Page:The Baron of Diamond Tail (1923).pdf/266

 been hung carelessly, and fallen to the floor. Quickly she made a light, scarcely breathing in the suffocation of a great, new fear. The revolver was gone.

"It is the old lawyer with a nose like a mule," said Teresa, coming in softly, closing the door after her with careful hand. "I gave him"

Alma turned from her fruitless search of the closet, her face white, fright in her eyes.

"Did you see my gun when you were straightening up my room, Teresa?"

"Gun? Yes, it was there where it always hangs. Oh, palomita mia, you are not going"

"It's gone! Teresa, it's gone!"

"Oh, palomita, you must have missed it!" Teresa rushed to the closet, pushing things aside to search every spot. "My God! they have robbed it!" she said, turning with wide, scared eyes.

"Some of them sneaked in while I was waiting for Uncle Hal!"

"No, I remember! While they talked, just after he came home, bent and white like a man out of the rain, I heard him command the señora to go quick te your room."

"My aunt? he sent her"

"It is a true word, God save us!"

"Teresa"—eagerly, taking the great, kind creature by the hand, speaking fast—"can you find me another one, out in the hall, anywhere? Any kind of one, just so it's a gun!"

"You have seen a way!" said Teresa.

"I have seen a way. Hurry!"