The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-04

white ana weak from the blood which
he had lost. 4 doctor had come
from In Panza and had gone. leaving
his simple directions and Simpler
medicines.
Pedro would live.
Here n knife had hit deep and had
cost Pedro much blood, but by for
tune and n fraction of an inch no
vital point had been reached.
CeleStino, as white and more weak
than Pedro, lay very still not having
once regaincd consciousness. He
might live, for Cclcstino had n won
dcrful store of health and vitality i'm
that great frame of his. The doctor
would come again. tonight or early
tomorrow.
"Pedro," asked Stanwny, with a
quick glance at the other bed and
then coming to Pedro's side, show are
things with youf"
"Not so bad, senior" Pedro an
swcred family. "Thc scnorita?"
1--WE have not found her yet" Stan
way admitted rcgrctfully. "But we
shall find her soon, Pedro. Did YOU
see the men who attacked you? Do
We had sentinels out all night. They
swore that no men came from across
the border"
Pedro shook his head.
II was asleep, senor. Then I heard
CelestinO call out. 1 thought he was
dreaming. / sat up, half asleep, you
know, senor. Then / saw. There
were three men, 1 think. Perhaps
four. 1 don't know. One struck poor
CelestinO as he sat up, and another
sprang at him. But then they were
upon me too, and l heard the seno-
rita cry out, and they struck me over
the head and put knife into me
here"
And then they rushed into the Sc
norita's room?"
at Is so hard to know what hap
pened, senOr. I don't think thnt thoy
went into the senorta'S room. When
1 woke my eyes went first 10 her door.
1t is always the first thing which l
see when l wake. 1t was closed.
IL think that 1t was locked. tell
you l heard her call out while Ccles,
tino was being struck, before they
every lillus 10 Dlilth LOT Hle.
There We're other men I'm there.
81 suppose they came through the
balcony But thcS" mcn-whcre did
they go? How did they come in?"
His voice sank to n trembling whiS-
per. "Scnor can It he that some of
the servants are traitors? That they
have let these men in and let them
go?"
THAT is what have been think.
ing all day, Pedro. But you mustn't
talk too much this time. I'll come
to see you again"
"Wait minute, scnor. There is
one other thing"
Stairway came back swiftly.
"What is it?" ne demanded sharply
seeing II light in Pcdro's eyes which
had not been In them before.
''It Is something which l found. II
fell from the hand of one of the mon
when CcleStino struck back at him
i had them bring IT to me here.
have not talked about 1t; / have
waited :or you"
His hand was fumblIng under mis-
blanket, and he brought u key, very
heavy and old, made rudely Of iron
and, like the old keys of the mission
days. some eight inches long.
Il am not sure" Pedro whispered,
his eyes feverishly bright "You can
tell. Call for JOsefa. She cares for
the Senor's rooms. Have her go there
with you. Let her see If anything is
missing She will know; she has
cnred for his rooms for twenty years.
VIII you let me know, senior? Here
is the key"
a sudden hope leaped up into STAN
ways heart as his hand closed about
the old key, hope which in no way
could he explain. If this were the
Key which unlocked the place where
the old mastcr-yeS, and the young
mistress - had been hidden, what
thcnf He was as far as ever from
, knowing whore was the lock which
| this key fitted. And yet Pedro's
WORCESTERSHIRE
I'm let you know, Pcdro!" ne
called back from the door. And he
was gone, walking swiftly through
The house, asking for the old serving
,e"omnn.
a CHAPTER x.