Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-09-05
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER xII-cont.nued.

THANK you. Gaucho, will you stay
with the seDorita? Thank you. And,
Senior Stairway, | should be glad to
have you accompany me-"
Already his foot was upon the first
step. Stairway laid quick hand upon
his arm.
Surely you do not think of coming
upon them this way
Surely" smiled the old man, 'they
are my guests, | am the host. / am
going to them"
He went slowly up the short flight
of stairs. Stairway close at his heels,
wondering. At the top was a little
door. De la Guerra raped softly with
the barrel of his revolver
There was a sudden silence in the
room, voices dropped to whispers. De
la Guerra knocked again.
"Well? 1t was Torres voice,
sharp, impatient. who is it?"
1T is I, Senior Torre," answered the
old man, quietly. And am Antonio
de la Guerra. bring my apologies for
being so tardy to wait upon a guest
and come to talk with you"
Again silence, again hurried whis-
pers, then Tore crying out:
what have you to say? I can put
a bullet through the door which will
find you'll If you will open the safe,
let us take the gold and go; you may
keep the silver and stay. What do you
say?"
De la Guerra laughed softly. And
then, seriously, he answered:
Il say, my dear Senior Tore, you
are talking bravely; but that you at
last are in no position to dictate. 1t is
we may talk, or shall have to have
Vidal chop down some more of my
doors. And I do not like to do that"
Tore hesitated. Why? Stairway
thought because he was studying his
men with those keen eyes of his, trying
TO guess how far he could count on
them now.
Evidently not very far. For in a
moment came his soft laugh, and his
short command:
"Nunez, open the door. Let my
kinsman come just to the threshold.
If any Of his men try to enter-well,
leave them to mel Enter, senorw
The door slid open. De la Guerra
stepped just to the threshold, STAN
way close behind him.
Good evening, caballeros," said the
old Spaniard courteously. "Now for
my word with Tore. All of the men
he has brought with him may go free
and unframed, provided that l am as
Sured Pedro Celestino, and poor Al
fredo there viii live. If any OF them
is to die, then the man who has killed
Aim is not to gol Juarez may go.
DemptOn may 60"
You are pleased to be gracious,
my high and mighty kinsmanl"
sneered Tore impudently. "O-ho,
Senior Stairway! You are there, too?
Castro" sharply to a black-browed
ruffian at his side, "you are the best
marksman ever saw, and, besides,
sou are an admirable soldier who
knows how to take a command. If
the Senior Stairway moves hand or
takes a step this way win you blow
his brains out for me?"
Castro's answer was to fling down
his revolver so that it ratified noisily
on the floor.
You have led us into a trap" he
retorted sullenly. 81 accept the Senior
de la Guerra's word that 1 may go
Tree. l have harmed no onei"
A black frown gathered Torres
brows. A little smile crept into De
la Guerra's stern eyes.
The first sign that you lose, Tor
re-" he said quietly. '"The first sign
that winr'
DO you know, my kinsman," re-
Piled Tore insolently, Struggling his
shoulders at the mutiny of Castro,
mat l may lose and still you not
VIM Low? Why. to be explicit to
an old man, / can at least have the ex-
quisite pleasure of ending my gay lit
tie existence gaily-and in shoc..As
you just between the eyes. senor!
Stairway shuddered, seeing the
deadly earnest threat in Torres low
udded eyes, But De la Guerra's gaze
uid not wavar and he answered:
Even that. Tore, is denied to
you" He laughed softly. For,
above all things. you are a gambler
ana will take a gamblers choice You
can kill me. yes-perhaps And if
you did2 My vaqueros would rush IN
mere and on time for me TO see you
ulel You know that. There would be
no chance in it for you offer you
chanee-lf you let these men go, If
you throw down your gun and agree TO
tsEe the chance offer youi And be-
ing a gambler above anything else in
me world-why. you win accept the
ene little chance offer YOU"
Iorre hesitated. His hesitation
vas plain in his attitude. the head
dropped little. the moody gathering
u the browa He looked swiftly to