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diff --git a/36202-h/36202-h.htm b/36202-h/36202-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a09c75 --- /dev/null +++ b/36202-h/36202-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7820 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Nan Sherwood on the Mexican Border, by Annie Roe Carr. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2 {text-align: center; clear: both;} +h1 {line-height: 150%; margin-top: 3em;} +h2 {line-height: 200%;} +.sm {font-size: 80%;} +.lg {font-size: 125%; line-height: 150%;} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +p.tp { + text-align: center; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: normal; + line-height: 120%; +} + +p.tp2 { + text-align: center; + font-size: 90%; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: italic; + line-height: 140%; +} + +hr.l1 {width: 65%; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;} +hr.l2 {width: 20%; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;} + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} +td {padding-left: .75em; padding-right: .75em;} +td.col2 {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 94%; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: right; + color: gray; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.r1 {margin-top: -1em;} +.r6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +.figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding: 1em;} + +.poem {text-align: left; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.tnote { + border: dashed 1px; + font-size: 90%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding: .5em 1em .5em 1em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Nan Sherwood on the Mexican Border, by Annie Roe Carr + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Nan Sherwood on the Mexican Border + +Author: Annie Roe Carr + +Release Date: May 24, 2011 [EBook #36202] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAN SHERWOOD ON THE MEXICAN BORDER *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, eagkw, Roger Frank and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/border1.png" width="400" height="666" alt="Title Page" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1><span class="lg">NAN SHERWOOD</span><br /> +<span class="sm">ON THE</span><br /> +MEXICAN BORDER</h1> + +<p class="tp">BY<br /><br /> + +<big>ANNIE ROE CARR</big></p> + +<hr class="l2" /> + +<p class="tp">THE WORLD SYNDICATE<br /> +PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /> +CLEVELAND NEW YORK +</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p class="tp2">Published 1937 by<br /> +The World Syndicate Publishing Co.</p> + +<div class="r6"><div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/border2.png" width="100" height="104" alt="Logo" title="" /> +</div></div> + +<p class="tp2">Printed in the United States of America</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align="right"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td class="col2"> </td><td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I</td><td class="col2">Unexpected Guests</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II</td><td class="col2">You’re Going with Me</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III</td><td class="col2">Adair MacKenzie Speaks Up</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV</td><td class="col2">Trouble at the Border</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V</td><td class="col2">Tell Us About the Hacienda</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI</td><td class="col2">Something About Mexico</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII</td><td class="col2">Bess Smells a Romance</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII</td><td class="col2">Trouble for Rhoda</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX</td><td class="col2">Resolutions</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X</td><td class="col2">First Mexican Experience</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI</td><td class="col2">A Legend</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII</td><td class="col2">Linda Riggs Turns Up</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII</td><td class="col2">Nan Turns Photographer</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV</td><td class="col2">Smugglers</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XV</td><td class="col2">A Bullfight</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI</td><td class="col2">End of the Fight</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVII</td><td class="col2">A Hasty Departure</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVIII</td><td class="col2">Linda Performs an Introduction</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIX</td><td class="col2">Floating Gardens</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XX</td><td class="col2">Good-bye to Mexico City</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXI</td><td class="col2">The Hacienda</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXII</td><td class="col2">Stubborn Fools</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIII</td><td class="col2">In a Patio</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIV</td><td class="col2">Stolen!</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXV</td><td class="col2">Bess Has Suspicions</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVI</td><td class="col2">Serenaders</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVII</td><td class="col2">Walker Departs</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXVIII</td><td class="col2">Nan’s Big Adventure</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIX</td><td class="col2">Happily Ever After!</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + +<h1>NAN SHERWOOD ON<br /> +<i><small>the</small></i> MEXICAN BORDER</h1> + +<div class="r1"><div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/border3.png" width="400" height="33" alt="decoration" title="" /> +</div></div> + +<h2>CHAPTER I<br /> + +<small>UNEXPECTED GUESTS</small></h2> + + +<p>Elizabeth Harley jumped down from her bicycle +and dropped it noisily against the steps of +the Sherwood back porch.</p> + +<p>“Nan, oh, Nan!” she called.</p> + +<p>There was no answer. She ran up the steps and +into the cottage, letting the screen door bang behind +her. A friend since primary school days of +Nan Sherwood, she was like one of the family and +always ran into the Sherwood home on Amity +Street without the formality of ringing the doorbell +or pausing to knock.</p> + +<p>Now she was more than anxious to find Nan. +She had something important to tell her, news, +she felt, that had to be told right away.</p> + +<p>Grace and Rhoda and Laura and Amelia, the +whole crowd that had gone to England to see the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +king and queen crowned in Westminster the year +before were coming to Tillbury by motor to spend +a couple of weeks. Nan and Bess had invited them +during the last busy days at school, but Bess had +only just now received a telegram saying they +could come. Oh, there was so much to do!</p> + +<p>“Nan, Nan!” she called again. They would +have to have parties and picnics and hikes. Bess’s +mind was busy planning even as she wondered +where in the world Nan was. They would have a +steak fry down on the shore of the lake. They +would stay late and after the moon was up, they +would sit on the shore and sing and talk and build +the fire up high and then when the embers were +low, they would toast marshmallows and talk +some more until it was time to go home. But +where was Nan?</p> + +<p>Bess called again. Again there was no answer, +but Bess heard the sound of voices in the front of +the house. She walked on through. Excited herself, +she failed to notice the excitement in the voices +that attracted her, so when she stuck her head +through the door between the hall and the Sherwood +front parlor, she was taken completely by +surprise.</p> + +<p>There were strangers in the room! Bess withdrew +her head in embarrassment, but Nan had +seen her and came towards her laughing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess,” she said, reaching her hand out toward +her friend and pulling her into the room. +“Come on in, you are just the person we wanted +to see.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Bess, it’s so,” Mrs. Sherwood nodded +her head reassuringly at her daughter’s young +friend.</p> + +<p>“Yes, lassie, come in,” one of the strangers, a +white-haired old man spoke up. “Come over here +by me, and let me look at you.” His bright blue +eyes twinkled as he noted the blush on the girl’s +cheek but he did nothing to relieve her embarrassment. +On the contrary, he adjusted his glasses on +his nose, and carefully looked her up and down.</p> + +<p>“Hm-m-m, a pretty bit,” he smiled as he rendered +his verdict and then reached over and drew +Nan, who was standing close beside Bess, near to +him. “So this is another of the lassies who went +over to see the good king crowned,” he addressed +his remark to Nan. “And I gather you are pretty +good friends.”</p> + +<p>Nan and Bess both nodded at this.</p> + +<p>“And you go to the same school and you pay +attention to your lessons and you mind your own +business?” The old gentleman tried to look severe +as he asked these questions.</p> + +<p>“We try to, sir.” Bess found her voice at last.</p> + +<p>“You obey your elders and you think you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +going to spend your vacation here in Tillbury, a +God-forsaken place, with a half dozen bright +lassies like yourself?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. No, sir. Yes, sir.” Bess didn’t know +what to answer. This strange old man was like no +one she had ever met before. She wanted to protest +that Tillbury was not a God-forsaken place, +that she and Nan both liked it, but she didn’t quite +dare. She wanted to speak up and tell him that +vacation in Tillbury with all her friends would be +fun, but she didn’t dare do that either. She didn’t +quite know what to think of this white-haired +gentleman who seemed so fond of Nan and was +so outspoken. In her confusion, she was tongue-tied.</p> + +<p>But he wasn’t. Each time that he opened his +mouth, the words that came forth were more astonishing +than they had been before. Bess found +herself listening in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Well, you’re not going to stay here in Tillbury +for the summer,” he continued his discussion +of Bess and Nan’s vacation. “I won’t have it. And +your friends aren’t going to either. You’re all +coming with me. England one summer, and Tillbury +the next. Forsooth! I thought you all had +more imagination than that. You, Nan, I’m disappointed +in you.” His eyes twinkled merrily as +he looked at his young cousin, for the stranger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +was Adair MacKenzie, first cousin to Mrs. Sherwood, +and a wealthy Memphis, Tennessee, business +man.</p> + +<p>“Now, let’s see, when can we start?” He took +out his watch as he spoke. “Hm-m-m. It will take +a little time to pack,” he reflected. “Lassies are +such fussy creatures. They have to have two or +three dresses—”</p> + +<p>“Two or three!” Nan exclaimed, “Why, cousin +Adair, we have to have just dozens if we are going +to stay away all summer.”</p> + +<p>“Who said you were?” The old Scotchman +roared and then threw back his head and laughed +long and heartily at the young girl who seemed so +self-possessed no matter what he said or did. Nan +laughed with him and then, turning toward Bess, +she introduced her eccentric old relative and his +pretty daughter, Alice, a young lady about five +years older than Nan who, up to this time, had +said nothing, but had watched her father with +amusement.</p> + +<p>At the introduction, Adair MacKenzie bowed +gracefully and, taking Bess’s hand lightly in his, +kissed it quickly. “You’re a nice lassie,” he said +then. “Now let’s all sit down and talk a while +about this trip to Mexico.”</p> + +<p>“To Mexico!” Bess was wide-eyed as the exclamation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +slipped off her tongue. “Are we going to +Mexico?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes. That was all settled weeks ago,” +MacKenzie knitted his brows as he looked at Bess. +“Such a bright young lassie and yet she didn’t +know that!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t mind father,” Alice took Bess’s hand in +hers. “He goes about planning all these things +and never says anything to anyone until he has +everything all ready. It used to wear me out, but +now I think it is quite charming of him. Of course, +it keeps everyone at home in a constant state of +turmoil and it makes the housekeeper furious, but +then we manage.”</p> + +<p>“Manage!” the old man exploded again. +“Manage! Why, you imp, you, you love it and +you know you do. It’s the spice of life to you. +Mexico, Europe, Alaska, South America, Egypt, +why, the world’s a place to live in, not just to read +about. India and China and Japan, these are +places we haven’t been.”</p> + +<p>“And daddy, we’re not going just yet.” Alice +acted as though she wanted to forestall any possibility +of their starting off the next day or the next +hour for the Orient. “Remember, it’s Mexico +we’re going to this summer. We’re going to live +in that big hacienda that was dumped into your +hands when you sued those clients of yours that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +were exporters in Mexico City. Oh, daddy, remember, +when you came back the last time, you +said it was a grand old place with gorgeous vines +flinging scarlet sprays all over everything.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I remember. I said that the sunsets were +more gorgeous, the birds more brilliant, the +flowers brighter, the moon more silver, the sea +bluer than anything we’ve ever seen.”</p> + +<p>“And that wasn’t all you said,” Alice seemed to +be baiting her father now.</p> + +<p>“I know it.” He fell right into the trap of the +daughter whom he adored. “I said also that there +was a bunch of darn Mexicans cluttering up the +place down there who put the politeness of us +Southerners to shame. Never saw anything like +it,” he turned to Mrs. Sherwood with this. “They +fall all over themselves every time they turn +around, and women just eat it up. Can’t stand it +myself. Never get anything done. Have to change +that.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sherwood laughed softly at this. Adair +had not changed a bit since she saw him last, and +that was longer ago than she liked to remember. +That was at her wedding. She smiled now to herself +in recalling it. She and Bob, in their anxiety +to escape from the wedding reception without +being followed, had taken Adair into their confidence. +He had promised to get them a horse and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +buggy, to see that they got off safely to the train +that was to bring them up North on their honeymoon. +He had told them to leave everything to +him, and, in their innocence, they had.</p> + +<p>Adair had meant well, but somehow or other +in his peremptory handling of events, he got +everything in such confusion that practically the +whole town turned out to see the Sherwoods off. +They, in their turn, almost missed the train, for +the horse and buggy never did arrive. However, +it had all turned out happily, and when the bride +and groom stood on the back of the train and +waved to their friends, they had an especially fond +feeling for Adair. He, however, felt pretty glum, +and their last view of him was of a perplexed +young man standing off alone on one corner of the +station platform, wondering how in the world all +of the people had happened to be there.</p> + +<p>No, Adair, she could see, hadn’t changed a bit. +He still liked to manage people, still liked to follow +up any impulsive idea that came to his active +mind. Through the years, tales of his adventures +had reached her by letter from friends and relatives. +Adair himself was not given to writing. +“Takes too much time,” he said. “Can’t sit still +that long.”</p> + +<p>His visit now was a surprise. He had arrived, +unannounced, when she and Nan were in a turmoil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +unpacking the trunks that Nan had brought +back from school with her. Only the peremptory +peal of the doorbell had announced his coming. +When she opened the door, he had taken her in +his arms and kissed her and then, without even +introducing Alice whom she had never met, he +began immediately to call for Nan.</p> + +<p>“Where’s that girl?” he asked almost before +he was inside the door. “Come all the way up +here from Memphis to see her and then she +doesn’t even come to greet me.” In his impatience, +he pounded on the floor with his cane. Mrs. Sherwood +called her daughter.</p> + +<p>“You’re Nan,” he said positively, when Nan +finally entered the room. “I’m Adair. I would +have known you anyplace. You look and walk and +talk (Nan hadn’t said a word) just like your +mother. The same eyes, the same hair, the same +determined chin. Now I believe everything I’ve +been hearing about you. Didn’t before. Sounded +like a bunch of nonsense to me.”</p> + +<p>“Young school girl takes part in English coronation. +Young school girl saves child from rattlesnake. +Young school girl saves life of old lady. +Didn’t believe a word of it. Now I do. You’re going +to Mexico with me.”</p> + +<p>“Adair MacKenzie!” Mrs. Sherwood exclaimed. +“Will you please lay your cane aside,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +take off your coat, put your hat down and have a +chair before you go sweeping Nan off her feet +with your scatterbrained ideas.</p> + +<p>“Nan, don’t worry, darling,” she turned toward +her daughter and laughed. “This man is +really quite harmless. He is Adair MacKenzie, +our cousin. Remember, the one we wrote to some +years ago when we were in such trouble. He can’t +help being like this. He’s always been so.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well, well!” Adair grinned rather winningly +at Mrs. Sherwood. “I must say, Jessie, you +haven’t changed either. Still think you can manage +me, do you? Alice,” he turned toward his daughter +now for the first time, “this woman you see +here is the only woman who ever thought she +could wind me around her finger.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sherwood and Alice exchanged sympathetic +glances at this. Alice, too, if her father only +knew it, had her ways of managing him. Nan’s +mother knew this instinctively and liked Alice.</p> + +<p>Nan liked her too. She was tall, slender, with +blond curly hair and deep blue eyes. She was +pretty and happy looking. And she liked Nan and +hoped against hope that her father could work out +his plan to induce Nan and her friends to come to +Mexico with them. She sat quietly by while he +plunged into the matter.</p> + +<p>“Come here, Nancy,” he commanded when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +had taken off his coat. Nan walked across the +room and stood in front of him. “You want to go +to Mexico?”</p> + +<p>Nan hesitated. She had never before thought of +going to Mexico.</p> + +<p>“You want to go to Mexico? Yes, or no?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I can’t.” Nan hesitated as she answered.</p> + +<p>“No such word. Never say can’t to me. Don’t +like it. Why can’t you?” Adair MacKenzie +frowned at Nan.</p> + +<p>“Why, sir, I have friends coming to stay with +me for a few weeks. I can’t run away from them.” +Nan hardly knew what to say.</p> + +<p>“You like them?”</p> + +<p>“Of course.”</p> + +<p>“Are they as nice as you?”</p> + +<p>“Nicer.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be modest. They couldn’t be. When are +they coming?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not just sure. Perhaps next week.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right then. They’ll come with us. +We’ll all go to Mexico together. Now, that’s +taken care of.”</p> + +<p>It was on this decision, that Bess had entered +the room so unexpectedly.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II<br /> + +<small>YOU’RE GOING WITH ME</small></h2> + + +<p>“But do you think the others can go?” Bess +asked anxiously when Adair MacKenzie and +Alice had driven off in search of Mr. Sherwood. +“To bring him home where he belongs when he +has visitors,” Adair had said.</p> + +<p>“What do you think, Momsey?” Nan referred +the question to her mother. The three were in the +kitchen where Mrs. Sherwood was bustling about +preparing a company dinner.</p> + +<p>“The good Lord only knows,” Mrs. Sherwood +shook her head as she sifted more flour on her +biscuit dough and then kneaded it lightly and expertly. +“I can only tell you two girls this. When +Adair MacKenzie sets out to do something, he +usually does it. He has a way about him that almost +always wins people over to his side.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but to Mexico. He wants to take us all +to Mexico and he doesn’t even know us!” Bess +couldn’t believe it, not even after seeing and hearing +the old Scotchman. “And if I can’t believe it,” +she questioned, “how in the world will the others +when they haven’t even seen him or heard him +talk?