The St. Mary banner., 1919-08-30
CHAPTER ~.
Word From the lnaurreetoa

quest. riding again close together
toward the north.
Stairway and Gaucho had kept upon
the trail through the fields. the others
spreading out to east and west as
they rode that there might be nc
chance Of missing the party they
sought In the night.
But in an hour they had come into
a country where all tracks were
mingled with the hoof marks Of cattle
and vaqueros' ponies, and their trail
| was Smothered and lost.
Shortly before midnight they had
come upon three men, ragged. ugly
looking Mexicans, sleeping about q
camp fire which was fast dying. The
men knew nothing or professed at
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 we'll 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 sunlight 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"
II know" she said quietly. She
came toward him, putting out her
hands. you have been good to us,
Senior Billy"
lie laughed bit awkwardIy.
Il don't know how" he retorted. 'I
have done nothing. You have not been
molested here?'
She hesitated. He saw a 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.
Tore 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, think.
He was wounded. You know"
"He is not badly hurt?'
Her tired eyes, into which sleep had
not come during the long night. grew
brightly contemptuous.
ut is only his beauty which is
harmed" she said swiftly.
Good morning, prima mia ~ called
deep. laughing voice. "Ah, still with
US. Senor Stanway?
Tore. debonair In the dark, youth
full beauty of him. greeted them at the
doorway.
Certainly Senor Stairway is still
with u.s." said Teresa coolly. "He is
my guest, my grandfather's friend.
Senior Torre!"
Tore laughed and lifted his shoul-
lers.
Enter" he said with graciousness
which was In some strange way vague
y insulting; it was as though he were
he master here, and because Of his ,
not only Stairway but the
.irl as well were allowed upon the
PREMISES.
Now 1t was Teresa who flushed :
Come. Senor Billy" she said qui- :
tly. 1--WE are going to have coffee
ogether"
For the fraction Of a second the
wo men stood fronting each other,
heir level eyes filled with challenge,
rith a mistrust which was little less
han hatred.
Then the Spaniard, bowling again,
urned away, with a slight smile play i
1g under the small, pointed mustache, q
nd Stairway followed his hostess.
Pedro himself superintended the !
CRYING of the simple breakfast.
"Senorita," Stairway said at last,
ushing back his chair, II should like
, 60 back to the drawing room. There =
light be something there to give us
hint that will help u.s."
ISL" she said, Il had thought Of f,