The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-20

the American senior commands.~ she
said steadily. Leave no light to show
that anyone Is awake. Do whatever
Pedro tells you to do. In swiftness and
In silence. I shall come to see what
you are doing in u moment now. Co."
They left as she commanded, in
swiftness and silence. The doors
closed behind them. and Teresa turned
her great eyes, full of dread and suf-
fering, upon Stairway
"You saw it before?"
He nodded.
You think that they have-killed
him?"
No. he cried, more assurance in
his voice than in his heart 1T means
nothing if there is little blood after
men have struggled as they must have
fought here. And if they Killed him.
then why carry the body with them?
He Is alive; he must be-"
Eyes" she answered, "I should fccl
1t here" Her hands were pressed tight
upon her breast. "Now go with them
Senor Billy. You are good to u.s."
Good to myself" he laughed back
at her, trying to speak easily.
Stanway passed out into the patio.
running toward the corrals where he
had left his own horse saddled under
live oak. AS he ran he heard the
girls voice calling to him:
Remember, Senor Billy, that YOU
are riding across the border tonight
into Mexican territory There Is dan
ger there. And-well. perhaps there
Is one who will pray for your speedy
and safe return"
He saw the autter OF her gown
through the misty moonlight, swept Off
his hat, called back CHEEKY word.
and ran on.
he saw group OF men mounted or
mounting now. at the corral. and knew
Gaucho and his vaqueros were ready.
He could see the CLINT of the pale
night light upon the rifles in their
lean brown hands.
He found his own horse. n tall. res
tive sorrel, swung into the saddle,
called sharply to Gaucho, and then
realized suddenly that something was
Keeping the men at the corral gate.
that their voices We're raised eXcitedly.
Giving his mount the spur he dashed
down to them
Que esq" he called, half angry at
the momentary delay. what Is it.,
Gaucho?"
I'll answer for Gaucho." came n
deep. sonorous voice, Enthusiastically
southern I'm accent. "It is I, senior. !"
And you." snapped Stairway. "Who
the devil are your"
"One who Is not accustomed to be-
Ing addressed as IL he were a mes
tlZo, with certain haughtiness
which rode well upon the deep. music
or the voice. "Senor Don Eduardo
Ramon Tore. at your service. senior ="
"Oh. H." grunted the American
under his breath. And then, riding
into the heart OF the excited group.
refining in his sorrel close to q deep
chested black animal. it's hide glisten-
Ing Wit. sweat. he said shortly: "Wen.
Tore. what is it7 We are In some
thing Of hurry"
Tore laughed.
"We7 SO you are one OF us. senorf
bueno. 1t Is pleasure to know"
He has met up with the raiders,
Senor Stairway" Gaucho snaried. "He
was riding this way from across the
river. He Is wounded, seer
Stairway saw that there was blood
upon the young Spaniard's cheek, that
there was long cut which might have
been made by a grazing bullet.
Small reason we should loiter
here he said quickly. "What way
did they go. Torre1"
"South. naturally. senor.- replied
Tore evenly.
"Gaucho" cried Stairway then.
Scatter your men out as we ride SO
that we make a line a. mile long when
we come to the hills just across the
line. Let them keep a sharp lookout,
ana fire IL they see the rebels. We
must not get too far apart, or we shall
not be able to do anything. How many
OF them were there. Torrcp
II forgot to count. senor. I should
say, fifty, perhaps
we are twenty. That is enough.
You are not coming with us?"
u think not Why. with so compe-
tent leader as You, should | come
also? No. / think" and he turned
MS horse toward the white walls of
the hacienda, that / shall remain
here with my kinswoman. There may
be second attack upon the rancho.
Good hunting, senior"
lie turned his horse, and sitting
easily gracefully in the deep Mexican
saddle, rode away through the moon