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Don’t you worry, Bessie,” Mrs. Sherwood +looked affectionately at this girl who was almost +a second daughter to her. “They’ll be both seeing +him and hearing him talk before long now. If I +know Adair MacKenzie at all, he’ll be at work on +this thing before another day is up. And if he’s +one-half the man he used to be, you might just as +well begin packing tonight.”</p> + +<p>“You mean to say you are sure we will all go?” +Bess was incredulous.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you’ll go and have the grandest time you +ever have had,” Mrs. Sherwood said confidently. +“There never was another man like Adair MacKenzie.”</p> + +<p>“Then I’m going?” Nan had, despite her cousin’s +assurance, been somewhat doubtful. She +knew that her mother had wanted her to stay at +home this summer, that she had been lonesome +without her daughter the summer before and was +planning all sorts of little surprises for this +vacation.</p> + +<p>“Go! Of course you’re going!” Mrs. Sherwood +nearly dropped her biscuit dough in her surprise +at Nan’s question. “And I shouldn’t be a bit surprised +if your father and I were to go at least +part way with you. Adair said something about it. +Aye, but he’s a thoughtful soul.”</p> + +<p>So it came about that Rhoda Hammond, Grace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +and Walter Mason, Amelia “Procrastination” +Boggs, and Laura Polk, all school chums of Bess +and Nan, in the days that followed, received telegraphic +invitations to spend the summer with Nan +in Mexico.</p> + +<p>While each of them is laying her plans, packing +her clothes and wiring “Santa Claus”, as Laura +Polk immediately dubbed Cousin Adair, let’s +briefly review the adventures of Nan Sherwood +and her friends up to this point.</p> + +<p>Nan was born in Tillbury, a pleasant little +town, some distance from any big city, and her +early school days were spent with Elizabeth Harley, +the only one of Nan’s many friends who has +followed her through all of her adventures.</p> + +<p>In the first book of the series, “Nan Sherwood +at Pine Camp” or “The Old Lumberman’s Secret” +Nan and Bess are pals at Tillbury High +School. Here Nan is extremely popular with all +of her classmates and excels in sports. She and +Bess have grand times together, though the Sherwoods +live on a reduced income while Bess, the +daughter of one of Tillbury’s wealthiest families, +has everything that money can buy.</p> + +<p>The first big disagreement the girls ever have +comes in the opening chapters of this book when +Bess, having decided to go away to an exclusive +boarding school on the shores of Lake Michigan,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +tries to induce Nan to go with her. Though Nan +wants with all her heart to go, she absolutely refuses +to ask her parents because she knows that +they cannot afford to let her. She is happy later +at her decision, because on the eve of it, she discovers +that her father has lost his job in the Tillbury +Mills. Everything looks extremely dark for +the Sherwoods. Momsey Sherwood is ill and Papa +Sherwood, because of his age, is complete at a +loss as to know where to turn for a job.</p> + +<p>However, when things are darkest, Mrs. Sherwood +receives two letters. One from Scotland informs +her that she is sole heir of a fortune in +Scotland, and the other, from her cousin Adair +MacKenzie, whom we have already met, promises +her aid until such time as she can collect on her +inheritance. With this, Nan’s parents leave for +Scotland and pack Nan off to Northern Wisconsin +where she spends an exciting year in the lumber +country with an uncle and aunt. Here, in chapter +after chapter that are full of thrills for Nan, +those about her, and the reader, the plucky young +girl solves a mystery that, in the end, clears her +uncle’s title to a valuable piece of property.</p> + +<p>In the next volume of the series, “Nan Sherwood +at Lakeview Hall” or “The Mystery of the +Haunted Boathouse” our young heroine goes off +to school with Bess. And there never was a nicer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +school anyplace than Lakeview Hall. Situated on +a bluff overlooking the lake it’s like an old castle. +Mrs. Cupp, assistant to Dr. Beulah Prescott, is +the keeper and the girls, early in the volume, learn +to respect her, if not to admire her. Here, they +make the acquaintance of a number of new +friends.</p> + +<p>There are Grace Mason and her brother Walter, +children of a wealthy Chicago family; Laura +Polk, a red-headed girl whose lively imagination +and ready tongue are constantly getting her into +difficulties; Amelia Boggs, a serious book-loving +soul with a roomful of clocks; and finally, Linda +Riggs, a snobbish, spoiled child, who is extremely +jealous of Nan and her well-deserved popularity.</p> + +<p>Last, but not least, there is the boathouse ghost +around whom is woven a mystery that brings Nan +and Walter Mason together in such a way that +they develop a keen admiration for one another. +This book is chock full of adventure, excitement +and mystery and Lakeview Hall is the center of +it all.</p> + +<p>Her friendship with Grace and Walter bring +about her next big experience, a visit to Chicago. +In “Nan Sherwood’s Winter Holidays” or “Rescuing +the Runaways” the Lakeview Hall crowd +spends Christmas vacation in Grace Mason’s palatial +Chicago home. The story of Nan’s meeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +with a very famous movie star and her solution +to the mystery surrounding the strange disappearance +of two young farm girls who have come to +the city to go into the movies is recounted in this +volume.</p> + +<p>Next, Nan and her friends go off on a visit to +a western ranch, the home of Rhoda Hammond, +a school chum. Here the northern girls get their +first taste of what it is to live in the wide open +spaces of the west. The story of lost treasure that +is told in this volume of the series, “Nan Sherwood +at Rose Ranch” or “The Old Mexican’s +Treasure” is one that no admirer of plucky Nan +Sherwood would want to miss.</p> + +<p>The year that follows this western adventure +is a pleasant one at Lakeview Hall and at its end, +we find Nan and her friends trekking off to Florida +and Palm Beach. So, in “Nan Sherwood at +Palm Beach” or “Strange Adventures Among the +Orange Groves” in a background of wide sandy +beaches, beautiful graceful palms, and a hotel that +overlooks the sea, a villain who has tried to cheat +one of Nan’s many acquaintances out of her fortune, +comes to a well-deserved end, and Nan +emerges a heroine once more. At the end of this +volume, we find that Walter and Nan are becoming +more and more fond of one another, and we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +see the Lakeview Hall girls teasing them about it +again and again.</p> + +<p>In the sixth volume, Mrs. Sherwood’s Scotch +connections bring about an invitation to Nan to +visit Scotland and the family estate of her mother’s +people. Bess is heartbroken that her friend is +going away without her. However, she tries to +conceal her disappointment and joins with Nan’s +other friends in planning a grand farewell party. +The party proves to be a surprise all round and +the great day ends with an announcement by Dr. +Prescott that she is taking a party of six girls +abroad to see the king and queen of England +crowned! Such excitement! Such last minute rush! +Such fun! Never was there a happier, more exciting, +more adventurous crossing of the ocean than +the Lakeview Hall crowd enjoyed on the S. S. +Lincoln. And the whole is rounded out in +the last chapter with Nan as a lady-in-waiting to +the Queen at the coronation. How this all came +about is a story that all Nan Sherwood fans will +want to read.</p> + +<p>It was the part his little cousin had played in +the coronation that made Adair MacKenzie resolve +to hunt her up. It was this that brought him +to Tillbury and the cottage on Amity street on the +day the present volume opens.</p> + +<p>“Good biscuits!” Adair MacKenzie bit off a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +piece of their lightness the evening the present +story opens. They were all sitting at the Sherwood +dinner table. There he sat, chewing reflectively, as +he glanced down the table at young Nan.</p> + +<p>“So you helped crown the good queen,” he remarked, +“And it didn’t go to your head. You’re a +good lass. You Blakes,” he turned to Mrs. Sherwood +now, “were always a bunch of modest creatures. +That’s why I like you. Now, Bessie there,” +he pointed to Bess who had stayed for dinner, +“she’s not so modest, but she’s kind and loyal. +She’s a little spoiled, but she’ll get by.”</p> + +<p>Bess blushed all shades of the rainbow at +Adair’s frankness. Used to being babied and +somewhat pampered at home, his outspokenness +troubled her. She felt strangely like crying. Nan +caught her eye and smiled encouragingly. Mrs. +Sherwood patted her hand beneath the tablecloth. +And Alice, well, Alice was a dear, for she turned +the conversation toward school, and both Nan +and Bess utterly forgot themselves in telling of +the horse show in which they had both taken part +during the last week at school.</p> + +<p>“So you think you can ride, eh?” Adair MacKenzie +was secretly pleased at both of the young +girls. “Well, we’ll see. I’ll put you each on a Mexican +mule and let you try to climb a mountain and +see what happens.” He chuckled at the thought.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>Alice laughed merrily at this. “Well, you’ll +never get me on one,” she vowed. “Once was +enough. Instead of the mule pulling me up the +narrow path, I pulled the mule up. I never worked +harder in my life.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my sweet, you never worked at all.” +Adair shook his finger at his daughter. “But you’ll +work this summer—if that old housekeeper of +ours keeps her resolution not to go down to that +dirty hole which we call a hacienda. The words +are hers,” he explained to Nan and Bess.</p> + +<p>“She once, when she was a very young girl, +spent a summer on a sugar beet farm here in the +north. A lot of Mexicans worked on it. They were +miserably treated and poorly paid. As a result +their huts were like hovels. She saw some of them +and now she says that wild horses couldn’t drag +her into that country down there. She’d rather see +me starve first. But I’ll get her yet.” Adair MacKenzie +smiled as though he liked opposition. “I’ll +show her who is boss,” he ended.</p> + +<p>“Of course you will, daddy,” Alice agreed. +“But now tell us, when are we going? How long +are we going to stay? And whom have you +invited?”</p> + +<p>This last question put Adair MacKenzie in a +corner and he knew it. Really, a very kind and +extremely impulsive soul, when he went on these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +summer jaunts for pleasure he was apt to go about +for weeks, inviting all his friends. As a result, no +matter how large the house was he rented, it was +always too small, and no matter what preparation +Alice made for guests, they were always inadequate.</p> + +<p>Now, as he sat thinking, a mischievous light +came into his eye. “There is only one that I’ve +invited,” he teased, “besides these girls that will +interest you.”</p> + +<p>“And that is—?”</p> + +<p>“Walker Jamieson, that smart-alecky reporter +that we met in San Francisco a couple of years +ago. Remember?”</p> + +<p>“Remember? Of course I remember and he +wasn’t smart alecky. He was kind and sweet +and—” But Alice didn’t finish her sentence, for +she became conscious of the fact that all the eyes +around the dinner table were on her. She blushed +prettily.</p> + +<p>“Anyway,” she justified herself, “he’ll be a help +in handling you, for he’s smart, almost as smart +as you are, daddy.”</p> + +<p>“A reporter! You mean to say a real newspaper +reporter will be down there with us?” Nan +couldn’t contain herself any longer.</p> + +<p>“Yep, a no good reporter.” Adair MacKenzie +tried hard to look disdainful as he said this, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +he didn’t succeed very well and both Nan and Bess +guessed that he had a genuine regard for the +“young scamp” as he called him. “Got to have +someone around,” he muttered as he drank his +coffee, “to help handle you women, even if it’s a +young scalawag who spends all his time tracking +down stories for your worthless newspaper.”</p> + +<p>“Stories!” Bess and Nan were wide-eyed.</p> + +<p>“Now, see here,” Adair shook his finger in the +direction of the two young girls, “reporters are +no good. They’re a lazy lot that hang around +with their feet on desks pretending to think. +Think! Why, I never knew one yet that had a +thought worth telling, let alone writing.</p> + +<p>“This one that you are going to meet is no +better than the rest. M-m-m, and no worse +either,” he conceded as he noted the expression +on Alice’s face. “I asked him to come along because +he has a knack of making things lively wherever +he is.</p> + +<p>“Soon’s he gets those two big feet of his down +off his desk, he makes things hum. That’s the way +he is, lazy one minute, full of action the next. If +there’s absolutely nothing happening, he knows +how to stir things up. I rather like a man like that—not +that I like him,” he added hastily, “but if +we’re going to go across the border this summer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +got to have someone like him around. Might just +as well be Jamieson as anyone else.”</p> + +<p>“And will he write stories while we’re there +and will they be in the paper?” Nan was reluctant +to let the conversation about the young reporter +drop.</p> + +<p>“Never can tell anything about people like +him,” Adair MacKenzie shook his head as though +he would be the last person in the world to predict +anything about reporters. Could he have +looked into the future he would have shaken it +even more violently, for in the next few weeks +Walker Jamieson, with the help of Nan and the +Lakeview Hall crowd, was to uncover in Mexico +one of the biggest stories of the year.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III<br /> + +<small>ADAIR MACKENZIE SPEAKS UP</small></h2> + + +<p>It all started in Laredo, Texas, just after Nan +and her guests had been met by Adair MacKenzie, +Alice, and that amazing young newspaper +man, Walker Jamieson.</p> + +<p>“Got everything?” Adair MacKenzie asked +gruffly when the bevy of pretty young girls, all in +their early teens, had stepped, one after the other, +from the streamlined train that had brought them +from St. Louis. They had met in that city, all except +Rhoda whose home, as those who have read +“Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch” will remember, +was in the South. She, therefore, had joined the +party at beautiful San Antonio. From there on, +the girls had all been together.</p> + +<p>“I-I-I guess so,” Nan answered her eccentric +old cousin slowly as she looked about first at her +friends and then at the suitcases and bags that the +porters were setting on the station platform beside +them.</p> + +<p>“Looks it.” Adair MacKenzie agreed laconically. +“Got almost as many bags as Alice here and +I thought that she carried more junk than any +other woman alive. So these are the girls.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +H-m-m.” He looked at the Lakeview Hall group +in much the same manner that he had appraised +Bess just three weeks before.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see,” he began, and Nan’s eyes twinkled +as she realized that he was not going to keep his +conclusions to himself any more than he had before. +“You’re Laura,” he said positively, picking +the red-headed girl out of the crowd as though +he had studied a photograph of her until he +couldn’t possibly mistake her features.</p> + +<p>“And that red hair’s going to get you in trouble +sometime,” he continued his characterization. +“Got a temper now. I can see that. A ready +tongue too, I’ll wager. But you’ll get by if you +can go on laughing at yourself. You’ve got a sense +of humor. Keep it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” Laura answered as meekly as she +could. She had already been warned, on the train, +by Bess as to what to expect, so this frank analysis +of her character did not take her altogether by +surprise.</p> + +<p>“And you, Miss,” the old Scotsman went on +around the circle of girls enjoying himself hugely +as he characterized his young cousin’s friends, +“you,” he was looking at Amelia as he spoke, “are +the one that has all of those clocks. You’re too +serious. You’ll learn down here in this lazy country +that time just doesn’t matter. Ask anybody to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +do anything for you and he’ll nod his head slowly +and mutter, if he’s got enough pep, ‘Si, si, señor, +mañana!’ He’ll do anything in the world you want +him to do, mañana, and mañana never comes.</p> + +<p>“However, you and I will get along. I like you. +You are punctual. It’s a virtue. Never been late +for anything in your life, have you?”</p> + +<p>Amelia hardly knew what to answer, for +Adair had made time seem both important and +unimportant.</p> + +<p>“Speak up,” the old man looked at her kindly +now. “Don’t be modest like my young cousin here. +Well, never mind,” he passed Amelia by as he saw +that he had embarrassed her beyond her ability +to speak. “I’ll take care of you later,” he ended +before he turned to Rhoda.</p> + +<p>“From the West, aren’t you?” he questioned +the proud brown-eyed young girl. “Can tell in a +minute. That carriage, the way you hold your +head, your clear eyes. Even if I hadn’t heard that +Western accent, I would have known.” Adair +MacKenzie was proud of his ability to read character, +and as he went from one of the young +lassies to the other, he was pleased with himself +and pleased with them, for their quiet acceptance +of his outspokenness.</p> + +<p>“A city girl. Just a little too shy.” Grace’s turn +came last, and she had been dreading it. “You’ve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +got to learn to stick up for your own rights,” he +had struck home here, he knew, and though he +realized that Grace could take it with less equilibrium +than any of the rest, he wasn’t going to +spare her.</p> + +<p>“Say, ‘boo,’ to you,” he went on, “And you’ll +run. Isn’t it so?”</p> + +<p>Grace said nothing, but nodded her head.</p> + +<p>“Try saying ‘boo!’ back sometime,” he advised +in a quieter tone than he had used to any of +the other girls, “and see what happens. If the person +you say it to doesn’t run, stand your ground +and say it again, louder. But be careful,” he patted +Grace on the shoulder, “and don’t scare yourself +with your own voice.”</p> + +<p>At this everyone laughed, including Grace, and +Alice MacKenzie took her father by the arm and +started toward the station. “If you don’t look out, +father,” she warned, “I’ll say ‘boo!’ to you and +then you’ll jump.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, go along with you,” Adair MacKenzie +pounded his cane on the wooden platform, and +then shook it at his daughter, “If you don’t behave +yourself, I’ll give you one last spanking that +will hold you until you are as old and gray as I +am.”</p> + +<p>For answer, Alice laughed provocatively up +into his face.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Now, come on, you girls,” Adair frowned as +best he could under the circumstances, “we’ve got +to get along. And you too, you get a move on,” he +pointed his cane, with this, at a tall, lanky blond +young man.</p> + +<p>At this, Nan and Bess, Rhoda and Grace, +Laura and Amelia with one accord turned their +eyes on Walker Jamieson.</p> + +<p>“It’s real, girls.” Walker grinned down into +their faces. “It moves and speaks, eats and sleeps +just like the rest of the world. It does everything +but work.” So saying, he winked quite openly at +Alice and lengthened his steps so that he walked +beside her father.</p> + +<p>“First truth I’ve ever heard you utter,” Adair +MacKenzie tried to sound brusk, but didn’t succeed +very well. The truth was, of course, that he +was intensely pleased with the prospect of spending +his summer with this crowd of young people. +And, though he would be the last person in the +world to admit it, he was intensely flattered that +this brilliant young newspaper man was in the +party. “Not that he came,” he thought to himself +as he noted, with some satisfaction, the regard +with which Walker seemed to hold Alice, “to keep +me company.” He sighed deeply as he finished the +thought. Alice was his only child.</p> + +<p>“Got everything?” Adair MacKenzie repeated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +the question with which he greeted the girls as +they all approached the customs office. “Baggage +checks? Tourist cards?”</p> + +<p>At this, they all opened their purses and rummaged +around in them.</p> + +<p>“Shades of Glasgow.” Laura murmured into +Nan’s ears. “Seems good to be going through this +red tape again, doesn’t it?”