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

Here knife had bit deep and ha
J cost Pedro much blood, but by fol-
| tune and fraction of an inch n
| vital point had been reached.
Celestino, as white and more veal
than Pedro. lay very still, not havin,
once regained consciousness. H
might live, for Celestino had a won
derful store of health and vitality il
1 that great frame of his. The doctor
would come again, tonight or earl,
tomorrow.
''Pedro," asked Stairway, with 6
quick glance at the other bed anC
then coming to Pedro's side, show are
things with you?"
'sNot so bad, senior" Pedro an,
swered family "The senorita?'
'We 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.
81 was asleep, senor Then / heard
Celestino call out. I thought he was
dreaming. I sat up, half asleep, you
know, senior. Then I saw. There
were three men, / think. Perhaps
four. / don't know. One struck poor
Celestino as he sat up, and another
sprang at him. But then they were
upon me too, and l heard the seno-
rita cry out, and they struck me over
the head and put knife into me
here"
"And then they rushed into the Sc
norita's room?'
sit 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
see when / wake. 1t was closed.
81 think that it was locked. 1 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.
81 suppose they came through the |
balcony. But these men-where did |
they go? How did they come in?"
His voice sank TO a trembling whis-
per. "Sen0r, can it be that some of |
the servants are traitors? That they |
haye let these men In and let them
yo?'
''That Is what / have been think
ng all day, Pedro. But You mustn't
ak too much this time. I'll come
% see you again."
4Wait a minute, senior. There is
,ne other thing"
Stairway came back swiftly.
"What is it?' he demanded sharply,
seeing light in Pedro's eyes which
lad not been in them before.
SIT is something which found. 1t
ell from the hand of one of the men
rben Celestino struck back at him.
had them bring it to me here.
ave not talked about it; l have
waited for you"
His hand was fumbling under his
lanket, and he brought key, very
eavy and old, made rudely of iron
nd, like the old keys of the mission
avs, some eight inches long.
81 am not sure" Pedro whispered,
is eyes feyerishly bright. "You can
I'll. Call for Josefa. She cares for
lie senor's rooms. Have her go there !
18th you. Let her see If anything is
Kissing. She will know; she has q
ired for his rooms for twenty years.
ill you let me know, senior? Here $
the key" t
A sudden hope ieaped up into STAN K
avs heart as his hand closed about S
lie old key, a hope which in no way r
,uld he explain. IF this were the
~ which unlocked the place where
e old master-yes, and the young b
istress - had been hidden, what b
en-? He was as far as ever from Il
lowing where was the lock which 81
is key fitted. And yet Pedro's
"I'll let you know, Pedroi" he Il
He'd back from the door. And he "
rs gone, walking swiftly through u,
e house, asking for the old serving b
oman. it