The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-08-21

Here a knife had bit deep and had
cost Pedro much blood, but by for
tune and a 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 a
quick glance at the other bed and
then coming to Pedro's side, "how are
things with your
"Not so bad, senor." 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.
IL was asleep. senor. Then I heard
Celestino call out. / thought he was
dreaming. ! sat up, half asleep, you
know, senior. Then l saw. There
were three men, / think. Perhaps
four. I don't know. One struck poor
Celestino as 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 owe
the head and put d knife into me
here"
"And Their they rushed into the Sc
norita's room2"
at 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.
II think that 1t was locked. / tell
you l heard her call out while Celes-
tho was being struck. before they
made everything go black tor me.
There were other men In there.
II suppose they came through the
balcony. But these men-where did
they go3 How did they come in?'
His voice sank to a trembling whis-
per. "Senor, can it be that some of
the servants are traitors? That they
haye let these men in and let them
goY"
"That is what / have been think
Ing all day, Pedro. But you mustn't
talk too much this time. I'll come
TO see you again."
"Wait q minute, senior. There is
other thing"
Stairway came back swiftly.
"What is It'll" he demanded sharply,
seeing a light In Pedro's eyes which
had not been in-them before.
ut Is something which i found. II
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; I have
waited for you"
His hand was fumbiing under his
blanket, and he brought q key, very
heavy ard old, made rudely or iron
and. like the old keys Of the mission
days. some eight inches long.
an not sure" Pedro whispered,
his eyes feverfshly bright. "You can
tell. Cali for J0sefa. She cares fol
the senor's rooms. Have her 60 there
with you. Let her Gee II anything u
missing. She viii know; she has
cared for his rooms for twenty years
WIN you let me know. senor7 Here
Is the key"
A sudden hope leaped up into Stan
ways heart as his hand closed about
the old key. q hope which In no way
could he explain. n this were the
key which unlocked the place where
the old master--yes. and the yount
mistress - had been hidden. what
thenf He was a. far as ever from
knowing where was the lock which
this key lifted. And yet Pedros
words--Josefa-
It'll Let you know, Pedrol r. N
called hack from The DOR. Ara ~
was gone, walking swiftly Through
tn house. asking for the cd sofvin1
woman.