</p> + +<p>Nan nodded. She felt much the same as she +did the day they had first stepped foot on foreign +soil, an unforgettable experience that they all had +talked over again and again since that morning +in May when the great boat had been moored to +the dock and they had walked, one after the other, +down the gangplank to set their feet in Scotland +for the first time. The adventures that had followed +had made their vacation the most exciting +of their lives as those who have read “Nan Sherwood’s +Summer Holidays” all agree. Now, as +they all walked forward toward the offices of the +Mexican officials, Nan wondered idly what further +adventures were in store for her.</p> + +<p>“Señorita, your bag, señorita.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you answer when you are called?” +Walker Jamieson dropped back into step beside +Nan. “Lady,” he prodded Nan with his elbow, +“the handsome young Mexican with the neat little +mustache that is running after us, is calling you.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Me?” Nan’s voice had a surprised ring to it. +“Am I Señorita?”</p> + +<p>“None other, for months to come, now.” Walker +Jamieson answered. “You are Señorita Sherwood +and you had better answer when these +Señores call or they will be so much insulted that +they will never recover.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m sorry,” Nan looked genuinely regretful +as she turned to the tall thin native that had +been following her.</p> + +<p>“It is nothing,” he dismissed her concern with +a wave of his hands, “but the Señorita has +dropped her purse. May I give it to her?” He +bowed gracefully as he presented it, and Nan felt +that he couldn’t possibly have presented the finest +gift in the world with more grace.</p> + +<p>However, before she could possibly thank him, +he disappeared. She turned to follow the others +into the offices, rummaging through her purse, +even as they had done, as she went.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s gone!” Nan looked first at her purse +and then in the direction in which the obliging +young Mexican had vanished.</p> + +<p>“Uh-huh, we should have guessed,” Walker +Jamieson shook his head sadly. “Dumb of me. +What did he get?”</p> + +<p>“My visitor’s pass!” Nan exclaimed. “Now, +what will I do?” Involuntarily, they both looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +toward Adair MacKenzie who was just disappearing +through the door. Then they laughed.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, kid,” Walker liked this youngster +that Alice had already filled his ears with +tales about. “But you’re in for it. It’s tough, these +days, getting duplicates of the things. Shall I +break the news to the ogre,” he nodded in Adair +MacKenzie’s direction. “He’ll explode, but you’ve +just got to take it.”</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV<br /> + +<small>TROUBLE AT THE BORDER</small></h2> + + +<p>“Here, here, what’s eating you two?” Adair +MacKenzie came bursting forth from the door he +had entered just a few moments before Nan’s encounter +with the Mexican. “H-m-m, lost your +pass, I’ll wager.” With the uncanny instinct of +many peppery old gentlemen, Adair MacKenzie +as soon as he saw the baffled expression on Nan’s +face, jumped immediately to the right conclusion.</p> + +<p>“Might have known that would happen. Should +have taken care of them all myself. Can’t depend +on women and girls. Always tell Alice that. Ought +to have a safe place to keep things. Old pouch my +mother used to strap around her waist was a good +idea.”</p> + +<p>Nan couldn’t restrain the smile that came to +her eyes at this. She had known one person in her +life who tied a bag around her waist. That was +grim old Mrs. Cupp, assistant to Dr. Beulah +Prescott, principal at Lakeview Hall. Legend had +it that Mrs. Cupp had a dark secret the key to +which she carried in the black bag which someone, +in days long before Nan and Bess descended on +Lakeview Hall, had seen. Whether or not it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +so, Nan didn’t know, but at Lakeview Hall, the +words “Keep it a secret” were generally expressed +by saying “Put it in the black bag.”</p> + +<p>“Laughing at me, Miss!” Adair’s roar brought +Nan out of her reveries. She jumped, and looking +up into his face, she winged her way from Lakeview +Hall on the shores of the Great Lakes back +to Laredo, Texas and the immediate problem of +the lost visitor’s pass.</p> + +<p>“I said you should take care of your things the +way I do,” he roared again. “See,” he pushed +his hand inside his topcoat pocket, “Always know +where my things—” the end of the sentence was +lost in a sputter, as Adair MacKenzie searched +frantically in pocket after pocket for his visitor’s +pass. It was gone!</p> + +<p>“W-w-why, somebody’s picked my pockets. +Can’t allow this. Where’s a policeman? You, you, +why don’t you do something instead of standing +there and laughing?” Adair shook his cane at +Walker Jamieson who was grinning broadly at +the spectacle of the old man fuming and sputtering +now, not at his own negligence, but at the inefficiency +of a government that would allow such +things to happen. His tirade against Nan and her +carelessness were utterly forgotten.</p> + +<p>But it wasn’t necessary for Walker to do anything. +Adair, in his outburst, railing against governments<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +in general now, calling down the wrath +of the gods on the heads of all policemen, and +expressing himself most forcibly on the subject +of newspaper men in particular, attracted a crowd. +Shortly, English and Spanish words were being +flung this way and that and everyone was arguing, +but what it was all about no one seemed to know.</p> + +<p>“Why, daddy, what has happened?” Alice having +heard the excitement from her seat in the office +where her father had left her had worked her way +through the crowd, and now put a restraining +hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>Immediately, he was quiet. “I’m sorry, dear,” +he looked down at her shamefacedly, “but these +blundering Mexicans have lost not only that poor +young girl’s,” he pointed to Nan with his cane, +“visitor’s pass, but mine too. It’s an outrage! +That’s what it is, an outrage. And I won’t stand +for it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Walker,” Alice turned to the young reporter +now, “What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, Miss,” the voice was that +of a Texas Ranger with a big ten-gallon hat who +had watched the whole scene with some amusement, +“but if you’ll step right over to the offices +there” he nodded in the direction of the door +from which Alice had emerged a moment before, +“Mr. Nogales will take care of you.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Thanks,” Walker acknowledged the information, +grinned, as though he was sharing a joke +with the stranger, took both Alice and her father +by the arm, and, with Nan, worked his way out of +the crowd.</p> + +<p>“It’s a difficult problem.” Lozario Nogales +gave a slight Spanish accent to his words as he +spoke to the Americans who, a few moments after +the scene above, were ushered into his office. “You +see, it’s like this—” he spoke slowly and fingered +a pencil as he chose his words, for English did not +come any too easily to him.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! No difficulties at all.” Adair MacKenzie +was always impatient with slow speech, +“all you have to do is write out another of those +cards for each of us. Take you a minute. They’re +nothing but a lot of silly red tape anyway. If I +had my way about it, there would be no passports, +no customs, no visitors’ passes, no anything that +impedes free movement of people across the borders. +It’s all foolishness the way you Mexicans do +these things.” Thus, with utter inconsistency, +Adair MacKenzie, in a moment’s time placed the +whole burden of border regulations in the laps of +the Mexicans.</p> + +<p>“But Señor,” Lozario felt that he never would +become accustomed to the ways of these Americans,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +and of this American in particular, “there +are the rules.”</p> + +<p>“Rules! What rules?” Adair stormed further, +then he caught Alice’s eye and capitulated, “Well, +what are we to do?”</p> + +<p>“It’s simply this,” Mr. Nogales was more than +grateful for Alice’s presence which gave him at +last an opportunity to speak, “there has been a +good deal of smuggling across the borders in the +past few months, and your American government +has made new rules about the issuing of duplicates +when passes are lost.”</p> + +<p>“Smuggling?” Walker Jamieson now spoke up +for the first time since the party entered the office. +“Smuggling what?”</p> + +<p>“Well, the American gentleman knows that immigration +laws prohibit the free passage of certain +nationalities into the United States.”</p> + +<p>Walker nodded. His work in San Francisco had +brought this fact most forcibly to his mind again +and again, for there he had worked often among +the Chinese and the Japanese and numbered +among them many close friends. These people +admired him and respected him greatly. They +thought that because he was a newspaper man, he +could do anything in the world for them that he +wanted to do.</p> + +<p>As a consequence, they were constantly coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +to him with tales of wives or mothers or children +that they wanted to see, but could not get into the +United States because of the immigration laws.</p> + +<p>“And the señor knows that these people somehow +or other manage to get across the border in +spite of these laws?” Mr. Nogales continued. He +liked this young man.</p> + +<p>“Yes.” Walker knew that too. Often he had +been amazed while covering his beat in Chinatown +to meet the very mothers, wives, or children +he had been asked to “get here for me, please, +Mr. Jamieson” a few days after being asked.</p> + +<p>However, as he threaded through the dark +streets of the famous San Francisco Chinatown +this surprise always wore off. The ways of the +people he was among were so silent and mysterious, +even to him working among them and calling +them “friends”, that he had grown to take such +sudden appearances for granted.</p> + +<p>“Well, just lately,” Mr. Nogales went on, +“there have been even more than the usual number +of persons smuggled across. Your government +and mine has been working hard on the problem +of putting an end to this. One means of stopping +it has been to check most thoroughly the issuance +of all duplicate visitor’s passes.”</p> + +<p>Nan was beginning to see light in the whole situation +now. Immigration laws and the smuggling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +of aliens across the border was something she had +studied about in social science classes at Lakeview. +This scene in the Laredo offices was a school lesson +brought to life.</p> + +<p>Nan vaguely remembered, as she stood there +listening and watching, that Laura had once had +a special report to give on this particular subject. +She remembered because it was at the time the +girls were planning a big spread down at the boathouse, +and Laura had been so excited about the +whole thing that she had gone to class utterly unprepared. +In the few minutes before the assembly +bell rang Nan helped her out, and so Laura had +managed to struggle through the social science +hour.</p> + +<p>Nan turned. She wished that Laura and the rest +were here now, but she knew that they were waiting +in an outer office.</p> + +<p>“Then you think,” Walker Jamieson’s words +brought Nan back to the present plight of herself +and her cousin Adair, “that there is a regular +trade in visitors’ passes, that the pickpocket who +got ours wanted nothing else?”</p> + +<p>“You had no money stolen, did you?” Mr. Nogales +queried.</p> + +<p>“Uh-h-h-” Adair MacKenzie had been silent +for a long while for him. Now he rummaged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +through his pockets even as Nan checked on the +contents of her purse.</p> + +<p>“Just as I thought,” Mr. Nogales nodded his +head, as the two agreed that all their money was +there. “Your visitors’ passes are the only thing +missing. Just a moment, please, I’ll see what can +be done.” With this, he disappeared into the office +of his superior, and Adair MacKenzie followed +him.</p> + +<p>Nan, Alice, and Walker Jamieson looked hopelessly +at one another as Adair disappeared from +their view.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER V<br /> + +<small>TELL US ABOUT THE HACIENDA</small></h2> + + +<p>“What did you think?” Laura inquired afterwards +when the girls were all settled in a hotel +close to the border for the night. “That the walls +of that inner office would just cave in when Mr. +MacKenzie started bellowing.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Laura Polk, how disrespectfully you +talk!” Bess exclaimed from her place in front of +the dressing table where she was brushing her +hair. “And Mr. MacKenzie is our host too. If it +weren’t for him we wouldn’t be down here now. +At this minute we’d probably be on the shores of +a lake near Tillbury.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, you know I’m not one bit disrespectful, +really,” Laura retorted. “I like Mr. MacKenzie +real well and you know I do. I’d give anything +in the world to be able to roar the way he does.” +There was genuine longing in her voice as she +spoke. “Just imagine,” she continued, “how handy +that roar would have come in the night we routed +the ghost. I just think,” she continued to play with +the idea of making use of Adair MacKenzie’s +roar, “how handy it would come in, if we were to +meet Linda Riggs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Couldn’t we manage,” she was lying prone on +the bed, and, as this new idea came to her, she +cupped her chin in her hands and looked off into +space, “to have your cousin around sometime +when Linda Riggs was present. I’d love to have +him analyze her the way he did us today. Such +fun!” Laura’s eyes danced merrily at the thought.</p> + +<p>“And then I’d like to have her open her mouth +to protest,” Laura continued, “and have him roar +at her. Oh, I’d give a million dollars, a trillion +dollars,” she amended generously, “to hear that +roar.”</p> + +<p>“You and me too,” Bess joined in. “By the way, +have any of you heard anything about her lately.”</p> + +<p>“Not I,” Nan answered, “and I must say the +less I hear about her and the less I see of her, the +better. There was a rumor, you know, at school +that she was going to be allowed to come back +this fall.”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” Bess somehow always managed to +hear all the rumors, “and I can’t for the life of +me understand why Dr. Prescott would ever let +her reenter. Certainly, she’s no credit to Lakeview +Hall, or to any school for that matter. If I were +a principal I wouldn’t let her in my school. In +fact, if I got the chance at all, I’d just slam the +door right in her face.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, do you ever sound as though you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +meant it? Cousin Adair should hear you talk now. +He thinks that Laura has a temper. He should +hear you sometimes.” Nan laughed at her pal.</p> + +<p>“I know it, but I think I’m more than justified. +She’s certainly caused us plenty of trouble from +the very first time we ever met her. I’ll never forget +how she embarrassed us on the train that took +us to Lakeview the first time.”</p> + +<p>“Nor how Professor Krenner took our part,” +Nan added.</p> + +<p>“Nor how you outwitted her and drove up to +school in the back of Walter Mason’s car as +though you were a princess returning to her palace,” +Laura giggled. “There never was a freshman +created more of a stir than you did that +night. Boy, did we ever put our heads together in +corridor four and decide that we would have to +put you in your place right away,” she continued +slangily.</p> + +<p>“And did I ever hate you, Laura Polk,” Bess +laughed now at the recollection. “You embarrassed +me so about that lunch box that when I +went to bed that night I cried myself to sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Poor Bessie,” Laura sympathized. “You were +such a proud little thing that I never in the world +thought I’d ever be able to get along with you.”</p> + +<p>“Get along with Bess!” Nan exclaimed, “if +you had ever heard what Bess said about you that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +night, you would have been surprised that she +ever spoke to you again.”</p> + +<p>“What did you say, Bess?” Laura looked positively +impish as she looked at Bess’s reflection in +the mirror.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t remember.” Bess was obviously +concealing the truth.</p> + +<p>“You do too,” Amelia joined in as she wound +the pretty little travelling clock that had been +given her the week before.</p> + +<p>“If you don’t tell, I will,” Nan was enjoying +the situation as much as the rest, for she saw that +Bess was not really embarrassed.</p> + +<p>“Go ahead then and see if I care,” Bess retorted, +giving a few final strokes to her hair.</p> + +<p>“Well, you said,” Nan began slowly, “that that +homely red-headed Polk girl was just as mean as +she could be!”</p> + +<p>“Did she say that?” Laura laughed heartily. +Even in those days she would have been the first +to laugh at herself. Now she could laugh doubly, +for the homely red-headed girl had, since then, +blossomed out into a pretty, fair complexioned +curly headed miss with a very pleasing personality.</p> + +<p>And so the girls continued for some time to +talk over events and happenings that are recounted +in other books of this series until Laura +turned to Nan, “Anyway,” she said, “if we may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +return to the present and Laredo, Texas, will you +please tell us just how your cousin managed to +extract those passes from the authorities this afternoon? +I respected his abilities to get what he +wanted from the moment mother capitulated and +let me come down here with what she called, ‘a +perfect stranger,’ but I never respected them as +much as I did when I saw that white uniformed +official bowing you people out of that office as +though you were the President’s party itself.”</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t he just grand!” Nan’s eyes were alight +at the recollection. “That man was none other +than a special aid to the Mexican consular office +here in Laredo, and he nearly fell all over trying +to help us after cousin Adair ceased his storming +and told those people who he was. I never saw +anything like it in my life.</p> + +<p>“It was ‘Si, señor, this,’ and ‘Si, señor, that’ +until Alice and Walker and I began to think that +we were really somebody, if only by reflected +glory.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you certainly looked like somebody very +important when you came out,” Bess agreed. “I +wondered for a moment whether I had really +heard allright when you went in.”</p> + +<p>“Then you did hear us?” Nan laughed.</p> + +<p>“All Mexico did,” Laura put in. “Really, at +first we thought another revolution was taking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +place. Grace here was looking around for someplace +to hide herself. Amelia was clutching her +watch to her with a look of determination which +said as plainly as anything ‘no foraging rebel is +going to get this’ and Rhoda looked as though +she wished she had brought her trusty six shooter +along. And then when we had gotten ourselves all +worked up to the point of accepting the inevitable, +who should come round the corner but you and +Mr. Jamieson, Alice and her father!”</p> + +<p>“You sound as though we disappointed you,” +Nan remarked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, not at all.” Laura hastened to correct +this impression. “I don’t believe Mr. MacKenzie +has ever disappointed anyone in his life. He just +couldn’t. Not with that cane, that roar, and that +honesty which stops at nothing. He’s a dear. Now +tell us, Nan, all you know about this place we are +going to.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve done that a thousand times since I met +you in St. Louis,” Nan responded as she pulled +off her dress and slipped her arms into the lounging +robe that the Lakeview Hall girls had given +her at a surprise party in her honor more than a +year before.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you haven’t,” Laura denied. “We +made you spend most of the time telling us about +this angel of a cousin that appeared out of a clear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +sky and offered to take us all to Mexico. Doesn’t +sound real even now when we’re here.”</p> + +<p>“There’s one thing about it,” Amelia added, “if +one can’t have rich relations oneself, the next best +thing in the world is to have charming friends who +have them.”</p> + +<p>“Here, here!” Laura raised a protesting hand. +“You’re out of order. The first thing you know +Nan will be thinking we’re fond of her.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you old ducks,” Nan looked at them all +fondly. “Don’t you know that cousin Adair knew +that if he didn’t invite all of you that I wouldn’t +come at all? Now, let’s forget all of this gratitude +stuff. It embarrasses me.”