The St. Mary banner., 1919-10-11
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER x-Continued.

had grown cold there in De la Guer-
ra's bedroom.
He shivered, and, taking up his
candle went his way back through
tho drawing room, with no word to
Tore. with no glance even. for he
feared that now he could not let his
eyes 20 TO the handsome, evil face
md keep his hand back, and at last
to Pedro's bedside.
Pedro, waiting for him impatiently,
fried to lift himself upon an elbow,
and falling in that turned his bright
black eyes upon the American.
"What did she say, Josefa" he
asked quickly. 1T is the masters
keyT
aYes, Pedro" answered Stanway
dispiritedly. But what is the use2
She does not know what door it
opens"
"But know" said Pedro brightly.
"You know!" Stairway laid his
hand on the wounded mans arm.
sTell me. Quick!''
"When the master was young he
lived in Spain. where the old master,
his father, sent him TO go to school.
In the home there, builded of stones
like an old castle, senOr, was a room
where many times he was locked up
by his tutor because he was wild and
did not fall in love with his books.
have heard him laugh and tell about
1t to the padre from La Panza. When
he came 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; look of great
shrewdness was in his eyes, and the
key unlocked door in Spain! If he
was becoming delirious-
81 am not in 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 | go to the mas
IL
thing to take any commands for the
next day. l went last night after il
was late, just before I went to the
senorita's door. 1t was habit, senior
| could not have gone to sleep unless
] went there
"Well?" sharply.
Il heard a little sound. 1t was the
scratching of window shade.
went, closed the window, and locked
It tightly. And while looking for the
sound I saw the key in its place. Il
was there at eleven o'clock last night
senor."
you are sure, Pedro? You are
very certain that this key was in the
masters room at eleven o'cfock?"
very certain, senor"
Then But it is impossible, Pc
drol You say that you locked thu
windows? All of them?"
@All, senor"
And the door as you came out?"
I locked, senior. The key was un
Ger my bed. l gave it to you JUS
now. And there is only one key upor
the rancho-only one in the worlt
which will unlock itr
But then it is impossible y
Stanway, restless, upon his feet
strode back and forth, frowning. I
tne key had been there last night, i
aoor and windows had been locked
they had been locked when he wen
70 the rOOm-then how could one O
the men who attacked Pedro hav,
mad 1t in his hand at three o'clocl
IN the morning?
You mean," he said slowly, com
ING back to the bedside, 'that the at
tack upon you and Celestino wa
made by men who are among tn
mousse servants or the De la Guerr,
vaqueros?"
No, senor." There was no hesi
ntion--the voice was confident. 9TH
men wore handkerchiefs about thei
nces, but l know that they were no
our men. They were strangers t,
ne.r
But" cried Stairway, "how coul,
sucn thing be? How could the,
I'VE gotten into the masters room
.aen how could they have gotten +
me senorita's room without some on
our men seeing them? And VIII
eaid they have brought the key?
Inc key Is heavy, good to strike ,
blow" replied Pedro. If ,
mad lost his knife and needed
pon he might take 1t. No, senor.
nut how