The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-08

Tore" he said quietly. This note
from the senorita makes me sure of
what was beginning to suspect.
Gaucho, come with me-"
With no further word, leaving
Torres mystified face looking after
him. he went out, Gaucho at his heels.
"Gaucho," he said, speaking swiftly
from beyond the closed door, 81 want
you to come to the masters room.
Bring some men with you-six, ten
don't know how many we shall need.
Let two OF them bring axes. Let all
carry side arms. Bring the picked
men. GauchO; the hardest men on the
rancho. think that there is going to
be fighting this time"
"The master7" cried Gaucho. "The
senorita? You know"
II know nothing. But think
that they have never for a second left
the house! Hurry. Gaucho!"
Ant Gaucho hurried, his own face
as mystified as Torres. Stairway went
quickly to the bedroom.
somewhere In these great thick
walls there Is passageway," he whis-
pered to himself. 1T runs from this
room throughout the house and to the
east wing where Teresa's rooms arc.
Somewhere. down below perhaps,
there Is room, dungeon. l think
that 1t Is Just under the drawing room;
think that that is where De In Guerra
is; that many Of the things which
Tore said were meant to be heard by
the old Fan that they might taunt and
mock him; i think that Torres men
down there heard the crushing glass,
the words which went with II. think
that we are going - find L In Guerra
and Teresa there
He studied the walls.
There was nothing to hint at n secret
door.
He moved out the bed. found the
spot which Teresa's note told of. set
his thumb to it. and saw n panel drop
down. shelfwise showing n great iron
safe set In the wall. The safe was
locked. the key missing But Ie knew
that he had found De In Guerra's bank.
He closed the panel swiftly as Gaucho
and his men came to the door
"Que es, senor?" Gaucho asked
quickly. And the black eyes of the
dark-faced men thronging behind him
eager, expectant-told as we'll ms
words that Gaucho had whispered to
his men that the Americana had a plan.
that hope lay behind It,
Come In, Gaucho. Shut the door.
How many men?'
They entered us he spoke. He count
ed ns the last man closed the door be-
hind him.
Ten. senor. Five more are com.
ing"
"And"-Sternly-"you can vouch for
them, for all OF them? You can trust
every man To the uttermost. Gaucho?
''TG the uttcrmost. senior" as stern
ly. "'Fo the death in tho service of
the master and"-his voice breaking
a littlc-"thc sennrita."
"And the other five?"
THE same"
Good This is my plan. Come
close. all of you"
He addressed them in Spanish.
speaking swiftly his voice lowered so
that the men must crane their neCks
and lean forward To hear He told
them OF his hope that those they
sought had never been taken out OF
the hacienda.
"N"w," he ended. there is no doubt
~ paSSagcway running from here tn the
S"nnrita'S rooms. Ii we fad this end
of il and attack they may escape at
the other end. SO we must be ready.
"Gaucho, send two men into the
S"nCrita'S rooms. Let them he ready.
armed and watchful. Send two more
10 the stairway. Let Tore and Juarez
be bound and watched over by one
man only, man whom You can trust
and who will blow their brains out be
fore he lets them escape"
Let every other man in the house
be armed and ready. Then"
Then, Senor?" eagerly
"Thep"-with quiet determination
eve shall find where the passage is If
we have to tear down the walls. hurry,
GauchO,"
Gaucho ran upon his errand, calling
by name the men he wished TO go with
him. Stairway. bidding those with him
To be very silent, not knowing what
means the men he sought might have
of overhearing what happened in the
room. began silent search for some
sign OF passageway In the thick
walls
And now at last fate and the quick
eyes OF vaQuero aided him. There
was little scratch on the redwood OF
the wall just opposite the door
through which they had entered
fresh white scratch 1t was Mendoz,
81 ynunp Mavicon ubr COW ~ 10 ,yos