</p> + +<p>“All right then,” Bess agreed, “but you really +haven’t told Rhoda anything at all about the +hacienda, Nan.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know anything myself,” Nan admitted +after some hesitation. “I’ve tried and tried to get +cousin Adair to tell me something about the place, +but he just won’t say anything. I’m not sure whether +he knows and won’t tell or whether he doesn’t +know himself. At any rate, he’s being extremely +mysterious about the whole thing. Says that we +didn’t see anything when we saw Emberon, that +this place that we are going has that beat all +hollow. Now what do you people make of that?”</p> + +<p>“Dungeons, secret passage, weird wailing of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +bagpipes, that’s what Emberon had,” Laura summarized. +“If this Mexican hacienda has anything +better to offer, I’d like to see it.”</p> + +<p>“And so would I,” Nan agreed. She almost +resented the idea that anything could possibly be +any nicer than the old Blake estate in Scotland. +“And listen, he says this further, that if we think +we had adventures in Scotland and England, we +just haven’t seen anything yet. What in the world +do you suppose he means?”</p> + +<p>“If Doctor Prescott said that, or Mrs. Cupp, +or your father or mine,” Rhoda answered, “I +might possibly hazard a guess as to what was +meant, but there’s no telling about this cousin of +yours, Nan.”</p> + +<p>“No, he’s as unpredictable as the seasons, Alice +says, and the only thing we can do is wait.” Nan +sounded as though waiting was the hardest thing +in the world to do.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VI<br /> + +<small>SOMETHING ABOUT MEXICO</small></h2> + + +<p>“What’s this?” Laura questioned the next +morning when she came upon Amelia in her hotel +room reading diligently from a book.</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing.” Amelia barely looked up.</p> + +<p>“Come on, tell aunty,” Laura teased. “Nobody +else is up yet and I’ve simply got to talk to +someone.”</p> + +<p>“You mean there’s no one else about, so you’ll +talk to me. Well, I like that!” Amelia returned to +her book as though she were really indignant.</p> + +<p>“You know I didn’t,” Laura sounded very conciliatory—for +her. “It’s just this; I’ve got the +whim-whams something terrible. Did you ever +have the whim-whams, Amelia?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t say I did,” Amelia answered. “At least +I didn’t call them any such name as that.”</p> + +<p>“Then you know what I mean?” Laura looked +very serious.</p> + +<p>“You mean,” Amelia turned the open book +over on her lap and answered Laura’s question, +“that you have awakened early in a hotel in a +strange city, that you want like anything to go off +exploring, that you know you can’t, and that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +next best thing you can find to do is to annoy +someone else who can’t go either.”</p> + +<p>“My dear professor,” Laura assumed as serious +a mien as possible, “you have hit the well-known +nail squarely on the head. It must be that +you have the whim-whams too. Now what is that +you are reading?”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you must know,” Amelia gave in, +“It’s a guidebook to Mexico.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, what could be better.” Laura herself +reached for the book. “Let’s see what this country +across the street from this hotel is like.”</p> + +<p>“It does seem funny, doesn’t it,” Amelia said, +“that when we look out our hotel windows we are +looking into a foreign country. It doesn’t look any +different. It doesn’t sound any different. And it +doesn’t—”</p> + +<p>“Smell any different,” Laura finished, “and +that’s the most surprising thing of all, because according +to Mr. MacKenzie, Mexico is just the +smelliest place on God’s green earth.”</p> + +<p>“Did he tell you that too?” Amelia asked. +“Really, when he finished the tirade against the +country that he delivered to me after dinner, I +began to wonder why in the world he ever +brought along five such nice girls as we.”</p> + +<p>“Five? What’s the matter, ’Mealy, can’t you +count before breakfast? There are six of us.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I said five <em>nice</em> girls,” Amelia insisted. “He +might have had one of several reasons for bringing +you along.”</p> + +<p>“Such as—” Nan had come into the room just +in time to hear this last.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he might have wanted to make the world +a better place for the rest of us to live in by losing +Laura, making her a target for the revolutionists, +feeding her to the bulls, or just leaving her here +as food for the fleas,” Amelia responded airily, +and then she put her arm around Laura’s shoulder +as though to show her that she didn’t mean a +word of what she was saying.</p> + +<p>“They do say,” Grace added as she joined the +group, “that the fleas here are man-sized. That +reporter told me last night that the reason they +give us mosquito netting to put over us at night +is that the fleas and the mosquitos wage a nightly +battle as to who is going to carry off the +Americans.”</p> + +<p>“And you believed him?” Laura laughed.</p> + +<p>“Well, not exactly,” Grace answered, “but I +did carefully tuck my netting all round me last +night.”</p> + +<p>“He told me lots of things about Mexico, too,” +Nan added, “and I don’t know which of them to +believe. This is a queer country we are going into, +full of so many strange legends, so many different<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +kinds of people that any wild tale at all might be +true.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I was thinking,” Amelia agreed, +“when Laura came into the room this morning. +This guidebook here is full of all sorts of queer +tales.”</p> + +<p>“Such as—?” Nan queried.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you people in there,” Bess called from +another room, “wait until Rhoda and I come before +you talk any more about Mexico. We want +to hear too.”</p> + +<p>“All right, slow-pokes,” Nan called back, +“but you’ll have to hurry. We’re supposed to be +downstairs for breakfast with Cousin Adair in +exactly one-half hour.”</p> + +<p>At this, Bess and Rhoda came into Amelia’s +room and the girls, all dressed in sports clothes, +settled themselves to learn something about the +country they were going to visit.</p> + +<p>“It says here,” Nan began, for she had long +ago lifted the guidebook from Amelia’s lap, “that +Mexico is a Latin-American country south of the +United States of America. The Gulf of Mexico +is to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we know that,” Bess interrupted impatiently, +“tell us something that is different.”</p> + +<p>“Well, how’s this?” Nan queried, “Mexico is +a land of great contrasts. About sixty percent of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +its population are Indians who live in a backward +civilization that weaves its own clothes, grinds +its own corn, does everything for itself by hand. +The other forty percent is advanced and modern. +The first can neither read nor write. The latter +attends modern schools and universities.</p> + +<p>“Nothing in Mexico, in its history, its climate, +its people, or its landscape is dull or +monotonous.”</p> + +<p>“That’s better,” Bess approved. She was not +one to care much for facts or figures.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there are more interesting things than +that in the book,” Amelia reached for it. “Here +let me read you something that I found this +morning.”</p> + +<p>“Just a second,” Nan held on to it, “How in +the world do you pronounce these words with all +their z’s and x’s. No wonder there are so many +people that can’t read or write. I wouldn’t be able +to write myself if I lived here. Imagine living in +a place called I x m i q u i l p a n or X o c h i m i l c o.” +She spelled them all out because she +couldn’t possibly pronounce them. “They must all +be Indian words dating from the time of the Aztecs,” +Nan went on. “Look, they all have beautiful +meanings.</p> + +<p>“Chalchihuites is translated into ‘Emeralds in +the Rough’, Tehuacan, ‘Stone of the gods’, Chiapas,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +‘River of the Lime-leaved Sage’, and Tzintzuntzan, +‘Humming Bird’. And here’s a place I +want to go, Yecapixtla or ‘Place Where People +Have Sharp Noses’.”</p> + +<p>“What a funny place that must be,” Laura +laughed with Nan, “I’ll bet they all spend their +time minding one another’s business.”</p> + +<p>“They probably have a factory there,” Nan +went on, “for turning out people like Mrs. Cupp +and they have catalogues showing the sharp, +sharper, and sharpest noses.”</p> + +<p>“And when a school principal wants to hire an +assistant that will see everything and hear everything +he pays top price and gets the sharpest,” +Laura liked the idea. “We ought to go there,” +she ended, “if it’s only to get a postcard so that +we can send it back to Mrs. Cupp with the words +‘Wish you were here’.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Laura, you old meany,” Nan laughed. +“You know she isn’t half as bad as you make her +out to be.”</p> + +<p>“No, she isn’t,” Laura agreed. “Lakeview Hall +certainly wouldn’t be complete without her. Why, +down here in Mexico—well, on the border of +Mexico—when I’m going farther and farther +away from her all the time, I can almost believe +that I’m fond of her. But don’t let me talk about +it,” she pretended to sniff as though she was going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +to cry, “or I’ll be getting homesick for her.”</p> + +<p>“Small chance of your ever getting homesick +for anyone,” Bess remarked, “but let’s hear what +it is Amelia wants to tell us about and then go +downstairs, I’m almost starved.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m sorry, Amelia,” Nan handed over the +book, “I didn’t mean to monopolize it.” These +Lakeview Hall girls, together for so many years +under all sorts of circumstances, were still polite +to one another and thoughtful about little things. +They teased one another, laughed at one another’s +faults, and quarreled sometimes among themselves, +but they were always eager to forgive and +more than anxious to please. This was why they +had been friends for so long. They were never +really jealous of one another and were always +ready to praise anyone in the group who did anything +outstanding.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right, Nan,” Amelia answered as she +reached for the book. “I merely thought that this +story of the founding of Mexico City might be +fun to read. It’s short, Bess, so we’ll be downstairs +in just a few minutes. Here it is.</p> + +<p>“‘When the Aztecs, a people that inhabited +this part of Mexico long before the coming of the +white man from across the water, were wandering +from place to place in search of a spot on which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +to establish themselves, their head priest had a +vision.</p> + +<p>“‘In it, he saw their War God and heard him +telling them to go on and on until they found an +eagle on a cactus growing from the rock. The +cactus, the War God said, was the heart of his +treacherous nephew who had waged war against +him and lost. As punishment, he had been put to +death and his heart was torn from him and thrown +into the lake. It fell upon a rock among the reeds, +and from it grew a cactus so big and strong that +an eagle, seeking a place to build his nest, had +made his home upon it.</p> + +<p>“‘The Aztecs heeded the words of their War +God as told them by the priest. For years they +wandered, until finally, one morning very early, +their long search was rewarded. They came upon +the eagle on the cactus! His wings were extended +to the rays of the sun and in his claws he held a +snake.</p> + +<p>“‘So it was here that they built their city and +even to this day, the cactus and the eagle, holding +a snake in his beak, is Mexico’s emblem.’” With +this, Amelia closed the book.</p> + +<p>“So that’s why I’ve been seeing that symbol on +so many Mexican things all these years,” Nan +commented. “I’ve wondered what it meant, but +was always too lazy to look it up. How strange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +the history of this country is that we are going +into! I wonder what will happen.”</p> + +<p>“Probably everything,” Laura said, “so, now I +think we’d better go downstairs and eat, fortify +ourselves so to speak for any emergency.”</p> + +<p>“Guess you’re right,” Nan laughed. And with +this, Nan and her friends all hurried down to +breakfast and to the beginning of another day in +their Mexican adventure.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VII<br /> + +<small>BESS SMELLS A ROMANCE</small></h2> + + +<p>“Well, how are the charming señoritas this +morning?” Walker Jamieson dropped his feet +from the chair next to him and rose as Nan and +her friends entered the lounge of the hotel.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see, one, two, three, four, five, yes, there +are six of you still. There was no victory for the +mosquitoes last night I can see. I had an idea,” he +nodded his head slowly as though he had been +seriously considering the subject, “that all would +go well after my joust with the man-sized monster +that forced its way into my room. Boy, was it a big +one! It had a million legs like tentacles that +wound themselves around me so that if it hadn’t +been for my trusty Excalibur, none of us would +have been here this morning. It was a fight.” He +shook his head as though the recollection was +more than he could bear.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we can see it was.” Alice, too, had been +waiting for the girls to appear. “We can see the +marks of the bloody battle all over your face.”</p> + +<p>“Can you really?” Walker Jamieson grinned +down at the girl who was just a foot shorter than +himself. “Well, they are all for you ladies,” he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +pretended now to doff a big sombrero and sweep +it across in front of him in the most approved +style.</p> + +<p>“What’s all this nonsense?” Adair MacKenzie +joined the party. “Can’t stand silliness any time, +and least of all before breakfast. Now, get out +into that dining room and eat.”</p> + +<p>At this, the whole party moved. “Don’t intend +to spend the summer in Laredo,” Adair muttered +as he followed them.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was a silent meal—silent that is, save +for Adair’s sputtering into his coffee. At its finish, +he pushed his plate back, called the waiter and +gave him an extraordinarily large tip, and turned +to his young cousin.</p> + +<p>“Well, Nancy,” he said agreeably, “How are +things with you this fine morning? Ready to move +on? And you, Bess, and all the rest of you, are +you all right? Now, let me tell you all a secret,” +he went on as he realized how quiet everyone had +been throughout the meal, “I’m not really such a +bad old soul. Oh, I lose my temper at times. I +admit that,” he said generously, “but I’m not bad, +not bad at all.” He shook his head as though he +was entirely satisfied with himself and the world +in general.</p> + +<p>“And you there, Jamieson, you’re not bad +either,” he went on.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walker nodded his head as though he acquiesced +entirely and Alice beamed on everyone. It was +nice to have everyone in such a happy frame of +mind, she thought, and then, for luck, crossed her +fingers.</p> + +<p>“And now, daddy,” she ventured while he was +still in his expansive mood, “What’s on the program +for today?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, lots of things, lots of nice things,” he +looked very pleased with himself. “First off, how +soon can you all be ready to move on? We should +be moving along to Mexico City, a grand place, +one of the most interesting cities I’ve ever visited. +What say you, Jamieson?”</p> + +<p>“Eh, what?” Jamieson had been quite bowled +over by the old man’s sudden change in mood and +had been wondering whether it would be the right +time now to ask whether he could kidnap Alice +for part of the morning. He was trying to signal +her to ask her opinion, when the question was addressed +to him. Now, he was at a complete loss, +for he had heard nothing of the conversation that +preceded the query.</p> + +<p>“I say,” Adair repeated his question patiently, +“isn’t Mexico City a grand place?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, a grand place,” Walker answered absently. +Had Alice understood what he was signaling? +He couldn’t be sure. What was she telling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +him with her lips. Was it “Better wait” or “Better +not.” “What?” The question came out audibly +without his realizing it.</p> + +<p>It was Nan, the darling, who saved the day. +She had been watching the frantic efforts of +Walker Jamieson to communicate with Alice and +noted his lack of success. She, too, had been trying +to read Alice’s answer and was as startled as +Walker when his “what?” was voiced. Now, like +a “veteran” (Walker used the word later when +he promised to buy her something, anything from +a gorgeously colored serape to an jade bracelet +for coming to his rescue) she filled the breach.</p> + +<p>“I said,” she affirmed, looking at Walker as +though she was answering his question, “that we +can all be ready to leave about noon, if it pleases +cousin Adair.” She turned to her cousin somewhat +diffidently as she added this last. The truth was, +of course, that she and her friends could have left +in an hour, in a half hour, but it was fun trying to +help Walker and Alice out.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see,” Adair took out his big gold watch +and considered. “Noon. That gives us a few hours +to make a good start on our way before dark. +Could you make it by eleven?”</p> + +<p>Nan looked at Walker. “Eleven-thirty.” She +read his lips.</p> + +<p>“Eleven-thirty,” she smiled up at her cousin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>“You little beggar, you,” he tweaked the pink +ear that showed just beneath her brown bobbed +hair, “you’ll be able to barter with those Mexicans +like a veteran. It’s your Scotch blood.” He looked +proud of her as he turned to the others, “Well, +Nan here says ‘eleven-thirty’, so eleven-thirty it +is. Now get out, all of you, I’ve got some business +to attend to, and I don’t want to see any more of +any of you until it’s time to leave. No, not even +you,” he added as he looked at Alice.</p> + +<p>They all strolled out of the dining room together +and Walker executed a few fancy little +steps for Nan’s benefit, as, when they reached the +elevators, he and Alice went on past them to the +doors and out.</p> + +<p>“Why, Nan Sherwood, it’s a romance. Walker +Jamieson is in love with Alice MacKenzie. I’ll bet +you anything.” Bess’s face was all alight as she +closed the door of Nan’s room. “It’s just thrilling. +Did you see the way the two of them walked away +together. Why, they were so glad you said you +couldn’t be ready until eleven-thirty! I just know +they were!” Bess was fairly bubbling over with +excitement. “Didn’t you see it at all?”</p> + +<p>“See what?” Nan pretended innocence.</p> + +<p>“Why, how glad they were, of course,” Bess +seemed impatient with Nan’s inability to see a romance +when it was right under her nose.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, you imagine things,” Nan answered. +She didn’t want Bess to be aware at all that she +had tried to help Alice and Walker out.</p> + +<p>“Imagine things! You’re just blind, that’s all,” +Bess was very proud of her discovery. “They are +in love with one another and they’ll get married +in Mexico. You’ll be the maid of honor and we’ll +be the bridesmaids and everything will be just +grand, won’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Bess, Bess,” Nan laughed, “how you do jump +to conclusions! Have you ever considered that the +bride has to have someone to give her away and +have you tried to imagine cousin Adair giving +Alice away?”</p> + +<p>Bess was all soberness immediately. “No, I +didn’t think of that,” she admitted. “Oh, what +can we do about him?” she puckered her brows as +if Adair was an immediate and very difficult problem. +“If we could get him right after he has had +a good breakfast,” she laughed, “maybe he would +be as nice as he was this morning and then I’m +sure everything would be all right.”</p> + +<p>“Or,” she continued, as a new and better idea +came to her, “they could elope. Wouldn’t that be +exciting, Nan? And just think how mad your cousin +would be. No, that’s not so good either. Mr. +MacKenzie would probably disown Alice and then +they wouldn’t have all his money.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Bess!” Nan exclaimed, “how you do run on.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know,” Bess agreed, “but it’s such a +perfectly entrancing subject. She’s a darling and +so is he. Why, he’s almost as nice as Walter +Mason,” she added slyly.</p> + +<p>Nan ignored this last. “Walker is nice, isn’t +he?” she said. “And he and Alice do look dear +together.”</p> + +<p>“He’s swell,” Bess said slangily. “He’s tall and +handsome and full of fun. Do you know, I think +sometimes that Mr. MacKenzie does like him, +for all the way he calls him ‘lazy’ and a ‘no-good +reporter.’”