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

4 THINK mat that Is where DE la Guerra
is; that many Of the thugs which
Tore said were meant to be heard by
the old man that they might taunt aud
mock him; / think that Torres men
| down there heard the crashing glass
the words which went with 1t. / think
that we are going to find De la Guerrs
and Teresa there"
He studied the walls.
There was nothing to hint at a secret
door.
He moved out the bed, found the
spot which Teresa's note told of, set
his thumb to 1t, and saw a panel drop
down, shelfwise, showing a great iron
safe set In the wall. The safe was
locked, the key missing. Bot he knew
that he had found De la Guerra's bank.
He closed the panel swiftly as Gaucho
and his men came to the door.
"Que es, senor?" Gaucho asked
quickly. And the black eyes of the
dark-faced men ~thronging behind him
--eager, expectant-toid as well as
words that Gaucho had whispered to
his men that the Americana had a plan,
that hope lay behind it.
Come In, Gaucho. Shut the door
How many menT'
They entered as he spoke. He count
ed as the last man closed the door be-
hind him.
"Ten, senor Five more are con.
Ing"
Observation-Disclosures can vouch for
them, for all of them? You can trust
every man to the uttermost, Gaucho?'
ITO the uttermost, senor," as stern
~. ITO the death in the service OF
the master and"-his voice breaking
q little-"the senorita."
Sand the other fiveY
"The same"
"Goodl This is my plan. Come
close, all Of you"
He addressed them In Spanish,
speaking swiftly. his voice lowered SO
that the men must crane their necks
and lean forward to hear. He told
them of his hope that those they
sought had never been taken out OF
the hacienda.
SNOW" he ended. "there Is no doub,
a passageway running from here to the
senorita's rooms. If we find this end
Of 1t and attack they may escape al
the other end. So we must be ready
"Gaucho, send two men into the
senorita's rooms. Let them be ready
armed and watchful. Send two more
to the stairway. Let Tore and Juarez
be bound and watched over by one
man only, a man whom you can trust
and who will blow their brains out be
fore he let's them escape"
LET every other man In the house
be armed and ready. Then"
"Then, senor?' eagerly.
"Then"-with quiet determination
I'VE shall find where the passage is II
we have to tear down the walls. Hurry
Gaucho I"
Gaucho al upon his errand, callins
by name the lei he wished to go will
him. Stairway, bidding those with hin
to be very silent, not knowing wha'
means the men he sought might hav,
of o~verhearing what happened In tn,
room, began a silent search for som,
sign Of a passageway In the thicl
walls.
And now at last fate and the quicl
eyes Of a vaquero aided him. There
was a little scratch on the redwood O
the wall just opposite the doc
through which they had entered, I
fresh white scratch. 1t was Mendoz
a young Mexican, who saw It; 1t wa
Mendoz who found a mark Of a greas.
thumb upon the same panel. some foul
feet from the floor.
"Aqui. estaw he muttered. "Senor
lookw
Stanway's heart beat wildly when b,
saw what Mendoz had found.
"The door OF the passagewayl" h
whispered. Ssh! Be still Ever
take on your boots. companeros. w
are going to give them no warning
But first, Mendoz. bring Demptol
here, quickl I think he is going Il
talk now"
Mendoz hurried, and presently cam
back, he and the immense Vidal. walk
Ing at Dempton's right and left
"Dempton." whispered Stairway
meeting him, make no sound. II h
cries Quito Vidal and Mendoz-
III he makes a sound choke the liz
out Of him. Do you understand
Demptonr"
q. GRO BE C~ONTINUED)
Slaves In AbyssInIa.