.
Pedro himself superintendent the
erving of the simple breakfast.
"Senorita," Stairway said at last,
cushing back his chair, 81 should like
o go back to the drawing room. There
night be something there to give us
hint that will help u.s."
ISL" she said, Il had thought Of
hat. I looked last night carefully
fter you had gone"
you found nothing?"
Nothing that could understand"
he answered quietly. Something
ould not"
He looked up at her quickly, his
yes full of question.
'aThis," she answered, not waiting
,r him to speak.
She placed folded paper before
i'm. He glanced at it, frowned,
oked again, and turned once more
her.
1T is his will. Dated last night
ut why has he made new one?'
4Read it," as quietly as before,
ough her eyes were Frightening with
me surge OF emotion he could not