</p> + +<p>“Of course he does,” Nan agreed, “and Walker +likes him too. I just know it.”</p> + +<p>Bess looked at Nan questioningly at this latter +bit of information. Did Nan know something she +didn’t know?</p> + +<p>“Anyway, we’ll just have to wait and see what +happens,” Nan tried to dismiss the subject.</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” Bess sighed, “but it would be +such fun to be an attendant at a wedding.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bessie,” Nan ruffled her friend’s hair, +“you’re such a romantic soul. I’ll bet that you +think that if worse came to worse and cousin +Adair insisted that Alice marry someone else, +Walker would ride up on a charger and carry +Alice off the way young Lochinvar did in that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +poem we learned back in the fifth grade. +Remember?”</p> + +<p>“You mean the one about Lochinvar coming up +out of the West, ‘through all the wide world his +steed was the best,’” Bess laughed.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s the one,” Nan assented. “Remember +how we loved that thing and how we used to +say over and over again the stanza that followed +the one where he asked the bride to dance with +him</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">‘One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When they reach’d the hall door, and the charger +stood near;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So light to the saddle before her he sprung!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and +scaur;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They’ll have fleet steeds that follow, quoth young +Lochinvar.’”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>“And then at the end,” Bess went on, “there was +this,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">‘There was racing and chasing, on Cannobie lea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the lost bride of Netherby ne’er did they see.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have ye e’er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?’”<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>“Oh, Nan,” Bess laughed when she had finished, +“when I was a kid I thought there couldn’t +possibly be anything more romantic than that.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I neither,” Nan admitted, “And I +thought of it often when we were in Scotland last +summer. But do you know, Bess,” she giggled, +“that Young Lochinvar of today would have to +dash up in a car—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, or in Mexico it might be a burro,” Bess +laughed heartily at the thought.</p> + +<p>“Say, what are you two making such a rumpus +about,” Laura stuck her head in through the door. +“First thing you know, they’ll be locking you up +as a couple of laughing hyenas, because you are +making such a racket.”</p> + +<p>“Come on in, Laura,” Nan invited, “We’ve +just got a silly streak, that’s all. Bess, here, had +a couple of crazy ideas that she aired. She’s all +right now. You can come in,” she finished reassuringly. +“What’s up?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing,” Laura answered in such an unusual +tone that Nan knew immediately something +was wrong.</p> + +<p>“Come, what is it?” she asked again, going +over to Laura and closing the door behind her.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII<br /> + +<small>TROUBLE FOR RHODA</small></h2> + + +<p>“Oh, it’s Rhoda,” Laura admitted when the +door was closed. “Nan, something terrible’s happened +and Rhoda is in her room crying her eyes +out. Won’t you come and see if you can’t do something +for her.”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” Nan started for the door at once. +“But what’s happened?” She and Bess asked this +last together.</p> + +<p>“Rhoda just received a telegram from her father +asking her to come home at once.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, girls,” Laura herself was almost in tears, +“Rhoda’s mother is seriously ill and they don’t +know whether or not she will live until Rhoda gets +there.”</p> + +<p>“Go downstairs,” Nan took command of the +situation at once, “and find cousin Adair. Tell him +what’s happened and ask him what to do. I’ll go +to Rhoda. Bess, you had better come too,” she +continued. “Somebody will have to fix her bags so +that she can leave at once. Now, don’t any of you +cry in front of Rhoda, we’ve got to help her to be +as brave as possible. Maybe it isn’t as bad as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +it seems.” With this Nan and Bess and Laura set +about to help their friend and, for the time, all +thoughts of their Mexican journey were forgotten.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hammond, Rhoda’s mother, had entertained +the girls a couple of years previous to the +present story, on the Hammond ranch in the +West. They all remembered her as a beautifully +graceful, sweet woman. Blind for many years, she +had not let her affliction crush her spirit and was, +perhaps, one of the happiest, nicest people they +had ever known.</p> + +<p>Those who have read “Nan Sherwood at Rose +Ranch or The Old Mexican’s Treasure” will remember +Mrs. Hammond too and remember well +her first meeting with the girls.</p> + +<p>“I’ll never forget it,” Nan had told her own +mother again and again. “As we rode up to the +veranda of the low-roofed ranch house Mr. and +Mrs. Hammond stood there on the porch waiting +for us. She was a tall lovely person. I liked her the +moment I saw her. As I came up the steps behind +her friend, Mrs. Janeway, she took hold of me +and asked ‘Who is this?’</p> + +<p>“Before I had a chance to answer she ran her +fingers lightly over my face, even feeling my ears +and the way my hair fluffed over my forehead and +the way my eyebrows were. Then, without any +hesitation and before I had said anything at all,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +she said, ‘Why, this is Nan Sherwood that I have +heard so much about.’</p> + +<p>“When I asked her how she knew, she laughed +the prettiest laugh I’ve ever heard, outside of +yours, and said that she knew because Rhoda had +written home about me and because she was a +witch. She knew the others by touch too. Oh, she +was such a nice person and so good to us all the +while we were there!</p> + +<p>“She never once said a thing about her blindness. +She seemed to take it for granted and never +excused herself on account of it.</p> + +<p>“I only hope that, if ever anything terrible +happens to me, I will remember her and be as +sweet and uncomplaining about it as she is.”</p> + +<p>The other girls had felt the same as Nan. All +had left Rose Ranch with a very warm feeling +for Mrs. Hammond and they were all better girls +for having met her.</p> + +<p>In the days that followed their return to school +that year they sent her a gift along with their +bread-and-butter notes. Ever after that, boxes +Rhoda received from her Western home always +contained some sort of goodies specially marked +for Rhoda’s Lakeview Hall friends. So Mrs. +Hammond had become a well-beloved friend to +them all.</p> + +<p>Now, when the telegram came telling of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +serious illness, they all felt personally concerned.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nan,” Laura came into the room where +Nan was helping Rhoda dress and comforting her +as much as possible, “I can’t find your cousin anyplace. +He seems to have gone out on business and +he didn’t leave word with anyone as to where he +was going.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ve got to find him, that’s all.” Nan +was not one to give up easily in any circumstances. +“Have you tried to locate Walker Jamieson?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I can’t find him or Alice either. You +don’t know where they were going, do you?”</p> + +<p>“No.” Already Nan was regretting that she +had helped Alice and Walker out. She felt that +she needed them now, very much. “I tell you what +you do, you call up the railway station and find out +what are the best possible train connections that +Rhoda can make. Then reserve her a compartment. +After that call those offices where we were +yesterday and ask whether cousin Adair is there +or is expected.</p> + +<p>“By the time you finish, Rhoda will be ready +and we’ll be downstairs at the telegraph desk. We +are going to wire her father so that he can have +someone at the station to meet her.”</p> + +<p>At these instructions, Laura flew across the hall +to her own room to make the calls, for she wished +to keep things as quiet as possible around Rhoda.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +In the meantime, both Amelia and Grace had +heard what had happened and came to help.</p> + +<p>The girls were all sticking together in trouble +even as they always did in pleasure, and it was a +great comfort to completely bewildered Rhoda.</p> + +<p>Now, as Nan completed the job of helping +Rhoda dress and Bess finished packing her bags, +there was a gentle knock on the door and a gentle +voice inquired, “May I come in?” It was Alice.</p> + +<p>“Walker’s gone for father,” she said, “And +Laura’s asked me to tell you that there’s a train +out in a half hour. Is everything ready?”</p> + +<p>Rhoda nodded her head, but said nothing. She +was trying hard now not to cry.</p> + +<p>“So you know where cousin Adair is?” Nan +looked across the room at Alice.</p> + +<p>“No, but Walker will find him and have him +here in no time at all,” Alice replied quietly and +confidently.</p> + +<p>She had hardly finished the sentence, when +those in the room heard the firm tread of Adair +MacKenzie in the hall and heard his voice boom +out, “Porter, porter, come here, and take these +bags.”</p> + +<p>It was good to hear him, good to hear his decisiveness. +Everyone in the room felt better as +soon as he opened the door.</p> + +<p>“Here, here, what’s all this?” He looked at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +Rhoda’s red eyes. “Come, girl, buck up,” he +patted her roughly on the shoulder. “Ready, are +you?”</p> + +<p>“You’re going by plane. It leaves in fifteen minutes +and there’s a taxi waiting downstairs. That +red-headed girl, what’s her name, got you a compartment +in a train, but we’ve cancelled that.</p> + +<p>“Now, that good-for-nothing newspaper friend +of my daughter’s is downstairs putting through a +long distance call so that you can talk to your +father before you leave here.</p> + +<p>“You can tell him that this is a private plane +and that it will practically drop you in your own +back yard. Do they have back yards where you +come from?”</p> + +<p>Rhoda nodded. How good everyone was being +to her.</p> + +<p>“Now, now, don’t thank me,” Adair MacKenzie +forestalled her thanks. “Help a nice girl like +you out any time I can. Ready? You better go +downstairs. You’ve just got time to talk to your +father before you make the plane. You’ll find +everything comfortable there.</p> + +<p>“Come, you, Nan,” he motioned to his cousin, +“You’re the only one that can come along with us. +Don’t want a lot of fuss. See the rest of you later.” +With this, he hurried Nan and Rhoda out of the +room and down the elevator so quickly that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +Rhoda, in doing things, got control of herself, +just as Adair MacKenzie had known she would.</p> + +<p>The talk with her father was comforting, but +not encouraging, and it was with a heavy, heavy +heart that Rhoda Hammond waved good-by to +her friends at the airport a few minutes later.</p> + +<p>Nan stifled a sob as the plane taxied across the +field and rose into the air. Adair MacKenzie +looked down on her. “There, there, child,” he +said gently, “Things will turn out all right and +we’ll make this up to the girl sometime later.”</p> + +<p>Nan caught her upper lip between her teeth and +tried to smile up at him. “Please, please, make +everything right.” It was a prayer that she +breathed.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IX<br /> + +<small>RESOLUTIONS</small></h2> + + +<p>It was a sad little party that drew out of Laredo +that afternoon. The thoughts of Nan and her +friends were all with Rhoda. At every turn they +wondered where she was and what she was doing.</p> + +<p>Only Adair MacKenzie’s insistence had made +them depart from the city on the border at all.</p> + +<p>“Got to be on our way now,” he had said +brusquely when he and Nan had driven up to the +hotel after seeing Rhoda off. “Now, get busy, +you,” he ordered the girls after they had heard +the details of Rhoda’s departure from Nan. +“Can’t stay around here any longer. Sick and tired +of this place. Nothing but a hole in the wall. Don’t +like it. Don’t like the people. We’re leaving. Get +busy, I say.” He tapped his cane impatiently on +the floor of the hotel veranda. “I mean you and +you and you.” He pointed with it to each separate +member of the party.</p> + +<p>The girls jumped. Alice jumped. And Walker +Jamieson jumped. Everyone got busy and in an +hour’s time they were all sitting on the veranda, +dressed for traveling, waiting for the car to come.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing here?” Adair MacKenzie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +appeared in the doorway. Short and somewhat +stocky with a face that was perpetually tanned +and dressed as he was in a white suit and large +white panama hat, he looked like a permanent +part of the scene about him. Nan, as she looked at +him felt proud. Despite all his blustering, his +ordering of people around, and his abrupt manner, +he was kind and gentle at heart. This, she +knew, was the reason for his success. This was +why everyone who had ever known him liked him +and loved him.</p> + +<p>Now, characteristically, he followed his abrupt +question with a piece of information that laid +bare his softness and unfailing thoughtfulness.</p> + +<p>“Get inside, all of you,” he ordered, “there are +long distance calls coming through for each of you +from your parents. Can’t have you mooning +around,” he muttered, “waiting for mail in order +to find out whether or not your mothers and fathers +are well. You, Nancy, your call is waiting +now. Just talked to Jessie myself in Memphis. +She’s fine, just fine. Never felt better in her life +she says. Might have known it in the first place. +The Blakes are strong people.”</p> + +<p>With this, he walked away. “No nonsense, +now,” he grumbled as he disappeared and each of +the girls went in to talk from a telephone booth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +on the southern border of the United States to her +parents in the north.</p> + +<p>How exciting it was to talk over that great distance! +How good it seemed to the girls to hear +their mother’s voices! Nan talked to both her +father and mother in Tennessee, and as she did, +she imagined just how they looked, the expressions +on their faces when they said certain dear, +familiar things and the look in their eyes when +they laughed. It was almost like having them in +the same room with her.</p> + +<p>As she hung up, a wistful expression crossed +her face, one that Adair MacKenzie, standing off +to one side of the room noted. “What’s the matter, +Nancy?” he asked in a softer tone than Nan +had ever heard him use.</p> + +<p>“Lonesome?” Adair questioned further.</p> + +<p>“Oh, a little bit,” Nan smiled. “Sometimes, I +miss Momsey a great, great deal.” As she spoke +her thoughts slipped back to those first days at +Pine Camp recounted in the first volume of the +Nan Sherwood series when it was so hard to fight +off the wave of homesickness that came over her.</p> + +<p>“Not going to back down on me and go home, +are you?” Adair MacKenzie asked the question +half in fun and half in seriousness.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” Nan laughed. “I couldn’t do that.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the spirit!” Nan’s cousin applauded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +“Never back down on anything you set out to do. +When you start a thing, finish it. That’s the way +people get places. Made me what I am. Never +started a thing yet I didn’t finish.”</p> + +<p>Nan looking at him, believed it. He had the air +about him of one that accomplishes things. You +could see it in the way he walked, the way he +talked. “Doesn’t make any difference,” he continued, +“what it is, a school lesson, a vacation, a +housekeeping task for your mother. If you begin +it, finish it.” He said this last so emphatically that +Nan looked about her half expecting to find something +that she should finish right away.</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t make any difference,” he went on, +“how hard the thing is or how much you want to +do something else. Do the thing you first started +and do it as well as you possibly can. Understand +what I mean?” Nan’s cousin looked at her very +intently for a moment and then he ruffled her +pretty brown hair with his rough hand. “Of course +you do, child,” he smiled at her. “You’re as bright +as they make them.”</p> + +<p>“Dad, oh, dad!” Alice MacKenzie joined the +two. “You’re wanted. The car’s ready and the +driver wants to know when we’re going to start.”</p> + +<p>“Start!” Adair MacKenzie, the soft mood having +slipped away from him now, roared. “Haven’t +I been waiting around here for an hour now for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +that old sluggard. And then he has the effrontery +to send word to me that he’s waiting! The dolt! +I’ll fix him. I’ll fix him, if it’s the last thing in the +world I do! Thinks I’m a softy, does he? I’ll show +him!” With this, Adair MacKenzie went fuming +from the room.</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes later Nan Sherwood and her +friends, Walker Jamieson, and Alice and her father +were riding along the road toward Mexico +City.</p> + +<p>“Got this telegram just before we left,” Adair +MacKenzie felt in his pockets for the yellow +paper, “It’s from that Hammond girl.” He turned +it over to Nan who read aloud to the others.</p> + +<p>“Arrived safely at San Antonio. Plane there +ready to take me on. Called home again. Mother +holding her own. Love. Rhoda.”</p> + +<p>Nan’s voice was husky as she finished. She +folded the telegram slowly and thoughtfully, +thinking of the struggle that was going on at Rose +Ranch and remembering her own concern years +back over her own mother’s health.</p> + +<p>“There, Nan,” Bess laid a gentle hand on her +friend’s. “Don’t look so worried. I’m sure things +will turn out for the best.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, if they don’t,” Nan half whispered +in return, “It will leave Rhoda and her father all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +alone. It will make things so hard, for everyone +just worships Mrs. Hammond.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” Bess’s voice was heavy too, “but +don’t think of those things.” The role of consoler +was new to Bess, but instinctively she was saying +just the right thing. “Mrs. Hammond just has to +get well, and so she will. I feel sure that what I’m +saying is true. Oh, Nan, don’t cry,” Bess’s own +voice was full of tears.</p> + +<p>“Here, here, what’s happening back there?” +Adair MacKenzie turned from his place next to +the driver and frowned at the girls. “Can’t have +this. No blubbering on this trip.”</p> + +<p>Nan smiled a wan smile at the word.</p> + +<p>“Thought you were a brave girl,” Adair went +on. “Now, dry away those tears,” he ended, and +turning, resumed his work of instructing the +driver as to how to drive.</p> + +<p>It was Laura who unthinkingly started them all +off again.</p> + +<p>“Makes you think, doesn’t it,” she remarked, +“of the number of things you overlook doing for +your mother when you’re around her? Will I ever +be good,” she continued, “when I get home. I’ll +wash the dishes, set the table, run to the store, do +anything and everything without question.”</p> + +<p>Laura sounded so serious and so unlike herself +in her seriousness that even Nan had to smile, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +she agreed. “That’s just the way it makes me +feel,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nan,” Bess protested, “and you’re always +so good to your mother. I’m the one that’s +mean. Why, I never do a thing around the house +if I can help it.” And Bess spoke the truth. The +daughter of a family that had plenty of money, +Bess was a pampered child. As a general rule, she +had little regard for either of her parents. Whatever +she wanted, she asked for without regard for +cost. What she couldn’t get from her mother, she +frequently managed to get from her father, and +the two were well on the way toward spoiling her +utterly when she went off to Lakeview with Nan.</p> + +<p>There, away from home among strangers in a +place where she had to live up to certain well-defined +rules, Bess had improved considerably. +Those that have watched her since her first appearance +in “Nan Sherwood at Pine Camp” have +seen a change come over her gradually. She is a +little more thoughtful, a little more considerate +of other people, but she still has a selfish streak +which at times like the present confronts her so +that her conscience pricks her sharply.