The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-08-28
CHAPTER x---contInued.
COPYRIGHT

-0--
II seemed to him that suddenly IT
had grown cold there In De la Guer-
ra's bedroom.
He shivered. and, taking up his
candle, went his way back through
the drawing room. with no word to
Tore. with no glance even, for he
feared that now he could not let HIS
eyes, 90 to the handsome, evil face
and keep his hand back. and at last
to Pedro's bedside.
Pedro, waiting for him impatIently,
tried to lift himself upon an elbow,
and failing In that turned his bright
black eyes upon the American.
what did she say, JosefaT he
asked quickly. 1T is the masters
key3
Eyes, Pedro" answered Stairway
dispiritedly. "But what is the user
She does not know what door 1t
opens"
but / known said Pedro brightly.
"You knowi" Stairway laid his
hand on the wounded mans arm.
TELL me. QuickI"
"When the master was young he
lived In Spain, where the old master,
his father, sent him Il go to school.
In the home there, builded Of stones
like an old castle, senior, was n room
where many times he was locked up
by his tutor because he was wild and
did not full In love with his books.
I have heard him laugh and tell about
It to tho padre from La Panza. When
be camU away he brought the key to
that prison room with him. That is
the key you have, senor"
Stairway looked at the man with
swift suspicion. Pedro seemed ex-
cited over the key; a look of great
shrewdness was In his eyes. and the
key unlocked a door In Spainl If he
was becoming delirious--
II am not In a fever. %senor," said
Pedro quickly. seeing the thought In
the Americans eyes. But that key
tells me something. Every night be-
fore going to my bed ! 90 to the mas.
ter's to see II he wishes any
thing. 10 take my commands for the
next day. i went last night after II
was late, just before ! went to the
senorita's door. 1t was habit. senior.
/ could not have gone to sleep unless
went there"
ssWellT'' sharply.
II heard q little sound. 1t a the
scratching OF q window shade.
went, closed the window. and locked
II tightly. And while looking for the
sound I saw the key In its place. II
was there at eleven o'clock last night,
aenor."
~You are sure. Pedro? You are
very certain that this key was In the
masters room at eleven o'clock?"
Every certain. senior"
ssThen-- But II Is impossible. Pc
drof You say that you locked the
windows7 All Of themg"
All, senior"
'And the door as you came QUIT"
II locked. senior. The key was un'
der my bed. I gave It to you just
now. And there Is only one key upon
the ranchOr-only one In the world
which win unlock ftr
sBut then It Is impossible !"
Stairway. restless. upon his feet
strobe back and forth, frowning. II
the key had heen there last night, 4
door and windows had been locked
* they had been locked when he wen
to the room--then how could p o.
the men who attacked Pedro has'
had II III his hand at .three o'clocl
In the morning?
sYou mean" he said slowly. com
Ine back 10 the bedside, "thatS the 1t
tack upon you and Celestino wa
made BY men who are among tn
house servants or the De Ia Guerr'
v~nq0erosf"
mo, scnor.v There was 40 hest
tnfion-the voice was confident, 9Th
man wore handkerchtefs about thei
fnce1, but 7 know that they were no
of our msn. They we're strangers =
~
sprt.r cried stairway. chow coul'
such 1 thing be2 How could the
have e0tten into the masters room
Then how could they have gotten {
tke senoritn's nom without some on
~ our. mn eeelng them1 And VII
nkoufd lhey have brought the keyf
tCkU N0y II heavy. cood - strike
It'll blox.;' replied Pedro. ~