The Tomahawk., 1919-08-14
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER X-continued.


had grown cold there in De la Guer-
ra's bedroom.
He shivered, and, taking up his
candle, went his way back through
the drawing room, with no word to
Tore, with no glance even, for he
feared that now he could not let his
eyes go to the handsome, evil face
and keep his hand back, and at last
to Pedro's bedside.
Pedro, waiting for him impatiently,
tried to lift himself upon an elbow,
and failing in that turned his bright
black eyes upon the American.
: "What did she say, Josefa?'' he
asked quickly. ut is the masters
key?"
Eyes, Pedro" answered Stairway
dispiritedly. But what is the use7
She does not know what door it
opens"
"But I know" said Pedro brightly.
"You know" Stairway laid his
hand on the wounded mans arm.
''Teu me. Quickw
lived in Spain, where the old master,
his father, sent him to go to school.
In the home there, builded of stones
like an old castle, senor, was room
where many times he was locked up
by his tutor because he was wild and
did not fall in love with his books.
I have heard him laugh and tell about
it to the padre from La Panza. When
he came away he brought the key to
that prison room with him. That is
the key you have, senor!"
Stairway looked at the man with
swift suspicion. Pedro seemed ex-
cited over the key; look Of great
shrewdness was in his eyes, and the
key unlocked a door in Spain! If he
was becoming delirious-
II am not in a fever, senor," said
Pedro quickly, seeing the thought in
the Americans eyes. "But that key
tells me something. Every night be-
fore going to my bed go to the mas
ter's room to see If he wishes any
thing, to take any commands for the
next day. I went last night after it
was late, just before I went to the
senorita's door. It was habit. senor.
I could not have gone to sleep unless
I went there
''Wellr' sharply.
~ heard a little sound. It was the
scratching Of a window shade. I
went, closed the window, and locked
It tightly. And while looking for the
sound I saw the key IN it's place. It
was there at eleven o'clock last night,
senor." ~
"You are sure, Pedro7 You are
very certain that this key was in the
masters room at eleven o'clock?"
"very certain, senor."
''Then- But it is impossible. Pc
drol You say that you locked the
windovs3 All Of them7"
"All, senor."
"And the door as you came outT
ri locked, senor. The key was un-
der my bed. I gave 1t to you just
now. And there is only one key upon
the rancho-only one in the world
which will unlock 1T"
"But then it is impossible!" y
Stairway, restless, upon his feet,
strode back and forth, frowning. If
the key had been there last night, If
door and windows had been locked,
If they had been locked when he went
to the room-then how could one OF
the men who attacked Pedro have
had It in his hand at three o'clock
in the morning?
You mean," he said slowly, COM
ing back to the bedside, shat the At
tack upon you and Celestino was
made by men who are among the
house servants or the De la Guerra
vaquerosT
mo. senor." There was no hesi-
tation-the voice was confident. THE
men wore handkerchiefs about their
faces, but I know that they we're not
of our men. They were strangers to
me-"
'sBut," cried Stairway, show could
such q thing be? How could they
have gotten into the masters room?
Then how could they have gotten to
the senorita's room without some one
Of our men seeing them? And why
should they have brought the key"
'"The key is heavy, good to strike a
hard blow" replied Pedro. If 4
man had lost his knife and needed
weapon he might take 1t. No, senor."
'eBut how"
Stairway broke of, his eyes ran
from Pedro's face to sweep the room, a
sudden light came into them, and the
blood ran into his face.
MY Cod" he cried, II see it!'
You are wiser than I, senor." Pc
dFo smiled contentedly and closed his |
eyes. looking ver- pale and weak. |
You will let me have news when |
there is anything, senior? could get
well quickly with good news"
Stanway promised, took Pecro's
band s',s-bsy, turned and hurried out