The Ordway new era., 1919-09-12
Dice of Destiny
By JACKSON GREGORY


| were running toward them And then.
ts several men shot into view:
Stop cried Stairway. loudly. his
Aand knocking vIdafs weapon up
ward 1T is Gaucho and his men,"
where are they?- cried Gaueho. e1-
citedly. The master? The senorita.
You did not find themT
You did not meet themT In q sharp
cry from the rancber-
we met no one," Gaucho answered.
look Of wonder In his eyes
Then there is another door. They
have fooled US Comet They can't
get out Of the house"
They turned. rushing back toward
the room they had just quilted And
at the instant Stznwsy plunged back
through the doorway he knew where
were these men Of Torres
For he heard Torres voice shouting
loudly just above his head where he
had already judged the drawing room
mus. be; he knew that through some
other passagewsy the men they had
thought 10 trap had made their way
there. and he remembered that his own
orders had been for one man only TO
watch over the bound Tore and
Juarez-
-Supez, Castro.- Tore was cati-
ing. his tones ringing out clear. the
tones Of command. calling for haste.
for swift obedience There is one
man here only. XIII him, Aht-
There was the crack Of q revolver.
4 CRY. the sound Of body falling.
Now and again Torres voice
rang triumphant Cut these damned
ropes. Castroi You others free Jusrez-
Watch the doors. Guard the passage
way By the lord Of he'll. wen win
this game yeti-
They are too many" painted dis
senting voice We
Coward and fool,- cried Torres
ecboing voice Give me that gun.
Now, listen. l have found where the
De Ia Guerra bsnco Isl It's just yon-
der in the old mans bedroom It's
full Of gold. eo1npaneros- And then
watch the doors, amigos, Then cross
the border with our pockets full i''
There came answering shouts. the
noise of heavy furniture being dragged
D
Torres voice giving commands
But where is the masterT- a va
quero whispered anuo1sly. They
have killed hlml-
And the senorits2- cried Garcho.
They ran about the room. seeking
sign Of that other passageway which
had led these men directly into the
drawing room.
I'VE had better go back" command
ed Stairway criEpIy. after a short
search which showed nothing I'VE
can break down the door into the room
where they are. Gaucho. Mentor. VI
dal. you men stay here 50 that they
cannot play hide-and-seek with rs
again"
Pardon, senior. You are very kind.
I already owe you much. But now ]
shall take care OF these bandits"
1t was the old Spaniard. Senor Don
Antonio de La Guerra, his old-fash-
Toned black coat faultlessly clean Of a
speek Of dust. his fine white mustache
curIed nicely. his eyes glowing very
brightly. for a moment gentle and full
Of gratitude as they rested upon the
rancber. then very hard as they turned
toward the ceiling.
| His yaqueros cried out sharply at
the sight Of him standing there SO un-
expectedly in their midst. From him
they looked to the slender form Of the
white-faced girl at the door of little
closet which De la Guerra had sud
denly thrown open.
"You, senor," cried StanwAy, as.
founded. mot hurt7'
II. senor7 De la Guerra lifted one
white hand, showing for n moment
the revolver in 1t. AT your attack
seized this. One man / quieted. In
the rush / got Teresa into the closet
there. She. too. Is unhurt. And now"
Again his fine old face hardened. his
eyes were burning black pools Of mer.
cIless rage. He stepped across the
room. set his hand to a spot which his
thumb found readily. and a narrow
door flew back. showing a stairway.
CTO BE coNTINUED.)
| naxAre