</p> + +<p>“When I get home,” Bess spoke more quietly +than was her wont, “I’m going to do a little reforming +myself. I’m going to pay more attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +to what mother has to say. I’m going to be a better +daughter.”</p> + +<p>“And I am too,” Laura agreed.</p> + +<p>“And I,” Grace and Amelia said this together.</p> + +<p>So even while Rhoda Hammond in a plane that +was winging its way toward her western home, +was remembering little, dear things about the +mother she was so fond of, her friends were thinking +of her and making resolution after resolution +about their own conduct toward their parents.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER X<br /> + +<small>FIRST MEXICAN EXPERIENCE</small></h2> + + +<p>The days that followed were punctuated by +telegrams received from Rhoda.</p> + +<p>“Arrived safely.” That was the first one. It told +nothing at all of her mother’s condition.</p> + +<p>“Mother’s condition very serious. Not much +hope.” That was the second and the girls scarcely +had the heart to go on with Adair MacKenzie’s +party. Privately, they gave up hope entirely, but +Adair tried to keep their spirits up. “Never can +tell about these things,” he said after reading the +message.</p> + +<p>“Some improvement. Pray. Love. Rhoda.” The +third one read, and everyone felt better.</p> + +<p>Then for two days, there was no word, and +everyone’s hope just dwindled away to nothing. +During these days, it was Walker Jamieson with +his knowledge of Mexico and its ways that put +what life there was into the party.</p> + +<p>The eight hundred miles over the new Pan-American +highway from Laredo to Mexico City +was through gorgeous tropical and mountain scenery, +and all the way Walker regaled the girls with +stories and legends about Mexico and its history.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>He told bloody stories of bandits coming down +out of the hills, attacking travelers, kidnaping +them and then robbing them, or holding them for +huge ransom. He told of warfare between the +Mexicans and the Indians back in the hills. He +told of lost tribes who still worshipped the Sun +God, talked their native tongue, still lived in the +way those who had built the pyramids had lived.</p> + +<p>Alice listened breathlessly to all he had to say. +Nan and her friends hung on his every word. +Adair MacKenzie listened and grunted noncommittally.</p> + +<p>From Laredo to Monterey, he told these +stories and from Monterey to Villa Juarez until +everyone, whether he would admit it or not, felt +deeply the spell of Mexico.</p> + +<p>Then from Villa Juarez to Tamazunchale, +across rivers that were bordered by heavy tropical +foliage, everyone except Adair MacKenzie +was more or less silent absorbing quietly the +beauty about.</p> + +<p>“Listen!” Nan had the temerity to interrupt +one of Adair’s outbursts against their chauffeur. +Surprised by the command, Adair chuckled and +kept quiet. Nan had heard the song of a tropical +bird. Its call was picked up by another on the +other side of the road. The chauffeur slowed down +and then, at Adair’s command, stopped.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>For a few moments everyone listened, and then +Nan pushed open the door of the car and got out. +The others followed. To the right and to the left +of them the luxuriant growth made the place like +nothing else they had ever seen before. The birds +that flew out of the thicket were gorgeous things +in brilliant colors. The butterflies that drifted +from flower to flower were lovely too. But the +biggest surprise of all was the orchids.</p> + +<p>“Why, they grow wild!” Bess was amazed. The +only ones she had ever seen before had been in +the window of a florist’s shop on Madison Avenue +in Chicago and in a shoulder corsage worn by +Linda Riggs at a school ball. This last had made +Bess exceedingly envious, despite the fact that +Linda had been reprimanded afterwards, by Dr. +Prescott, for wearing it. And now, here they were +growing all about her, wild! Bess could scarcely +believe her eyes.</p> + +<p>Walker Jamieson laughed at her. “You like +them?” he asked. “Didn’t know, did you, that +they grew any place outside of a hothouse?”</p> + +<p>Bess shook her head. It was the first time in her +life that she had ever really been moved by nature +in any form. The others felt the same. The air +seemed quiet and heavy and yet full of all sorts of +strange noises too. Grace was timid in the face of +all the strangeness and held on to Nan’s hand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nan’s eyes were big and wondrous. It was like +tropical jungles that she had read about. It was +like something she had never even dared hope to +see. She was quiet. Silently Adair MacKenzie +watched her, and felt pleased with himself that he +had shown it to her. In regarding her, he felt +almost as though he himself had created it for her +special benefit.</p> + +<p>She caught his glance, looked up at him and +grinned. “Wish I could take a piece of it home +with me,” she said.</p> + +<p>“You can.” Walker Jamieson sounded as +though that would be the simplest thing in the +world.</p> + +<p>“How?” Nan asked in the tone of one who +didn’t believe a word of what she heard.</p> + +<p>“Easy.” Jamieson’s eyes twinkled, for he knew +that she thought that this was only another bit of +his foolishness. “All you’ve got to do is get a +camera and take a picture. Then you’ll have it +for life.”</p> + +<p>“But I can’t,” Nan was serious too now.</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“First, I’ve no camera and secondly, I don’t +know how to take pictures.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’ll take care of that,” Walker Jamieson +waved these difficulties aside as though they +didn’t amount to anything. “I’ve got a camera in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +the car, and, if you want, I’ll show you how to get +the best results. I’m in your debt anyway,” he +whispered.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean that about the camera and +everything?” Nan was incredulous.</p> + +<p>“Mean it? It’s a promise, isn’t it?” Walker +drew Alice into the conversation.</p> + +<p>She nodded her head happily. She knew, if Nan +didn’t, that Walker had made a hobby of photography +and just the year before, had won a prize in +a national show.</p> + +<p>“We’ll begin, just as soon as we get back in +that car,” Jamieson promised further. “When we +get to Mexico City, we’ll buy some more films and +the camera is yours to do with as you will until +we return to the States.”</p> + +<p>So, because of an impulsive wish and an impulsive +promise, Nan began almost immediately to +develop a hobby that, even before her Mexican +adventure was over, was going to have amazing +consequences.</p> + +<p>From Tamazunchale to Mexico City, the drive +was quite another experience. The road now was +hewn out of sheer mountain rock. The car climbed +and climbed, until the girls’ ears felt strange and +Bess declared that she could hardly breathe. She +forgot this, however, when they, upon Alice’s insistence, +this time, got out again. All around them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +huge mountain peaks rose to great heights making +them all, except, perhaps, Adair MacKenzie, +feel small and insignificant.</p> + +<p>Straight down below them they saw rivers and +waterfalls that looked small and white and unimportant, +like a thread that some mighty hand had +dropped carelessly in the greenness. Then they +got in the car, went down the mountainside again, +and they came to a lovely white village in a fertile +green valley.</p> + +<p>Here they stopped and ate.</p> + +<p>“Can’t understand this jargon,” Adair MacKenzie +laid the menu that had been given him +down and looked utterly disgusted.</p> + +<p>“No sense in their making it like this,” he continued +as though it was a personal insult that anyone +should presume to speak or write any other +language than English. “Can’t see how they can +understand it themselves.”</p> + +<p>In the end, it was Walker Jamieson who did +the ordering. “How about some nice mode de +guajolote?” he grinned at Nan and her friends as +he put the question. “It’s turkey to you,” he explained +when they laughed, “stuffed turkey to be +exact and a choice bit here. With it, we’ll have +tortillas, the Mexican substitute for bread, and +frijoles, the favorite Mexican bean. Sound all +right?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girls nodded as they tried to find the items +on their own menus. And Adair MacKenzie +grunted that he would take the same.</p> + +<p>The meal wasn’t entirely a success. Nan and +her friends enjoyed it, but Adair MacKenzie +grumbled throughout despite all that Alice could +do to mollify him.</p> + +<p>“Never mind, daddy,” she said at last, “in a +couple of more days we’ll be at the hacienda—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and that housekeeper of ours better be +there, or I’ll fire her.” Adair was off again.</p> + +<p>Alice restrained a smile. For twenty years now, +Adair had been firing the housekeeper and for +twenty years she had been running him and his +house just as she pleased. It was a joke that the +motherly old lady and Alice shared.</p> + +<p>“She’ll be there,” Alice tried to reassure him, +“and so will that Chinese cook that we have heard +so much about.”</p> + +<p>Nan and the rest looked up from their turkey, +half expecting a story, but Alice said nothing +further. They finished the meal in silence and followed +Adair to the car.</p> + +<p>Then, by way of Zimapan, an attractive hillside +village, remembered ever afterwards by the +girls for its huge cacti, some more than thirty-five +feet high, they continued on toward Mexico City. +They passed through Tasquillo, and then over a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +sandy road between other tall cacti to Ixmiquilpan, +a picturesque town where native Indians +were tending sheep and spinning along the streets.</p> + +<p>Here Nan took a picture, the first of many she +was to take, of the girls as they stood in a market +where they had just bought some gayly woven +baskets. The sight of the Indians brought more +stories to Walker’s mind and so, in the few miles +that lay between them and their stopping place +for the night, he told more tales.</p> + +<p>He told stories of buried treasure left by the +Aztecs in deep underground chambers, of turquoise +and jade that was more lovely than any +the modern world has discovered. He told of gold +so plentiful that it had no value, of great temples +that American Museums were spending hundreds +of thousands of dollars to rebuild.</p> + +<p>He knew all the stories, because, since his early +childhood, spent in California where Mexican labor +was plentiful because it was cheap, he had +been interested in the country.</p> + +<p>When, on the third day of their journey, they +approached Mexico City, Walker Jamieson was +in a particularly expansive mood, one designed to +keep their minds off the question of what word +they would find from Rhoda in the capital.</p> + +<p>“Below you, ladies and gentlemen,” he said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +with a great sweep of his arm, “you see Mexico +City, the capital of this surprising republic of +Mexico. There you will find romance, adventure, +everything.”</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XI<br /> + +<small>A LEGEND</small></h2> + + +<p>“Mexico City,” he went on, as though he were +a guide introducing a party of tourists to its first +sight of a city, “lies, as you can see from here, in +a mountain valley on the Great Central Plateau. +Constructed on a former lake by those Aztecs +who once made of this whole region a grand and +glorious place, it was called by them ‘Tenochtitlan’, +an Aztec word meaning ‘Belonging to the +property of the Temple.’</p> + +<p>“When the Spaniards conquered Tenochtitlan, +they found grand palaces and elegant homes +under the shadow of the mountains that lie all +about. They found gardens more beautiful and +more highly cultivated than any they had ever +known. They found wealth and splendour such +as not even their vivid imaginations had ever constructed. +They found everything,” he finished +dramatically, “and they drove the people who had +conceived it out, and they took it unto themselves, +and it went to ruin. You see now, the modern city, +and as you go through its streets, you will find +everywhere evidences of all these changes living +side by side with the new that the present generation +is in the process of building up.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walker Jamieson had started his little harangue +half in fun, but as always when he talked about +the old city, he grew serious as he went on. Now, +as he noted the half scowl on Adair MacKenzie’s +face, the look of interest on Alice’s, and the attention +of Nan Sherwood and her friends, he paused.</p> + +<p>“How am I doing?” he directed the question to +the group in general.</p> + +<p>Adair MacKenzie grunted.</p> + +<p>Alice beamed, her eyes full of pride in him.</p> + +<p>And Nan and her crowd nodded their heads for +him to go on.</p> + +<p>“So, my public adores me,” he said in a mocking +self-satisfied tone that caused Alice and Nan +to laugh aloud.</p> + +<p>With this he wrapped his guide’s cloak about +him again and went on.</p> + +<p>“As you go about,” he said, “and look up from +day to day at the mountains that surround you, +you will soon be able to name them all from +Chiquihuite, ‘the basket’, to El Cerro Gordo, ‘the +fat hill’, but there is none that has a more fascinating +story than La Sierra Madre over there to the +west.” He pointed as he spoke. “That’s the famous +one with the two volcanoes, Ixtaccihuatl, ‘the +white woman’, and Popocatepetl, ‘the mountain +that smokes’.</p> + +<p>“At one time, before the great Cortez conquered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +the country, these volcanoes were worshipped +as deities. There were days set aside for +their veneration, feasts in their honor, and elaborate +ceremonies.”</p> + +<p>“Just imagine,” Laura interrupted, “having a +feast in honor of a mountain.”</p> + +<p>“Strange, isn’t it?” Walker Jamieson agreed. +“But wait, I have even stranger things to tell +you.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt.” The remark was Adair +MacKenzie’s who, whether he would admit it or +not, was really enjoying himself thoroughly.</p> + +<p>“Ixtaccihuatl had a wooden idol representing +her in the Great Temple and Popocatepetl a representation +of dough of amarand and maize seeds. +These idols you will see in the great museums of +the city. The legend that surrounds them, if you +will bear with me, goes something like this.</p> + +<p>“Ixtaccihuatl was the beautiful daughter of a +proud and powerful Aztec Emperor and his only +child. As such, she was heir to his throne and +watched and guarded throughout her youth. Her +father adored her, but as he grew old and weak +and his enemies began to wage war against him, +he realized more and more how difficult it would +be for a woman to hold together his vast and +wealthy empire. So he set out to find a husband<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +worthy of his daughter, worthy of the splendour +that would be hers after his death.</p> + +<p>“He called to his aid all the proud young warriors +of his tribe and offered his daughter in +marriage and his throne to the one among them +who would conquer his enemies.</p> + +<p>“This Popocatepetl that you see yonder went +into the fight. He had long been in love with the +beautiful princess.</p> + +<p>“The war was long. It was cruel. It was bloody. +But Popocatepetl endured to the end. Ah, but he +was proud and triumphant when he saw that it +would surely be he who would return to claim the +princess whom he loved.</p> + +<p>“But alas, his triumph was short-lived. His enemies, +having failed in battle, stooped to the lowest +form of deceit. They sent back to the Princess +the false news that her beloved had been killed. +She languished and became ill of a strange malady +that not even the smartest witch doctors in the +realm could cure her of. She died.</p> + +<p>“Popocatepetl’s grief was more than he could +bear. He wished to die too, so he caused to be +constructed a great pyramid upon which he himself +laid the beautiful Ixtaccihuatl. Next to it, he +built another. There, he stands, holding a funeral +torch.</p> + +<p>“The snow has enfolded her body and covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +that of the man that would have married her, but +it has never covered the torch which burns on, a +symbol of the love of Popocatepetl for +Ixtaccihuatl.”</p> + +<p>“And the smoke,” Nan said quietly when she +saw that he had finished, “of the volcano is the +smoke of the torch’s flame.”</p> + +<p>“Smart girl,” Walker Jamieson slipped into a +lighter mood now.</p> + +<p>“And they believed that story?” Bess sounded +incredulous.</p> + +<p>“Yes, O doubtful one,” Laura answered the +question, “and they had feasts for the couple. +Didn’t you listen to the beginning?”</p> + +<p>“Hm-m, they probably weren’t edible,” Adair +MacKenzie suddenly remembered the meal he +had found so distasteful a short time before.</p> + +<p>Walker winked at Alice who patted her father +on the arm, “Never mind, dad,” she said, “there’ll +be food that you like later on.”</p> + +<p>“Too late then.” Adair MacKenzie was not to +be mollified now. “Be all burned up before then +by these confounded Mexican chiles. Must have +a million varieties. Find them in everything. +Afraid even to order ice-cream. Probably comes +with a special chile sauce on it. Somebody ought to +teach these Mexicans how to eat. Do it myself if +I had time. Always think that when I come here.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +Teach them that and how to build roads,” he +added as the car bumped over the highway.</p> + +<p>“Anyway, we’re coming into some sort of civilized +city, now.” He looked about himself with +some degree of satisfaction, for as Walker had +proceeded with his account of the legend of the +two famous volcanoes, the car had been progressing +toward the city. Now it was on the outskirts +and Nan and Bess, Grace and Amelia and Laura +were craning their necks so as not to miss one +single sight.</p> + +<p>“How nice it would be,” Amelia remarked to +the group after she had missed something that +Walker had pointed out on the side of the road +opposite to the one she had been watching, “to +have a face on all sides of your head so that you +could see all ways at once.”</p> + +<p>“Well, all I can say is,” Laura returned dryly, +“that you are doing pretty well with the one that +you have. You might have missed the old flower +woman back there, but you are certainly making +up for it now.” With this she laughed and pushed +Amelia’s head, that was now blocking her own +line of vision, out of the way.</p> + +<p>“Such pretty young girls,” Nan remarked as +the car stopped at a crossroad to let a half dozen +Mexicans cross the street.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Aren’t they though?” Bess agreed. “One of +them looked just like Juanita. Remember?”</p> + +<p>Of course Nan remembered the girl that had +been involved in the hidden treasure plot that was +recounted in the story “Nan Sherwood at Rose +Ranch.” The thought of her now brought Rhoda +back to mind and her mother, and with it a return +of the anxiety they had felt at not having heard +recently from their friend.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XII<br /> + +<small>LINDA RIGGS TURNS UP</small></h2> + + +<p>Adair MacKenzie was quick to note the change +in their mood. “Wells Fargo and Co., Madero +14.” He gave instructions to the chauffeur, and +then turned to Nan. “It’s the American Express +of this country,” he explained in a tone that indicated +that they had no right to call it other than +the “American Express”. “We’ll pick up mail +there. You see.”</p> + +<p>“What have you done to the old man?” Walker +Jamieson questioned as he helped Nan out of the +car a few minutes later. “Why, Alice,” he continued, +assisting her too, “he’s practically putty in +her hands.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” Alice smiled as she took Nan’s arm +and walked along beside her. “It is amazing and +I’m almost jealous. I thought that I was the only +one in the world that could manage him.” She +looked fondly in the direction of Adair MacKenzie +who had already passed through the door and +was at the counter inside demanding his mail.</p> + +<p>“See, what did I tell you?” He asked triumphantly +when they all entered together. “There’s +a whole bunch of mail here. See.” He held up a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +truly large package of letters, letters from home +for each of the girls. As they all crowded around +him, he teased them by delaying the process of +handing them out.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see, this one looks interesting, mighty +interesting.” He lingered over the address. “But +the writing isn’t very clear.”</p> + +<p>Alice reached for it as though to help him out. +He raised his arm high. “No, it’s not for you,” he +shook his head at her. “This mailman always +delivers his mail to the proper person. Now, stand +back all of you, while I look again.”