The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1919-12-18
CHAPTER Xl.

CHAPTER XI. ~
''You Have Overplayed Your Hand"
II am afraid that I have been indis-
Greet, Senior Stairway" Tore, with
his old smile charged now with some
thing Of mockery and much of triumph,
held out a little piece of white paper
to Stairway, who, key in hand, had
just come from Pedro on his way to
the masters room. ''But think that
can plead an altogether unusual po-
sition as my excuse. You will pardon
me, senOrY"
Stairway took the paper, guessing
what it was, and read 1t swiftly:
Mi Querido Senior Billy:
from ali that is Horrible. there is no
way but to do what Tore asks. In
mahogany bed. there is a painting on
There is a spot in the woodwork
press with your finger. It will disclose
the banco. Give him the money-for
Your Teresa.
it?" again smilingly from Tore.
'sWhere did you get this thing?"
cried Stairway.
Tore pointed to the window, whose
panes he had broken just before three
O'Clock.
"Thepe. On the floor. Some one
threw it in on the floor while you were
running So giddily across the border.
You see this is very well planned,
senior. Is it not? Even my neuten-
ants"
eff do not do as she asks?" cut In
Stairway, his low-lidded eyes sharp up
on Torres.
Tore shrugged.
"Who knows? Perhaps they will
take the trouble to find priest to give
the senorita in holy matrimony to"
In sudden rage Stairway, his nerves
jangling, his rage reddening his face,
leaped at the man, and as he leaped
struck, struck hard-his hard, clenched
fist smashing into the evil smile, cut
ting the lips so that the blood ran
from them, sending Tore Keeling
backward across the room.
"Shut up!'' he cried ho.rse1y. "You
mention the senorita once more and"
His teeth closed with a little omi-
nous click. Tore, wiping the blood
from his lips, glared at him with
boundless, almost speeches.. rage.
Coward I" he sneered. "Since am
a prisoner, with a half dozen men
ready to spring upon me, you attack
me"
"Gaucho !" called Stairway.
Isl, senor!" GauchO's brown face
frightening, his eyes looking happier
than they had looked for two days.
men take hand, no matter what hap
pens" Then he swung about upon
Tore. do you want to finish it
now?" he said CURLY.
But Tore was once more himself,
smiling, at case, only a fierce hatred
in his eyes.
"Gracias, senor !" he returned. IT
shall merely make you pay for that
blow in my own way. And now ask
another ten thousand dollars as ran
som for the old man and the girl. Ten
thousand dollars for a blow, senior!
Do you care to strike again?'
Stairway shrugged.
"You have overplayed your hand,
Torre," 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, II want
you to come to the masters room.
Bring some men with you-six, ten
I 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 I think that there is going to
be fighting this time
"The master?" cried Gaucho. 'The
You know"
ST know nothing. But I think-
that they have never for second left
the house! Hurry, GauchO"
And Gaucho hurried, his own face
as mysti6ed as Torres. Stairway went
quickly to the bedroom.
Somewhere in these great thick
walls there is passageway,'' he whis-
pered to himself. ''It runs from this
room throughout the house and to the
east wing where Teresa's rooms are.
Somewhere, down below perhaps,
there is room, dungeon. I think
that II is lust under the drawing room: