The Lamar register., 1919-07-09
he said lightly.

with the senor for little. If you and
your companion will wait for me in
the patio III call you when 1 want
you"
"Si, senor," responded the vaquero
promptly. And from the door. as by
way of afterthought: 1--WE have not
searched him. senor. No doubt he is
armed"
yNo Doubt" dryly. from the rancher.
''It is all right, Gaucbo."
The two cowboys went out. Then
pleasantly, insolently. Tore admitted
to Stairway that he had been respon-
sible for Senor de la Guerra's disap-
pearance. that he knew where he was.
and that the captain was his own
agent.
What" asked the rancher curious
ly. "do you gain from such an admls-
sionf"
1.-TWO things, senior. In the first
place ] am meeting you upon basis
upon which we may be able to come
to terms. II seems that you are really
the one for me to deal with. In the
second place" and the smile In his
eyes was hard and cruel enough now.
II am tauntIng man whom l do not
like. That Is pleasure"
Stanway frowned, not understand
ing.
Bring US back the senior and you
gain your freedom-your safety. II
you don't waste too much time getting
out Of the country" he said.
you ask great deal" Tore
pulled thoughtfully at his little mus
tache. "And you offer very little.
For / shall have my freedom and
safety-why. senior. at any time J
pleaser
you refuse my offeri"
absolutely"
"Even," went on Stairway coolly,
after your personal danger is aug
mented by Dempton's confession OF
compllcity7"
For the first time the rancher saw
. quick light OF fear leap into Torres
eyes. Then the lids dropped a little
. very little. but enough to hide the
eyes-and In an instant Torres man
ner was again careless. Indifferent.
"A random shot that. nor He lift
cd his eyes once more. and they were
frank and mirthful again. 81 am
sorry that II does not find a target"
"What will you say when you are
confronted with Dempton's written
and signed confessionr
THAT will never be. I know that
he has confessed to nothing"
Stanway leaned forward and tapped
his forennger upon the table between
them. 81 shall have Dempton's con-
fession within twenty-four hours 7"
Tore shook his head. smiling his In
scrutable smile.
Il have a counter-offer to make"
said Tore. "Teresita Is to pay to
Captain Juarez the money which he
dsmands-twenty thousand dollars.
time that the money Is paid her grand
father will walk into this drawing
room unharmed."
"And II she refuses your offerr'
Then. twenty-four hours after her
refusal. her grandfather will be dead.
Then I shall be the heir TO the entire
property. You will accuse me Of hav-
ing murdered him, and / shall deny.
II will go to the courts. In the end
I shall be cleared. You see, senior,
times are fortunately turbulent along
the border. and what has happened
may SO easily be laid at the door
of the poor devils OF insurrectos. You
can create suspicion. you can make
trouble. But then there Is the VIII,
properly drawn and witnessed. and
there is something elsei'
"And that?" curiously. wondering
how far Tore would go In showing
his hand.
''There will be other witnesses OF
whom you do not guess yet-wltnesses
carefully selected. who will not be
shaken in a point they make. And
they will swear that Senior de la
Guerra became very angry with his
granddaughter upon the very day OF
his disappearance; that he quarreled
openly with her; that he vowed he
would dlsinherit her. and that he sent
Immediately for his lawyer to make
the new will. Do you care. senor, to
know what these witnesses will prove
to be the cause of the quarrel?"
"Wellf" asked Stairway.
TT will be that Teresa. needless of
her grandfather's hatred Of all Ameri-
canos. had fallen in love with one OF
them: that she defied De la Guerra,