The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-09-19

held out little piece of white paper
to Stairway. who, key in hand, had
just come from Pedro on his way to
the masters room. But l think that
L canf plead an altogether unusual p0-
sitioni as my excuse. You will pardon
me, senor?"
Stairway took the paper, guessing
what it was, and read it swiftly:
MI Querido Senior Billy:
10 save papa grande. to save me
from all that is horrible. there is no
way but to. do what Tore asks. In
grandfather's ROOM behind the great
Imahogany bed, there is painting on
~ There is spot in the woodwork,
three feet from the floor, ten from the
northwest corner. where you must
the banco. Give him the money-for
the sake of
Your Teresa.
You will pardon my having read
it,? again smilingly 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 / do not do as she asks?" cut in
Stairway, his low-lidded eyes sharp I'D.
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 reeling
backward across the ROOM
"Shut up!' he cried hoarsely. "You
mention the senorita once more and
His teeth closed with q little omi-
nous click. Tore, wiping the blood
from his lips. glared at him with a
boundless, almost speechless, rage.
Coward !" he sneered "Since l am
a prisoner, with a half dozen men
ready to spring upon me, you attack
me"
'Gaucho!' called Stairway.
Isl, senior !" Gaucho's brown face
Frightening his eyes looking happier
than they had looked for two days.
DO not interfere. Do not let your
men take hand, no matter what hap
pens" Then he swung about upon
Tore. "Do you want to finish it
now?' he said CURLY.
But Tore was once more himself,
smiling, at ease, only a fierce hatred
in his eyes.
"Gracias, senor!" he returned. 81
shall merely make you pay for that
blow in my own way. And now l ask
another ten thousand dollars as ram
som for the old man and the girl Ten
thousand dollars for blow, senior
Do you care to strike again?'
Stairway shrugged.
You have overplayed your hand,
Tore" he said quietly. This note
from the senorita makes me sure of
what l was beginning to suspect.
Gaucho, come with me-"
With no further word, leaving
Torres mystitied face looking after
him, he went out. Gaucho at his heels.
"Gaucho," he said, speaking swiftly
from beyond the closed door, II want
you to come to the masters room.
Bring some men with you-six, ten
l don't know how many we shall need.
Let two of them bring axes. Let all
carry side arms. Bring the picked
men, GauchO; the hardest men on the
rancho. l think that there is going to
be fighting this time"
1.-THE master?" cried Gaucho. 1.-THE
senorita? You know"
81 know nothing. But 1 think
that they have never for second lief.
the house! Hurry, Gaucho!"
And Gaucho hurried, his own face
as mystified as Torres. Stairway went
quickly to the bedroom.
Somewhere in these great thick
walls there is a passageway," he whis-
pered TO himself ut runs from this
room throughout the house and to the
east wing where Teresa's rooms are.