The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-12-05

word as a gentleman that when tse SUI
is up you will rush to me, trying t,
make terms, and l shall then answe
you by demanding fifty thousand!"
The threat in the mans voice agair
disturbed Stairway. He had feeling
which he could not entirely reason
down that Tore meant what he was
saying. Then he looked at the hall
dozen stern-featured, faithful servants
who served the De la Guerra as old
subjects served q beloved sovereign
saw them watchful, armed, eager for
an excuse to fling themselves upon
their two captives; and, frowning at
his own fears, he went to his room.
His windows faced westward and to
the south.
He stood before one of them which
looked to the border, half ready to ex-
pect rush of cavalry through the
| olive trees.
He saw the olive trees sway to the
little, warm wind from the south ;
watched his window curtains pulsing
slowly like one breathing; noted how
upon the orange trees, and. with last
look toward the eastern wing of the
house, where q little balcony jutted
out among roses, he jerked down his
shade. fastened his window, placed
revolver upon the chair at his side,
and went to bed.
A low, insistent rapping at his door
way awakened him.
Stairway sat up in bed, a sudden
Silver of uneasiness upon him.
"Who it is?" he called sharply.
at is Lugo, senior. Senior Tore
nends me with a message. 1t is to
come to the drawing-room Immediate
IL. He has something to say TO you.
lie says it is very important. He in
sists you come to him before it is |
three o'clock-within fifteen minutes"
"He has his nerve" muttered STAN
way. "Tell him to be more explicit or
to go TO the devil"
ISL, senor.'
Lugo chuckled his approval, and
hurried away. through the still house.
Stairway lay back upon his bed ard
closed his eyes. only TO open them
quickly to stare into the darkness of |
his room.
He was remembering those forebod-
ngs which had come to him with Tor
res yelled threats; he was feeling an
Ineasiness which he could not drive
out. Tore had sent for him in the
middle of the night
Again he sat up, cropping for matches
Ind q candlestick. In the little yellow
,low he saw that 1t lacked but ten
ninutes of three. He sprang out of
led, drew on his clothes hurriedly, and
fastened to the drawing-room.
"Ah, senior, you are very kind" Tor
s's smile was fun of mock-politeness.
TO trouble yourself so at the lightest
Wish of guest is"
sect down to business if you have
n.y." Stairway interrupted bluntly.
What is it?"
81 want a word with you in pri- ,,
ate" Tore answered quietly. The
lon was fully dressed and now rose
rom the couch upon which he had
cen lying. ''There is. no objection to
ne others being in the room, but at ,
east let us stand at the far side of the .
hamber so that they may not hear" d
'If you have anything to say, say q.
aloud" Stairway retorted. s'I am >,
red of your way of doing business,
ORE. Now, what is it?"
Tore shrugged.
'Then / shall be SILENT" he said
81 think that you are maxi
g a mistake, senor." ",
Was he? Stairway didn't know. He fl
oked about the room. Juarez a
,emed to be sleeping heavily upon lie
s couch; the vaqueros, seven of fl,
em, sat along the walls or lounged h,
,out the room, each man of them as
atchfui, his eyes as keen and sus- hi
cious as at the beginning of their
gil at dusk. ca
And yet, in spite of all this secur- til
Y, in spite of the fact that Stairway re
i'd the De la Guerra servants were D,
med and their two prisoners I'M III
med. the rancher had the odd feel M
g that there was a weakness in his to
sition which he could not see, but
Itch was very plain to the smiling TIL
'rre. And then his curiosity de- flo
led him. he
Come" he said after a brief mo- DO
INT. And then again: "Now, what
ft?" he
He had stepped to the far corner of We
2 room, motioning two of the loung- las
: cowboys out of earshot. Tore, to
bonair, his manner gracefully In ba
ferent, stopped at the big mahog-
y-table to light his cigarette at one Ing
the candles and came to Stanway's Pc
e
Thank you, senor," he said, his Ga
ce very low now, his words guard les
: SO that none but the rancher
ght hear them. "For this Is In the of
y Of kindness to me, although vii
, do not know that yet" vii
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