The Lamar register., 1919-07-23
CHAPTER X.
COPYRIGHT
A Bold Game.

Iou VIII hIons II Is
anything missing from the masters
roomf'
"Si, senior. know each little
thing. There has been no change for
many years"
The small, wrinkled. almost black
face of the little old Indian woman
looked up curiously Into Stanway's.
'Then come. Let us hurry"
He led the way. They went through
house servants was lighting the can
dies. where Tore was pacing back
and forth. his restlessness showing
for the first time.
Teresa de la Guerra's scream had
sounded through the house early that
morning-at three o'clock. The long
day had dragged. and now 1t was
growing dark.
Still Tore and Juarez were prison.
ers; still Dempton fretted and fumed
and sulked In the great library
Tore looked up quickly. his eyes
eager. expectant. Stanway glanced
at him, giving no satisfaction in the
swift turning of his eyes. Tore
frowned and bit at his lip. Juarez
looked to his leader with both ques-
tion and criticism in his gaze.
Josefa followed the rancher, and
they passed on through the drawing
roomf The door closed behind them.
'Now. Josefa.'
Stanway threw open the door Of
the Senor de la Guerrn's bedroom.
Josefa, lifting very white handker-
chief to her very black eyes. crossed
herself and stepped over the thresh-
old.
Look. Josefai Is there anything
missingf"
He had the key In his pocket; she
had not seen 1t. He looked at her In
a moment tense with expectant walt
ing. not sure why he was 80 eager
for the word she should say. Josefa's
eyes. showing again as she folded and
smoothed her handkerchief. roved
about the room.
She shook her head slowly. and still
her eyes went upon their quest.
''There is nothing missing" she
said. speaking thoughtfully. EVERY
thing"
She broke OF suddenly. her old fig
ure growing rigid. her eyes brighten
Ing. Then she run across the room
to a far corner which was bit in
shadow as stanway held his candle
shove his head.
at is gonel' she cried. amazement
In her voice. "See where II has been
for twenty yenrs-for more than
twenty years. And II is goner'
"what. Josefaf" Stairway hurried
to his side. what is II that is gone r.
'..The keyr' she whispered. her
voice suddenly dropping. "See where
II hung against the wall. See where
It hung so long that 1t left Its own
shape like a picture. But who could
have taken itr'
Stairway, peering above the old
woman's head, the candle held close
to the wall. saw. dimly enough but
plainly, the mark which the key.
hanging from u little peg. had left.
"What key was it?" he asked sharp
ly.
"The masters. He would allow no
one TO touch IT, He had II kept there
always. where he could see II in the
morning, at night when he went to
bed. And 1t is goner'
"But," cried Stairway impatiently.
his hand upon her arm, "what was II
for2 What did II openr'
Josefa looked at him with wide
eyes "But the master would be an
cry If he knew. He has had 1t there
for twenty years-much longer.
think"
But, Josefa." Stairway hurried on.
cant you think what door 1t opens
Can't you guess? l must know. Jo-
sefa. Think. Is 1t some room In the
house heref"
"No. no. senorl Not here" Josefa
shook her head II should know,
then. / think. senior, II must be the
key to some room in hts beloved
Spain. II is for no room upon the
rancho. OF that l am sure, senor."
"What is this. Josefar
Suddenly he had drawn the great,
heavy key from his pocket. holding 1t
before her eyes. She stared ut 1t.
then with little cry put out her
chakjpg hands for II.