The Lamar register., 1919-07-16
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CHAPTER VIII.
At Three O'clock.

they alone In the thingf" And there
was only one way to answer them
As the afternoon slipped by and
dusk came down upon them. sweet and
warm, through the groves Of orange
and olive trees. Teresa sent word to
the mems quarters for all, excepting
q half dozen Of them. to come to the
house
Those not coming In were to remain
on guard over the corrals into which
the saddle-horses had been herded, and
to serve as sentinels along the bOr-
der. The guard over Tore and Juarez
was doubled; the two men were dis
armed and assigned to couches upon
the opposite side OF the drawing-room.
Doors were fastened. windows
locked. shutters drawn. and the haci-
enda was like an old fortress In time
Of siege.
"I do not anticipate an attack" Stan
way smiled into Teresa's grave face.
Surely the insurgents are not looking
for complications with this country.
But we are taking no chances. 1t would
take q whole regiment Of them to trou-
BILE US here tonight"
"But are we doing rightf" she whis-
pered q little fearfully. 'If we gave
them the money-lt Is SO small a part
Of papa grande's estate-he would be
out of all danger. And as 1t is"
'Tt Is = blum Of Torres. pure and
simple" he told her. "If anything
should happen to Senior de la Guerra.
Tore and Juarez would not last fif-
teen minutes with your little army of
retainers, senorita. They talk big.
both of them, but am not afraid"
But when she had given him her
hand and q wan smile by the way Of
.Buenas noches," he was not content
until he himself had seen to the watch
fulness Of the men stationed here and
there throughout the big house. And,
by the way Of final precaution. he saw
that another man slept that night at
Pedro's side. in front of the senorita's
door. and that both men were armed.
He had not again gone TO where
Dempton fumed and worried in the IL
brnry. II was his thought to leave the
lawyer to chew upon the cud of sus-
picion his own parting words had given
him. TO make the night long and un-
eventful for him. so that his trembling
little soul might have time for thought.
1t Was late when Teresa needed his
urging and went to her room. He left
her at the foot OF the stairs leading up
to her chambers: saw Pedro preparing
to spend the night at her doorway. and
then went to his own room. decided to
sleep until the stiller hours of the
night came; then to superintend In
person the watch which was being
kept throughout the house.
On his way to the wing OF the build
ing which had been given over TO him.
he passed through the drawing-room
for the last time.
Juarez seemed TO be asleep upon his
couch. Half dozen Of Gaucho's va
Queros, all armed. were scattered
about the room. their quick eyes show
ing how alert was the spirit within
them. Tore. sitting at a table Idly
turning the leaves Of an Illustrated
book of poems. rose quickly when
Stairway came into the room and
stepped to hts side.
"a word In your ear. senor, ne
said. his voice and manner gayiy I'M
pudent, his words low 50 that they
reached no ears but those he intended
to hear. Twenty thousand dollars
now, Immediately. or give you my
word as a gentleman that when the sun
II up you will rush to me. trying to
make terms. and shall then answer
you by demanding fifty thousandi"
The threat In the mans voice again
disturbed Stairway. He had a feeling
which he could not entirely reason
down that Tore meant what he was
saying. Then he looked at the half
dozen stern-featured. faithful servants.
who served the De la Guerra as old
subjects served a beloved sovereign;
saw them watchful. armed, eager for
an excuse to fling themselves upon
their two captives; and. frowning at
bis own fears. he went to his room.
His windows faced westward and to
the south.
He stood before one Of them which