The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-01-02
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CHAPTER xIi-continued.

Will Tie SeuOFlldS link you. Auu
Senior Stairway, I should be glad tt
have you accompany me-"
Already his foot was upon the frs
step. Stairway laid quick hand upor
his arm.
Surely you do not think of coming
upon them this way"
Surely" smiled the old man, ''they
are my guests, I am the host. I an
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 sudden silence in the
room, voices dropped to whispers. De
la Guerra knocked again.
WELL" 1t was Torres voice,
sharp, impatient "Who is it?"
sit is 1, Senior Torre," answered the
old man, quietly. sand 1 am Antonio
de la Guerra. bring my apologies for
being so tardy to walt 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 viii
find you! If you will open the safe,
let us take the gold and go; you may
keep the silver and stay. What do you
sayY'
De la Guerra laughed softly. And
then, seriously, he answered:
81 say, my dear Senior Tore, you
are talking brayely; but that you at
last are in no position to dictate. 1t is
l who dictate. Let me come in that
we may talk, or / shall have to have
Vidal chop down some more of my
doors. And | 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 / am as
sured Pedro CelestinO, and poor AL
fredo there will live. If any of them
Is to die, then the man who has killed
him is not to gol Juarez may go.
DemptOn may CO."
"You are pleased to be gracious,
my high and mighty kinsman ]"
sneered Tore impudently. soho,
Senior StanwayI You are there, too?
Castro" sharply to a black-browed
ruffian at his side, "you are the best
marksman l ever saw, and, besides,
you are an admirable soldier who
knows how to take a command. If
the Senior Stairway moves hand or
takes step this way will you blow
his brains out for meT
OdSLIO duo was " mug oVNh /.
MS revolver so that it ratified snoisily
)n the floor.
sYou have led us into trap" he
-etorted sullenly. II accept the Senior
lie la Guerra's word that l may go
rec. have harmed no onep
A black frown gathered Torres
,rows. A little smile crept into De
a Guerra's stern eyes.
1.-THE first sign that you lose, Tor
e. he said quietly. 1.-THE first sign
hat win!"
do you know, my kinsman," re-
lied Tore insolently, struggling his /,
at the mutiny of Castro,
that may lose and still you not
vim? How? Why, to be explicit to
n old man, can at least have the ex-
uisite pleasure Of ending my gay lit :
lie existence gaily-and In shooting
on just between the eyes, senorw
Stairway shuddered seeing the
eadly earnest threat in Torres low
dded eyes. But De la Guerra's gaze
Id not waver and he answered: d
gwen that. Tore, is denied to b
ou." He laughed softly. For, v
bove all things, you are gambler b
nd will take gamblers choice! You Il
an kill me, yes perhapsl And II c,
on did7 My vaqueros would rush In Il
ere and on time for me to see you t.
Ie! You know that. There would be
o chance in it for you. offer you a q