Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-08-14
"what is it," she asked coldly.

what is 1tV' n asked cOl0iy.
Merely this: AS heir to the De la
Guerra estate I may be a prejudiced
person. You, with no personsl inter
est" and a quick light tlicked in his
eyes at the girls wincing at his words,
fare the one to decide. Shall the cap
tain's request be granted? I leave 1t
to you, senorita. Entirely to you"
Teresa bit her lip, the color surging
angrily into her cheeks. She saw the
trap as plainly as did Tore, as plainly
as Stairway saw it. And she did not
see the answer to make.
ut is perhaps not impossible" went
on Tore evenly, shat a large part of
the sum mentioned is nov on the
premises. We all know that my kins-
man has always been his own banker;
that he at all times has been able to
produce a large amount Of gold at a
moments notice.
UNFORTUNATELY, in answering his
summons to the rancho, I came too
late for him to make me cognizant
of the hiding place. Perhaps you,
DIllud ll1d, dlC UCllCl lulOl ulCus
"Perhaps," she answered him quiet
ly, though the color still ran red in
her cheeks.
"Apd perhaps" added Stairway sig
nificantly, "Senor Tore would be glad
to have knowledge of this banco;
handed over to his emissary"
"Emissary" Again Torres black
brows arched. "The fabrications Of
the Americano's suspicious are truly
wonderful! He would suspect me of
robbing myself?'"
He laughed i%nsolently. Stairway
looked questioningly at the girl.
"Prima mia" began Tore.
The girl whirled upon him, her eyes
flashing.
"Senor Torre," she cried passion
ately, "you make 1t necessary for me
to remind you that u relationship Is
not of my choosing, and that we are
not close enough for you to call me
cousin! If you find it necessary to
i address me at all I should like to be
addressed as Senorita de la Guerra.
Please remember"
Tore flushed angrily but managed
his careless smile.
"As you wish. Senorita de la Guer-
ra," he retorted. MAY I suggest
something's"
s"What is it?" shortly.
Merely this: This man who calls
himself Captain Juarez may be a rank
impostor, as well as a s%coundrel. Be-
fore even considering the matter of a
ransom would it not be we'll to ask
him to prove to us that he knows at
least where our kinsman is? If you
rang for Pedro again and sent him
with the message"
Teresa rang and sat in a 1nusine
silence until Pedro came.
"Pedro," she said then, "tell Captain
Juarez that we are considering his
proposition. Tell him further that We
wish to be certain that he really
comes from the senor."
Pedro. bowed, withdrew, and re
turned almost Immediately, his face
strangely white, his hand shaking a.
he held out something to the girl.
"It is the masters ring" he said
deeply agitated. "The ring he wore
always upon his left hand. Senorita
senorita," his voice choking, his eye!
glistening, "you will not let them xii
him?"
"No, Pedro" She took the ring, he
own eyes shining. eff harm comes tx
him, Pedro" she went on steadily, Nv.
shall know what to do, shall we not ?
Pedro made no spoken answer. Blu
his eyes, suddenly hard and cruel
went straight to Tore, resting full O
meaning upon him. Then, turning alb
ruptly, the servant left the room.
1T is papa grande's ring, Seno
Stairway" She ignored Tore entirely
II am afraid that Captain Juare
speaks the truth"
Stairway stood with drawn brows
staring at the floor. The whole affai
vas so eloquent Of rascality on tn
part Of the debonair, black-mus
tached Tore it was so ~inconceivabl
!. that his presence here now was not
part of dark design, sc ridiculous t
suppose that Antonio de la Guerra ha,
ever really purposed disinheriting tn
girl who was dearer to him thai
i. daughters to most .men-and yet wha
t to do?
Suddenly Stairway bent forward
whispering swiftly, guardedly, 20 tn
5 girl.
And then, after Stairway had fir
ished and stood erect again, lookin
t down upon her, as Tore watched, hi
| eyes narrowing s%uspiciously, he
hand clenched, her chin squared, de
termination came into her mien an
e voice.
) "It is a chance, senor," she sale
She rose and stood looking at hi1
D steadily, still ignoring Tore. 1T is
game of dice with our destinies."
"And you will play it, senOrita !