</p> + +<p>“This is as bad or worse than it is at school +when they distribute mail, isn’t it?” Laura nudged +Nan. “But look, isn’t the old duck getting a kick +out of it all?”</p> + +<p>Nan nodded. There was only one thing that she +was really impatient about. She wanted to know +now, right away, whether there was any word +from Rhoda. She felt as though she couldn’t stand +it a moment longer not to know.</p> + +<p>“Please, Cousin Adair,” she begged, “is there +anything there at all from Rhoda?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, father, tell us quickly,” Alice chimed in.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m sorry,” Adair MacKenzie was immediately +all contrition. “H-m-m, wait.” He +leafed quickly through the pack.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there is something,” he admitted at last.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +“It’s addressed to Nan.” With this he handed a +yellow telegram over to her. “Take it easily,” he +advised, while they all waited anxiously for Nan +to open it. She tore the seal, pulled the message +out, dropped it in her nervousness, and then when +it was restored to her hands, read it slowly to +herself.</p> + +<p>At long last she looked up. “It’s—” she caught +her breath before she could continue—“all right. +Rhoda’s mother is going to get well.” Saying this, +she passed the telegram over to Bess and Laura, +and then, before she realized at all what was happening, +her eyes welled up with tears.</p> + +<p>“Why, Nan, darling!” Alice exclaimed, “don’t +cry. Everything’s all right now. Come,” she drew +from her own purse a pretty white handkerchief +and wiped Nan’s tears away, “you’ll have us all +in tears.”</p> + +<p>Nan took the handkerchief away from her and +wiped her own eyes, hard. Then she smiled. +“Don’t mind me,” she laughed. “I’m just an old +silly. Please, cousin Adair, what’s in the rest of +that package.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, what’s in it?” Even Adair MacKenzie +sounded as though he had lost possession of himself +for a moment. Now, he collected himself +again and took the party in his hands, as he had +had it before. “Too much stalling around here,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +he grumbled to no one in particular, and then +went on with the distribution of the mail.</p> + +<p>The letters from home were fun to get, fun to +read, and fun to share. Each one was read and +re-read a dozen times by the girl that received it, +and then it was passed around and enjoyed by all +the others. There were letters from their mothers +and fathers and letters from their friends. There +was a round robin from their pals at school.</p> + +<p>Though all of them had news, this last had the +choicest bits.</p> + +<p>“Do you know that,” it began, “Professor +Krenner and Dr. Beulah Prescott are going to be +married before the summer is over?”</p> + +<p>“Nan,” Bess stopped Nan who was reading the +bit aloud to the others, “is it true? Did I hear +you right?”</p> + +<p>“I guess you did,” Nan’s eyes looked merry +now. She of all the girls had been the only one +who knew that this announcement was coming. +Beloved by Dr. Beulah and the best student and +most wide-awake person that had ever come to +Dr. Krenner’s attention, she had been in their +confidence before school had closed.</p> + +<p>The romance between the Principal of Lakeview +and one of its most scholarly instructors had +blossomed the summer the two had escorted the +present group of girls on their European trip.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +Professor Krenner joined the party in London, +just before the coronation. There he and Dr. +Prescott learned of the million and one things +they had in common. Nan knew of this, knew too +that the wedding was to take place in the chapel +at Lakeview just before school opened. Already, +she had planned to attend.</p> + +<p>Now, she went on with the reading of the round +robin. “Do you know,” she continued, “that the +old boathouse where we had that grand party on +Bess’s twenty-five dollars, is going to be pulled +down and a big new one built?</p> + +<p>“That the dormitories are being redecorated +and that corridor four where we have rooms is +going to have all the walls done over and that +serapes will look especially nice hanging on them?</p> + +<p>“And that, and this is the biggest piece of news +of all, Linda Riggs is someplace in Mexico?”</p> + +<p>“No!” the exclamation was Bess’s. If it was +possible to say that one girl in the room disliked +the proud Linda more than the rest, Bess was +that girl.</p> + +<p>“I hate her. I just hate her.” Bess had said +vehemently many times. And well she might, for +often in the days that followed the registration of +Bess and Nan at Lakeview, Linda had purposely +embarrassed and humiliated them. At first, Bess, +because she naturally coveted wealth, and Linda<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +was a very wealthy girl, had tried to make friends +with “Her Highness” as Laura dubbed Linda. +But her efforts always ended disastrously.</p> + +<p>Nan, as all those who have followed the fortunes +of the young girl know, time and again +tried to help Linda. Once or twice she was instrumental +in saving her life. But despite this, whenever +Linda was in a position to do so, she +managed to belittle Nan, to snub her rudely, to +make her just as uncomfortable as she possibly +could.</p> + +<p>So Nan and Bess had particular reasons for +disliking the girl who had even been expelled from +school for one bit of meanness that caused an +explosion which might easily have cost the lives +of many of the Lakeview Hall students. Linda, +in other words, was cordially hated by most of the +students of the fashionable boarding school.</p> + +<p>Now, the news that she was in Mexico brought +consternation to the group.</p> + +<p>“It’s just as I’ve always said,” Bess fumed. +“It’s impossible to go anyplace without having +her turn up.”</p> + +<p>“Probably likes you and just won’t admit it.” +Laura could well afford to add fuel to the flame. +Linda generally avoided her.</p> + +<p>“She doesn’t like me and you know it, Laura +Polk,” Bess exclaimed. “Why she had to come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +down here when there’s all the rest of the world +for her to travel in, I don’t know. But you can +just be sure of this, no good will come of it.”</p> + +<p>“Sh! Bess,” Nan warned as she looked over to +one side where Adair MacKenzie, Alice, and +Walker Jamieson were deep in consultation.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry, Nan,” Bess lowered her voice, “but +I just don’t seem to be able to control myself +when that girl comes to mind. She’s caused us so +much unhappiness that I can’t stand her.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” Nan was genuinely sympathetic, “but +don’t you worry, we probably won’t see her at all. +Mexico, after all, is a pretty big place.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it has twenty-seven states, besides the +Federal District and the Territory of Lower California.” +Laura quoted the guidebook glibly.</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t make any difference,” Bess said +firmly. “If she’s anywhere in the country, there’s +no escaping her. We’ll meet her.” She ended +positively.</p> + +<p>How truly Bess spoke, the crowd was soon to +find out, but the circumstances and the far-reaching +results must be left to other chapters.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII<br /> + +<small>NAN TURNS PHOTOGRAPHER</small></h2> + + +<p>“Well, what’s on the program this morning?” +Adair MacKenzie was in a genial mood the day +after the telegram had informed the girls that +Rhoda’s mother was going to recover.</p> + +<p>He had had a good night’s sleep and a generous +well-cooked breakfast in the fashionable hotel +where he had chosen to take his brood. Though +he had complained about the coffee in no uncertain +terms, as is the custom of most Americans traveling +in foreign countries, the rest of the food had +seemed good and now he acted as though he was +entirely at the disposal of his guests.</p> + +<p>“What do you say, Jamieson?” He turned to +the young newspaper man. “Got any ideas?”</p> + +<p>“Only those that we talked over at Wells +Fargo’s yesterday.” Walker Jamieson assumed a +mysterious air.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that, that has to wait until the afternoon,” +Adair MacKenzie looked mysterious too.</p> + +<p>“Then we might just explore the city, take the +buses and street cars and find out how the natives<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +get around. We might let the girls get a glimpse +of The Cathedral, one of the most important in +all of the Americas. It was built over the old +Aztec Templo Mayor and it took two and a half +centuries to build.”</p> + +<p>“Two and a half centuries to build a church!” +Laura exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“What can you expect?” Adair MacKenzie +asked in a tone that indicated he was not the least +bit surprised, “of a nation that has ‘mañana’ for +its motto?”</p> + +<p>Walker Jamieson laughed heartily at this. +“Well, maybe you are right,” he admitted, “but +I don’t think you’ll find your interpretation in any +guidebook. They say merely that the Indians contributed +a third of the cost and all the work and +that ‘many died each day due to the long hours +of unaccustomed strenuous work.’”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, they’ll never admit they are +wrong,” Adair shook his head as though this fact +grieved him deeply. “Never be afraid, you Nan,” +he pointed his finger sternly at his young cousin, +“to admit you are wrong. Best medicine in the +world. If you are wrong say so. It’s good for +you.” Adair MacKenzie had a habit of talking +thus in circles, agreeing with himself over some +great truth. Now he nodded his head with great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +satisfaction as though he himself made a practice +of admitting his mistakes.</p> + +<p>Walker looked at Alice. Alice looked at +Walker. They both laughed. Both knew that the +old man had never in his life admitted that he had +made a mistake. Both at this moment thought +him charming and lovable.</p> + +<p>“Well, shall we leave The Cathedral out +then?” Walker Jamieson was always willing to +give in in little particulars. “There’s plenty else +to see, palaces, parks, markets. Why, there’s a +whole new city to explore.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t leave anything out,” Adair MacKenzie +looked at his watch as he spoke, “but we’ve +got to do everything up in a hurry. Haven’t got +much time to stay in this city. Got a telegram this +morning from the caretaker at the Hacienda. Expects +us there within the next couple of days.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, daddy,” Alice laughed. “That’s the way +you always are. Always wanting to move on just +as soon as we arrive at a place.”</p> + +<p>“And you,” he twitted, “mañana is always good +enough for you. You’re just a lazy beggar. Now, +what do you want to do today.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, everything, just everything,” Alice looked +as though she would like to do it all and do it +now. She had that happy faculty that some people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +have of always having a good time no matter +what happens.</p> + +<p>Nan had it too. The word “bore” which slips +so easily from the tongues of many young people +who really shouldn’t know what boredom is, had +never crossed her lips. Life seemed too full of +adventure, too full of a number of things to do +for her to even think of applying it to herself. +Linda Riggs might have used the word, but never +Nan, and never Alice.</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s your answer,” Adair MacKenzie +turned to Walker when Alice answered that she +wanted to do “just everything.” “It’s a typical +woman’s answer. Now, do what you want to +with it.”</p> + +<p>“O-kay.” Walker Jamieson assumed the responsibility +willingly enough. “Now, listen here,” +he turned to the girls and assumed a serious air +and a stern one that unfortunately didn’t impress +them at all, and said, “we’ve got just about four +hours in this day to do with as you want to do.”</p> + +<p>“Four hours!” Nan exclaimed, “why, how +short the days are here! It’s only nine o’clock +now, or is Amelia’s watch slow?” She had been +looking at Amelia’s wrist as she spoke.</p> + +<p>“I said four hours.” Walker repeated, still +sternly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>“He said four hours.” Adair MacKenzie was +equally stern.</p> + +<p>“Then, why don’t you get started,” Alice +teased.</p> + +<p>“Come on, here. We are.” Walker pretended +that he was angry and that Alice’s remark was +just the last straw. He took her by the arm and +with the others following after, they all left the +dining room, walked through the lounge and then +out into the morning sunshine.</p> + +<p>The four hours flew by. They shopped in the +busy Mexican markets, bartered with natives, +dressed in brilliantly colored blankets and huge +sombreros, bought serapes, beautiful Indian pottery, +some opals that were sold by the dozen, +handwoven baskets and a million and one little +things that Walker declared would fill a trunk.</p> + +<p>Nan took her camera along and snapped pictures +of everyone, pretty Mexican señoritas selling +flowers, little Mexican boys who were boot-blacks, +proud of the American slang they had +learned in the movies, and whole families complete +with shawls, squatting over low fires making +tortillas for whomsoever would buy.</p> + +<p>She took pictures until in her enthusiasm she +forgot herself entirely and asked Adair MacKenzie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +if he would please hold a little Mexican +baby while she photographed it.</p> + +<p>As soon as the question was out of her mouth, +she realized that she had made a mistake.</p> + +<p>What a torrent it brought forth! Adair MacKenzie +blustered as he had never blustered before. +He would see himself tied and hung before she +would ever find him even touching one of those +kids. Why, the idea. Did she think he was an +embassador of good will, that he was down there +to kiss babies and wear serapes to show that he +was just one of the people. Did—d—did she think +he was—why, what did she think he was? He +stuttered in his surprise.</p> + +<p>Finally, Nan and Walker and Alice and all the +rest broke down in laughter, for Adair MacKenzie +was certainly outdoing himself.</p> + +<p>With this, he stopped in amazement. And they +were laughing at him! “No respect any more at +all,” he muttered and then he laughed too.</p> + +<p>“You, Walker, you,” he took the remaining bit +of his impatience out on that able young man, +“you’ve no sense at all in that head of yours. Let +the girls get out of hand all the time. Now, I’m +going to take charge of the party. Had enough of +your nonsense. Come on, you,” he turned to Nan +and the rest with this, “there’ll be no more pictures +today. We’re going back to the hotel now.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>“And then what?” Alice ventured to ask.</p> + +<p>“You’ll see. Just wait. You’ll see. This is my +party now.” So, he right-about-faced and went +striding from the market with the others following +him.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV<br /> + +<small>SMUGGLERS</small></h2> + + +<p>“A bullfight, Bess, we’re going to a bullfight,” +Nan exclaimed as she and Bess dressed for the +afternoon excursion with Adair MacKenzie.</p> + +<p>“Why, Nancy Sherwood, I never in all the +world thought you were the bloodthirsty creature +that you are,” Bess laughed at her pal.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you are just the same, Elizabeth Harley,” +Nan returned. “When Cousin Adair told us at +the luncheon table what we were going to do this +afternoon, you were just as excited as the rest +of us.”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” Bess confessed. “But I expect to +hold my ears and close my eyes through the worst +parts. They do say they can be very gory spectacles +with blood streaming all over everything.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” Nan admitted. “It scares me +to think of that part, but I want to see it anyway.” +As the girls talked, they dressed, combed their +hair, and then tidied up the room.</p> + +<p>“Ready?” Laura stuck her head through the +door and asked. “Amelia and Grace are already +downstairs. We better get started, or Grace will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +be backing down. Really, I think she’s scared to +death, but is afraid to admit it. Me, I’m going +to love this.”</p> + +<p>“Me, too,” Nan admitted. “I can hardly wait. +I’ve read about them so often. Remember the +lecturer at Lakeview who had all those slides +about bullfights in Spain. I’ve wanted to see one +ever since then.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mrs. Cupp was so angry over that. She +didn’t think it was the proper sort of thing for +young ladies to see. She thought it would coarsen +them,” Laura finished primly. “Wait until we get +back to Lakeview, will we ever have some tales to +tell her that will make her hair stand on end! +She’ll have to go to bed for a week to recover.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Laura,” Nan laughed, “you sound as +though you’d be brave enough to tell her all about +it yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if I’m not,” Laura joined in the laughter, +“because we aren’t exactly bosom pals, you +know, she’ll find out. Nothing escapes her.”</p> + +<p>“Truer words were never spoken,” Nan agreed +as she adjusted her hat in front of the mirror. +“Come on, now, I’m ready. Are you, Bess?”</p> + +<p>“Just a second.” Bess was rummaging through +her purse. “There’s everything here except the +thing I want.”</p> + +<p>“Looks almost like an over-night bag,” Laura<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +commented as Bess poured the contents out on +the dresser.</p> + +<p>“What in the world are you looking for?” Nan +asked somewhat impatiently. Bess never could find +things in her purse because she had a habit of +saving everything and never cleaning the pocket-book +out.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my passport—I mean my visitors’ pass.” +Bess really did look worried. “I had it this morning. +I know I did.”</p> + +<p>“All I can say is,” Laura commented dryly, “if +you’ve lost that, you might just as well go out +and drown yourself, because if you don’t, Mr. +MacKenzie will roar so loud when you tell him +that the earth will just open up and swallow us +all.”</p> + +<p>“I know it.” Bess was almost in tears. She +didn’t like to be roared at. She took scoldings +harder than anyone else in the crowd, because at +home she had always been made to feel that what +she did was right.</p> + +<p>“Bessie, you’re such a silly,” Nan laughed. +“You’ve got the wrong pocket-book. That isn’t +the one you had with you this morning. You had +the little black one and that’s over there on your +trunk. Remember, you put it there when you came +in so that you would be sure to know where it was +when you wanted it again.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bess laughed too now. “Isn’t that just like me, +always hunting for something and always finding +it just where it ought to be?”</p> + +<p>“I do that too,” Laura sympathized as they +three left the room. And so does everyone, but +Bess had a habit of getting confused and impatient +as soon as things went wrong and using all her +energy in getting excited. Nan generally remained +calm and found things. Laura was calm too and +that because she never took anything very seriously. +If she couldn’t find one thing, another +would do, and so she always went happily on +her way.</p> + +<p>Bess was thinking of this, as Nan pushed the +button for the automatic elevator. “But you +couldn’t have substituted anything for the visitors’ +pass.” She directed her remark to Laura as +though they had been talking over the thing she +was thinking about.</p> + +<p>“Whatever are you talking about?” Laura +laughed. “Or, is it a secret? You know what happens +to people in this country who go around +talking to themselves? They throw them to the +bulls. Now, come on, Bessie,” she finished. “You +may be a harum-scarum child, but we love you. +Cheer up.”</p> + +<p>At this, the elevator jolted and settled to its +place on the first floor and the three girls stepped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +out to find Adair, Alice, Walker Jamieson and +the rest all waiting for them.</p> + +<p>“Thought you had cold feet, and were backing +out.” Walker Jamieson greeted them with this +sally as they all walked down the entrance stairs +and out to their waiting car.</p> + +<p>“Look!” Nan pointed at a street car they were +passing.</p> + +<p>“At what?” Laura questioned.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you were too late,” Nan answered while +she adjusted her camera so that it would be ready +for her to take pictures when she wanted to. +“There was a sign on that car which said, +‘Toreo.’”