Gilpin observer., 1919-09-18
CHAPTER xI.

a man ever playedw
CHAPTER xI.
''You Have overplayed Your Hand"
IT am afraid that have been indis-
Greet, Senior Stairway" Tore, with
his old smile charged now with some
thing Of mockery and much of triumph.
held out q little piece Of white paper
to Stamway, who, key in hand, had
just come from Pedro on his way to
the masters room. But think that
I can plead an altogether unusual po.
sition as my excuse. You will pardon
me, senOrf"
Stairway took the paper, guessing
what 1t was, and read 1t swiftly:
Mi Querido Senior Billy:
from ali that is Horrible. there Il no
40 rocm wna the rr.ss
mahogany bed. there 10 q painting on
thres feet Is from sss neor s ten seSm shs
northwest corner: where X9u must
the SAKE Of '' AA' 'A' 'Ao"'' 'A''
Your Teresa.
"You will pardon my having read
it?" again smilingly from Tore.
"Where did You get this thingf'
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 vety well planned,
senior. Is 1t mott Even my leuten.
ants"
'If do not do an she asks7" cut iu
Stairway, his low-lidded eyes sharp up
on Torres.
| Tore shrugged.
"Who knows? Perhaps they will
take the trouble to find 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 reelinl
backward across the room.
"Shut up!" he cried hoarsely. 'You
mention the senorita once more and
His teeth closed with a little omi.
nous click. Tore. wiping the blood
from his lips, glared at him with q
boundless. almost speechless. rage.
"Cowardl |" he sneered. "Since am
a prisoner. with a half dozen men
ready to spring upon me, you attack
me-"
"Gauchol" called Stairway.
ISL, senor" 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 II
now7" he said curtly.
But Tore was once more himself
smiling, at ease, only a fierce hatred
in his eyes.
"Gracias senOri I" he returned. ~
shall merely make you pay for that
|
another ten thousand dollars as ran
som for the old man and the girl. Ter
thousand dollars for a blow, senor
Do you care to strike againr
Stairway shrugged.
"YOu have overplayed your hand
Torre," he said quietly. ''This note
from the senorita makes me sure Of
what was beginning to suspect
Gaucho. come with me-"
With no further word, leaving
Torres mystified 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
I 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. think that there is going to
be fighting this time"
1.-THE masterT cried Gaucho. "Ths
senoritaf You know"
II know nothing. But think
that they have never for a second left
the house! Hurry. Gauchoi"
And Gaucho hurried. his own face
a. mystified as Torres. Stanway went
quickly to the bedroom.
Somewhere In these great thick
walls there is a passageway," he whis-
pered to himself. 1T runs from this
room throughout the house and to the
east wing where Teresa's rooms are.
Somewhere. down below perhaps,
there 10 a room, q dungeon. think
that II IL just under the drawing room