The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-12-19
CHAPTER XII.

man ever played!'
CHAPTER XII.
"You Have OverpIayed Your Hand.
81 am afraid that have been indis
Greet, Senior Stairway" Tore, witt
his old smile charged now with some
thing of mockery and much of triumph
held out little piece of white fine
to Stairway, who, key in hand, hat
Just come frcm Pedro on his way tt
the masters room. But I think tina
I can plead an altogether unusual pc
sition as my excuse. You will pardon
me, senor?"
Stairway took the paper, guessing
what it was, and read it swiftly:
Mi Querido Senior Billy:
To save papa grande. to save me
from all that is horrible; there ere, is nc nc
grandfather's room, behind the grea1
mahogany bed, there is painting OF
There is a spot in the woodwork
three feet from the floor, ten from the
northwest corner, where you must
press with your finger. 1t Will disclose
the banco. Give him the money-for
the sake of
Your Teresa.
"You will pardon my having read
it?" again smilingIy from Tore.
''Where did you get this thing?''
cried Stairway.
Tore pointed to the window, whose
panes he had broken just before three
o'clock.
"There On the floor. Some one
threw it In ON the floor while you were
running so giddily across the border.
You see this is very well planned,
senior. Is it not? Even my lieuten-
ants"
''If I do not do as she asks?" cut in
Stairway, his low-lidded eyes sharp up
on Torres.
Tore shrugged
"Who knows? Perhaps they will
take the trouble to find a priest to give
the senorita in holy matrimony to"
In sudden rage Stairway, his nerves
jangling, his rage reddening his face,
leaped at the man, and as he leaped
struck, struck hard-his hard, clenched
fist smashing into the evil smile, cut
ting the lips so that the blood ran
from them, sending Tore Keeling
across the room.
"Shut up!' he cried hOarsely. "You
mention the senorita once more and"
His teeth closed with little omi-
nous click. Tore, wiping the blood
rom his lips. glared at him with
,oundless, almost speeches.. rage.
Coward !" he sneered. "Since / am
| prisoner, with half dozen men
eady to spring upon me, you attack
ne"
"Gaucho!" called Stairway.
Isl, senor!" GauchO's brown face
his eyes looking happier
han they had looked for two days.
do not interfere. Do not let your
nen take hand, no matter what hap
ems" Then he swung about upon
,orre. do you want to finish it
ow?" he said CURLY.
But Tore was once more himself, |
milling, at ease, only a fierce hatred
q his eyes.
"Gracias, seuor" he returned. Il
hall merely make you pay for that |
low in my own way. And now ask
mother ten thousand dollars as raI,-
ON for the old man and the girl. Ten
dollars for blow. senior
10 you care to strike again?"
Stairway shrugged.
"You have overplayed your hand,
ORE" he said quietly. "This note
ON the seBorita makes me sure of
hat was beginning to suspect.
aucho, come with me-
With no further word, leaving
ores mystified face looking after
m, he went out, Gaucho at his heels.
"Gaucho," he said, speaking swiftly
ON beyond the closed door, II want
III to come to the masters room.
ring some men with you-six, ten
don't know how many we shall need.
It two of them bring axes. Let all
try side arms. Bring the picked
en-, Gaucho; the hardest men on the
ncho. / think that there Is going to
fighting this time"
"The mastery' cried Gaucho. THE
norita? You know"
II know nothing. But l think s
at they have never for second left {
e house Hurry, Gaucho!' II
And Gaucho hurried, his own face (
mystifed as Torres. Stairway went
ickly to the bedroom. 1t
Somewhere In these great thick !
Ills there is passageway,@ he whis-
red to himself 1T runs from this &
ON throughout the house and to the &
st wing where Teresa's rooms are.
Somewhere, down below perhaps, 4
ere is room, dungeon. think y
At It is just under the drawing room b