The Ordway new era., 1919-08-29

EeuTO WOuiu i've.
Here a knife had bit deep and had
cost Pedro much blood. but by for
tune and n fraction of an inch no
vital point had been reached.
Celestino, as white and more weak
than Pedro, lay very still. not having
once regained consciousness. He
might live, for Celestino had a won
derful store of health and vitality in
that great frame of his. The doctor
would come again, tonight or early
tomorrow.
"Pedro." asked Stairway. with
quick glance at the other bed and
then coming to Pedro's side, show are
things with your"
"Not so bad. senor." Pedro an
swered family. 1.-THE senoritaT
eve have not found her yet" Stan
way admitted regretfully. But we
shall find her soon, Pedro. Did you
see the men who attacked you? Do
you know where they came from?
We had sentinels out all night. They
swore that no men came from across
the border"
Pedro shook his head.
WIS uSletp, seuOT. lheu ueuTu
Celestino call out. I thought he was
dreaming. sat up. half asleep. you
know, senOr. Then 1 saw. There
were three men. 1 think. Perhaps
four. 1 don't know. One struck poor
Celestino us he sat up, and another
sprang at him. But then they were
upon me too, and 1 heard the seno-
rita cry out, and they struck me over
the head and put a knife into me
here"
"And then they rushed into the Sc
norita's room?"
'It is so hard to know what hap
pened. senior. don't think that they
went into the senorita's room. When
I woke my eyes went first to her door.
1t is always the first thing which 1
see when 1 wake. It was closed.
II think that 1t was locked. tell
you heard her call out while Celes-
tino was being struck, before they
made everything go black for me.
There were other men In there.
II suppose they came through the
balcony. But these men-where did
they go7 How did they come in7"
IIl6 NOlCC buuh " u tkCAhDllhk WILLY
per. "Senor. can 1t be that some of
the servants are traitorsf That they
haye let these men In and let them
goT
"That Is what I have been think
ing all day. Pedro. But you mustn't
talk too much this time. I'll come
to see you again."
"Walt q minute, senor. There Is
one other thing"
Stairway came back swiftly.
"what is It7" he demanded sharply.
seeing a light In Pedro's eyes which
had not been in them before.
''It is something which found. It
fell from the hand of one of the men
when Celestino struck back at him.
had them bring 1t to me here.
have not talked about IT.; have
waited for you."
His hand was fumbling under his
blanket. and he brought a key, very
heavy and old. made rudely of iron
and, like the old keys of the mission
days, some eight inches long.
"T am not sure" Pedro whispered.
his eyes feverishly bright. "You can
tell. Call for Josefa. She cares for
the senor's rooms. Have her go there
with you. Let her see il anything is
missing. She will know; she has
cared for his rooms for twenty years.
VIII you let me know. senior? Here
is the key"
| A sudden hope leaped up into STAN
ways heart as his hand closed about
the old key, hope which in no way
could he explain. If this were the
key which unlocked the place where
the old master-yes. and the young
mistress had been hidden. what
then7 He was as far as ever from
knowing where was the lock which
this key fitted. And yet Pedro's
words-Josefa-
"I'll let you know. Pedro" he
called back from the door. And he
was gone, walking swiftly through
the house, asking for the old serving
woman.