The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-09-04

were running toward them. INT then,
Us several men shot into view:
"Stopl" cried Stairway, loudly, his
aand knocking Vidal's weapon up
ward. at Is Gaucho and his men !"
"where are they?" cried Gaucho, ex-
citedly. ''The master? The senorita ?
You did not find them?"
"You did not meet themf" In q sharp
cry from the rancher.
I'VE met no one" Gaucho answered,
a look of wonder In his eyes,.
"Then there Is another door. They
have fooled us. Comet They can't
| get out of the house."
They turned, rushing back toward
the room they had just quilted. And
at the instant Stairway plunged back
through the doorway he knew where
were these men Of Torres.
For he heard Torres voice shouting
loudly just above his head where he
had already judged the drawing room
must be; he knew that through some
other passageway the men they had
thought to trap had made their way
there, and he remembered that his own
orders had been for one man only to
watch over the bound Tore and
5uarez.
"Nunezl Castro" Tore was call.
ing, his tones ringing out clear, the
tones of command, calling for haste
for swift obedience. There is one
man here only XIII him! Ali"
There was the crack Of a revolver
a cry, the sound of a body falling.
Now" and again Torres voice
rang triumphant. "Cut these damned
ropes, Castro! You others free Juarez
Watch the doors. Guard the passage
way. BY the lord of hell, Wen wiz
this game yet"
"They are too many" painted a dis
senting voice. We"
Coward and fool" cried Torre'!
echoing voice. solve me that gun
Now, listen. 1 have found where tn,
De In Guerra banco isl It's just yon
der In the old mans bedroom. It!
full of gold. cOmpaneros. And then
watch the doors, amigos! Then eros
the border with our pockets full |"
There came answering shouts, tn
noise of heavy furniture being dragge,
across the floor and piled at the doors
Torres voice giving commands.
"But where is the master?" a va
quero whispered a~nxiously. "The.
have killed him"
"And the senorita?" cried Gaucho.
They ran about the room, seekin,
a sign of that other passageway which
had led these men directly into tn,
drawing room.
1--WE had better 60 back" command
ed Stairway crisply, after a shor
search which showed nothing. "W'
can break down the door into the roon
where they are. Gaucho, Mentor, vi
dial, you men stay here SO that the,
cannot play hide-and-seek with u
again."
Pardon, senor. You are very kind
I already owe you much. But now
shall take care of these bandits"
1t was the old Spaniard, Senior Do
Antonio de la Guerra, his old-fash
toned black coat faultlessly clean Of
speck of dust, his fine white mustach
curled nicely. his Eyes glowing yer
brightly, for a moment gentle and fuI
of gratitude al they rested upon tn
rancher. then very hard as they turne
toward the ceiling.
His vaqueros cried out sharply q
the sight of him standing there SO ur
expectedly in their midst. From hfr
they looked to the slender form Of tn
~white-faced girl at the door of a littl
closet which De la Guerra had sue
denly thrown open.
"You, senorw cried Stairway. a!
; founded. "Not hurt2"
II, senorY' De la Guerra lifted on
white hand. showing for a momer
the revolver In 1t. "At your attack
seized this. One man l quieted. I
the rush l got Teresa into the close
there. She, too, Is unhurt. And now
J Again his fine old face hardened, hi
eyes were burning black pools of me
; CHESS rage. He stepped across tn
room, set his hand to a spot which hi
J thumb found readily. and a narro'
door few back, showing q stairway.
CTO BE CONTINUED)