Sheriff Paul turned quickly. Elena, frightened, clapped two little hands
over her mouth. Rosa shrugged indifferently, and tipping back her small,
black head, listened to the music in the ballroom.

"Madam," to Rosa, "you sent for me, making strange promises which, for
the safety of this community, I hope that you are now pleased to keep."

Without lowering her chin she looked at him through sinister, narrowed
eyelids, and a smile of triumphant malice touched her face.

"Senor, I make no promises which I fail to keep," she answered, "and
there is also a promise which I made Senor Tom Bell - "

* * * * *

"There is some one knocking at the cellar door," said Tom Bell to
Phillips. "See who is there, and be careful that you let no one in
without the bullet and the password."

"Tom, I'm afraid," whined Driscoll "that Spanish devil's promised to
get you hung more than once lately, and last night I know she sent that
Mexican Jose of hers out somewhere with a string and bullet. I saw them
- "

"What! Why didn't you tell me before? Listen! Phillips is in trouble! Go
help him! Call the boys! Hurry!" As Jim Driscoll, with a halt in his
walk, left him, Tom Bell stole quietly to one of the tunnels and ran to
the trap-door which opened into an outhouse.