The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-09-05


1t would be useless to talk with him.
He knows only that he is being held;
he does not know why. know only"
and he resorted to the shrug so much
part of his method Of speech, that
rumor has 1t that you are his heiress,
and this paper states that Tore In
herits."
"Humor at times Is misinformed,"
Tore said smilIngly. "You have the
win and testament itself before you.
II 1t is sufficiently plain that / and
not the senorita," with an apologize
bow to Teresa. represent my kins-
man; trust that you will state your
errand concisely.'
ut Is this" said Juarez shortly. "El
Senior de La Guerra Is held by my
men for ransom. Twenty thousand
dollars will bring him back to you
promptly, without a scratch on him..
A refusal to pay will be signal for
his DEATH"
$50" remarked Tore coolly. ''It is
only twenty thousand dollars. You
are modest, senorr'
American money" Juarez added as
coolly.
American money" nodded Tore.
''That is better than Mexican pesos,
at any rate. 1t is at least less insult
Ing to my kinsman."
Captain Juarez made no reply. Te-
resa and Stairway looked at each other
swiftly.
Tore, smiling as though the whole
matter were merely amusing, adj
dressed himself to the girl.
"Teresita," and she flushed under
the easy familiarity, perhaps the val
liant captain has not yet breakfasted.
He has a long ride before him and it
would be better If he should not carry
away Misunderstanding of the De la
Guerra hospitality. Also, while he has
his coffee, you and might discuss
the situatlon7'
Eyes" the girl agreed slowly. "That
would perhaps be best" Her hand
went to the bell cord to summon Pc
dro. "We have just breakfasted, senior
captain. If you will go with Pedro he
will see that you are served. And Sc
nor Tore, Senior Stairway and myself
can avail ourselves Of the time to
come to decision"
The captain bowed, and with no hes
itatlon turned his back on them to
follow the servant to the dining room.
Tore came in, sat down, crossing his
legs with elaborate care to the crease
In his trousers, and favored Stairway
with look which Knocked openly.
can interesting situation, Is 1t not,
senor?" he asked lightly.
"An extremely hazardous game you
are playing, Tore" cried Stairway an
grlly.
"IT" Tore lifted his brows. ut
is not who play. 1t is who watch
the game"
watch the pawn5 your own fine
hand has set movingl" was Stanway's
heated retort. "Do you think that you
can get away with a thing of this
kind, Torre7 Why, man, 1t smells to
heavenl"
DETERMINATIONS aside-at least shall
we postpone them? There is crisis
demanding attention. Now" lifting
his hand against Stanway's words. II
have a proposition to make-to you,
Teresa"
"What is it," she asked coldly.
Merely this: AS heir to the De la
Guerra estate I may be a prejudieed
person. You, with no personal inter-
est" and a quick light fiicked in his
eyes at the girls wincing at his words,
"are the one to decide. Shall the cap
tain's request be granted? leave it
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 1t. And she did not
see the answer to make.
ut is perhaps not impossible" went
on Tore evenly, that a large part of
the sum mentioned is now ON the
premises. We all know that my kins-
man has always been his own banker
that lac at all times has been able to
produce a large amount of gold at a
moments notice.