</p> + +<p>“What does that mean?” Grace questioned.</p> + +<p>“Bullfight, darling, that’s where you are going +now,” Laura answered. “See, there’s the sign that +Nan saw again. It’s on the front of that bus that’s +stopped across the street. This must be a holiday. +Practically everyone seems to have dusted off his +best sombrero and come out on the streets.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a holiday everyday here.” Adair MacKenzie +turned around to join in the conversation. +“Saw a calendar of festivals posted in the hotel +lobby. No end to it. No wonder the people never +get anything done.”</p> + +<p>“I saw that too,” Walker Jamieson remarked. +“Saw something else posted on a bulletin board<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +that was interesting. It was a warning to everyone +to take good care of his visitor’s pass. Right beside +it was the announcement of a reward being +offered to anyone who could give information as +to the whereabouts of one Antonio Mazaro, an +American citizen and former aviator, who is suspected +of being an accomplice in an international +smuggling ring.”</p> + +<p>“They must be the smugglers Mr. Nogales +told us about at the border,” Nan remarked.</p> + +<p>Walker Jamieson said nothing further. The +truth, was, however, that he had just an hour before +received an assignment from a big New York +newspaper to cover certain aspects of this smuggling +ring story, and he was already wondering +whether or not it was going to be possible for him +to go on to the Hacienda as he had planned.</p> + +<p>“These Mexicans will never catch anyone, much +less a band of American crooks.” Adair MacKenzie +looked around again. “Need a couple of good +G-men down here, if they’re going to find out anything +at all.”</p> + +<p>“Think so too,” Walker agreed, “they are +sending some down, I understand.”</p> + +<p>“You got your nose in the story?” Adair MacKenzie +asked abruptly, and everyone looked at +Walker, waiting for his answer.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XV<br /> + +<small>A BULLFIGHT</small></h2> + + +<p>“Oh, always interested in whatever goes on,” +Walker answered off-handedly. “You know how +it is. See a story breaking, you want to be in on +the kill. Just can’t help yourself. Gets in your +blood, after you’ve worked on any paper for a +while.</p> + +<p>“Back four years ago, I went up into northern +Canada for a vacation. Chose that spot because +I thought it would be far away from newspapers +and stories of all kinds. I guess I was feeling +rather disgusted with everything and wanted to +get away, so when an old newspaper buddy who +had struck out a claim for himself asked me to go +up and do a little prospecting for gold with him, +I jumped at the chance.</p> + +<p>“It looked like an ideal set-up. We were to go +alone to his cabin which was miles away from +civilization and stay there for the summer. We +stocked up with plenty of food, some books I had +been wanting to read for a long time, and took a +radio along.</p> + +<p>“I had a book I wanted to write, something I +had started and never found time to finish. Oh, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +was nothing,” he added as Nan and the rest +looked impressed. “All newspaper people think +that some day they’ll write a book that will take +the world by storm.</p> + +<p>“Well, I thought I would finish that, do some +prospecting and just have a nice quiet time for +myself. The chap I was going up with was a nice +sort of fellow, quiet like myself.</p> + +<p>“We went by train as far as we could go, and +then got an old Indian to paddle us the rest of the +way in a canoe. It was nice going. We took it leisurely, +stopped and fished along the banks of the +river, and camped for three days in a gorgeous +spot that seemed as remote from civilization as +any place could possibly be.</p> + +<p>“Things went along quite perfectly until one +night—this was after we had been in the camp for +a couple of weeks—there was a radio call ‘Plane +carrying doctor and infantile paralysis serum to +Canadian outpost in Northwest down. Position +approximately’—Oh, I’ve forgotten what it was +now, but it was not far from our camp.</p> + +<p>“The next morning we were up at daybreak and +by the next afternoon we had located the plane. +The pilot was dead, but the doctor, though suffering +from a broken leg and shock, was still living. +After we had fixed him up, we spent the +night trying to get the plane’s radio to the point<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +where it would function, so that we could get the +news back to civilization.</p> + +<p>“But things were so radically wrong with it, +that my pal finally decided that he would set out +for the nearest outpost, traveling as we had when +we came, walking and by canoe. In the meantime, +the doctor was fretting and stewing because he +couldn’t get to the station that was in such urgent +need of medical aid, so partly on this insistence, +partly because I’m a stubborn fool when I start +out to do anything, I kept tinkering around with +the radio.</p> + +<p>“Finally, the thing came to life, and we were +able to get in touch with the outside world. You +know as well as I what happens in such cases. It +wasn’t long before I was up to my neck, sending +exclusive stories back to my old sheet and then, +when another plane came to take the doctor and +brought with it a whole flock of reporters, I was +swamped with work.</p> + +<p>“I grumbled, but I loved it, and when the story +died down and I was called back to work on an +assignment that I was more than proud to accept +I was like a kid with a new toy. Never so glad to +get back into harness in my life.</p> + +<p>“I feel now, a little the way I did then. Mexico +and the land of mañana spelled romance and +rest to me in the city room where I do my daily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +stint. But now I want neither of them. I smell a +story.”</p> + +<p>With this, he sniffed the air as though he was +actually trying to get the direction of the scent. +Alice laughed and held her hand on the handle of +the door. “Maybe you do,” she said, “but you’re +not leaving us today, at least not this minute. +Walker Jamieson, we’re headed for a bullfight +and you’re going along with us whether you want +to or not.”</p> + +<p>There was no protest, and Walker was glad +afterwards when he pieced the little sections of +the plot together that he hadn’t struck out on the +trail of the story before that memorable bull-fight.</p> + +<p>“And what’s the man with the wheelbarrow doing +in the parade?” Nan asked the question of +Walker Jamieson.</p> + +<p>They were all sitting now in the huge arena, +“Plaza de Toros,” the most important bull-fighting +ring in all Mexico. The place was packed and +Nan thought as she looked out over the people +that she had never in her life seen such a gay colorful +crowd, nor one in such an excited mood.</p> + +<p>They were sitting on the shady side of the +ring, “Sombra” it was called, the seats of which +cost twice the price of those on the sunny side, or +“Sol.”</p> + +<p>It was four o’clock exactly and the cuadrilla or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +parade that precedes every bull-fight had just +entered the arena. Everyone was standing up +shouting, waving his sombrero, and cheering for +his favorite.</p> + +<p>“That’s a secret, not to be divulged until later,” +Walker answered Nan’s question.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know it would be like this,” Grace, +generally so quiet and shy, said. Her face was all +alight and she was waving the pillow that had +been bought for her to sit on, as were all the rest +of the girls and women in the place. Laura was +waving hers too, and so were Bess and Nan and +Amelia.</p> + +<p>Down in the ring below them the parade was +marching around. First came a man on a spirited +horse that pranced and danced and bowed its +head to the ground again and again as the rider +circled the ring. Then followed the matadores or +bullfighters themselves in brilliant costumes that +proclaimed to everyone that they were the heroes +of the hour. It was for them that pillows were +waved and cheers echoed back and forth across +the ring.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they’re gorgeous, simply gorgeous,” Nan +was carried away with the excitement. “What are +they called?” she pointed her finger to a number +of men now riding on horseback and directed her +question to Walker.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>“And look, what are they?” Laura turned to +him at the same time. She was pointing to men in +white suits, red sashes, and caps who came in on +mules.</p> + +<p>“One at a time, please,” Walker laughed at +their excitement. “Nan’s first. Those men on +horseback are the picadores. Watch them later. +And you, Señorita,” he turned to Laura, “you +asked about the wise monkeys, ‘monosabios’ we +Mexicans call them. When the fight’s over they’ll +drag out the dead bull.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” The exclamation was Grace’s. She had +forgotten that a bullfight meant that there would +be blood and killing.</p> + +<p>Walker looked at her questioningly and then +at Alice. “Here was a girl,” the glances they exchanged +said, “that would have to be watched at +the killing.”</p> + +<p>Now, below them, the horseman leading the +procession bowed before the judge of the bullfight, +the formation disbanded, and the ring +cleared for the entrance of the first bull.</p> + +<p>It came in, charging from a door that was +opened below the ring, went bellowing madly +across the arena, and charged straight into a target +that maddened it further.</p> + +<p>Now the prettiest, most graceful part of the +whole spectacle began.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two helpers carrying lovely bright capes +stepped from the side into the arena. One of them +waved his cape, attracting the attention of the +bull which came rushing toward the bright moving +object. The helper danced gracefully aside. +The bull turned and rushed at him again, putting +his head down and going for him with his horns. +But the man was graceful and daring and teasing +and avoided him.</p> + +<p>Now the other helper waved his cape and was +equally provocative and the bull went for him +with the same lack of success.</p> + +<p>So they played back and forth, tantalizing the +bull, attracting it with one cape and distracting it +with another until it was thoroughly maddened.</p> + +<p>Then the rider came in on his horse and the +rider and the horse teased the bull further. So it +went until the climax when the third and most +important part of the fight began—the actual killing +of the bull.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI<br /> + +<small>END OF THE FIGHT</small></h2> + + +<p>The ring was in a furor when Bess clutched +Nan’s arm. “Look, Nan, look,” she said. “It’s +she. It’s Linda. Look, Nan.”</p> + +<p>Nan’s eyes were riveted on the ring, where the +bullfighter with his spear was waiting for a propitious +moment to plunge it into the mad bleeding +animal that was lunging at him.</p> + +<p>“Just a minute, Bess,” Nan hadn’t heard what +her friend had said. The horror and cruelty and +yet the excitement of the scene before her was +holding all her attention.</p> + +<p>Down there before her the bullfighter was +fighting a championship fight. He was playing +with the bull, teasing him toward him and then +skillfully dancing away. The end was imminent. +The fighter was waiting only for an opportunity +to make the clean, quick plunge that would finish +the fight with one stroke.</p> + +<p>Now, the moment seemed near and everyone, +Nan and her friends, and the more than twenty +thousand other people in the great ring stood up, +cheering for the finish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fighter closed in and then drew back to +make the lunge, but there was blood on the ground +beneath his feet and he slipped. The bull gave a +mighty roar and went toward him, his horns lowered. +The fight had turned. There could be only +one possible end now. Death for the fighter.</p> + +<p>But wait. That fighter is clever. He gracefully +pulls aside so the menacing horns glance across +his arm. He jumps up from the ground, pulls his +arm back, and before the bull has had a chance to +recover from his surprise, that fighter is, with one +mighty thrust, plunging the spear straight through +the bull’s heart.</p> + +<p>There, it’s over now. The fighter has fought the +fight that will surely bring him the trophy, a pair +of little gold ears. The throng, wild with excitement, +throws hats, scarfs, pillows, everything +loose that it can lay its hands on into the ring as +the hero of the hour slowly walks around and +bows with arms thrown out wide as though to +embrace the whole cheering multitude.</p> + +<p>Everything is gay and happy now. Even the +man that follows after the hero and picks up the +hats, scarfs, and pillows that litter the ground and +tosses them lightly back to the owners above is +laughing. Yes, even the man that pushed the +wheelbarrow in the grand opening procession is +happy, basking in reflected glory, as he trundles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +his burden around the ring, sprinkling sawdust +over the blood spots.</p> + +<p>It was not until the monosabios, “wise monkeys”, +came to drag out the bull, destined now for +food for a nearby hospital, that Bess again tried +to attract Nan’s attention.</p> + +<p>“Nan, I tell you that that’s Linda Riggs down +there below us,” she said insistently this time. +“Look at the way she’s tossing her head and talking +to that man that’s next to her. You would +think that he was a prince, a handsome prince, the +way she is acting.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Bess, you’re right. That is Linda.” Nan +at last drew her eyes away from the ring and +looked at the girl Bess was pointing to.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I’m sure she saw us a while ago,” +Laura contributed. She too had been watching the +girl that the Lakeview crowd had grown to dislike +so cordially. “You know the way she always +looks around her to see whether there is anyone +she really ought to be decent to, anyone that +might be able to do something for her. Well, she +did that when she first came in. I saw her, but I +wasn’t going to say anything because I didn’t want +to spoil the fun we were having.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet she sneered when she saw us,” Bess +said. “She’s always hated us and especially since +we had the laugh on her on the boat last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +summer.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, that wasn’t exactly a laugh,” Nan +protested. “The girl almost drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and you went and saved her. And what +thanks did you get?” Bess could always be indignant +when she thought of Linda Riggs. “You +should have let her alone. I would have. I would +have enjoyed seeing the waves wash her over-board. +I would have looked over the rail and +laughed when I saw her screaming and waving +her arms and trying to keep herself from going +under.”</p> + +<p>“You little fiend!” Nan exclaimed. “How can +you say such things?”</p> + +<p>“Because they are true,” Bess retorted. “People +like her shouldn’t be allowed to clutter up +things. She makes everybody that knows her unhappy, +so what good is she anyway? Her father +is always trying to get her out of trouble. Look at +her down there now. You can see by the way she’s +holding her head that she’s mean and proud and +deceitful.”</p> + +<p>“Bess, be quiet!” Nan warned. “You’ll have +everyone looking at you. Linda is a little prig and +she does make trouble and I don’t like her any +more than you do, but there’s no use making +things unpleasant because she’s happened to turn +up here where we are. Forget her.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Forget her!” Bess exclaimed. “You can’t forget +a thorn that’s forever sticking in your flesh. +Trying to forget her doesn’t do any good. She +always makes trouble. It’s best to watch her so +that you will be prepared for what happens.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps Bess was right. Certainly, if at other +times Nan and Bess had been more watchful they +might have been able to avoid trouble. But Nan +always believed that there was some good in +everyone and she was always trustful. She felt +often that Linda, because of her wealth and the +fact that her mother was dead and her father +tried to give her everything she wanted, was not +entirely to blame for her actions. And Bess, well, +Bess’s attitude toward Linda had changed considerably +since their first meeting.</p> + +<p>Then Bess had thought that the daughter of +the railroad magnate would be a nice person to +have for a friend, for Bess was decidedly impressed +by her wealth, by the way she ordered +people around, and the way she dressed. Bess had +even written home in the first days at school and +told her mother that she didn’t have at all the +proper kind of clothes to wear, if she was going +to chum around with people that amounted to +something. She had Linda in mind when she wrote +it, Linda’s clothes and Linda’s social position.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +But Linda had soon shown Bess that there was +no room for her in her world.</p> + +<p>Girls that Linda called friend, if there was any +such word in her vocabulary, had to bow to all her +wishes. She liked them only if they thought everything +she did and said was right. No girl could be +her friend and have a will of her own. No girl +could be her friend and have other friends too. +Linda wanted to be the very center of everyone’s +attention. As a consequence she had no real +friends at all.</p> + +<p>Bess never analyzed this to herself, but after +one or two attempts to go around with Linda, +she gave up entirely and grew to dislike her very +much, as all the readers of the Nan Sherwood +series know. She disliked her particularly because +of the mean things she had done to Nan, for if +Bess had no other outstanding characteristic, she +did have a sense of justice that was almost as +strong as Nan’s.</p> + +<p>This she had although her sympathies were not +as deep nor as understanding as Nan’s. Bess was +apt to accept or reject things and people on account +of appearances. Nan never did this. She +liked everyone and had always had some sort of +sixth sense that made her look beneath surfaces +and find the true person. Thus she made friends +with all sorts of people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was the reason that Nan led such an adventurous +life. This was the reason everyone liked +her. Everyone called Linda snobbish. A few people +called Bess the same. But no one ever thought +of applying the word to Nan.</p> + +<p>And Nan seldom talked about people. So now, +as the girls sat in the arena in Mexico City waiting +for the next bullfighter to come into the ring, +Nan was doing her best to quiet her friend.</p> + +<p>“There’s no reason whatsoever to get so excited,” +she said in an undertone to Bess. “She’s +sitting way down below us so we won’t have to +even talk to her when we go out. We’ll be up the +stairs and out the exit before she does. We’ll +probably never even see her again while we’re +here.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” Laura agreed, talking in a +whisper too. “And though you might think that +you could prepare yourself for what might happen +if you did encounter Linda, you never could. +No one ever knows what that girl might do. And, +Elizabeth Harley, you’re not smart enough to +guess.” Laura being Laura with her red hair and +her love for battle couldn’t resist adding this +thrust.</p> + +<p>“Well, I could try anyway,” Bess retorted.</p> + +<p>“Say, what are you people all talking about so +quietly?” Amelia leaned over and asked now.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +“Why, you didn’t even pay any attention when +Mr. Jamieson took Grace out.”</p> + +<p>“Took Grace out!” Nan exclaimed, noticing +now for the first time that two in the party were +missing. “Why?”</p> + +<p>“She almost fainted when she saw all the blood +streaming from the bull, so just before he was +killed, Walker Jamieson took her by the arm and +said they were going for a walk and would be +back soon.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t blame her,” Bess said emphatically. +“I would have fainted myself—”</p> + +<p>“—if you had been watching the bullfight instead +of Linda Riggs,” Nan supplied the end of +the sentence.</p> + +<p>“I guess you are right,” Bess laughed. “That +girl certainly does have a habit of getting in my +hair. I’m always on pins and needles whenever +she is around.”</p> + +<p>“There, Bessie,” Nan tried to smooth her +friend’s ruffled feelings. “Just you sit quietly and +watch the next fight and you’ll feel better. We’ll +see that Linda doesn’t cross your path.”</p> + +<p>“She hadn’t better,” Bess replied and then did +try to devote herself to watching the next fight +on the program.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII<br /> + +<small>A HASTY DEPARTURE</small></h2> + + +<p>“Sit quietly and watch a bullfight!” Adair +MacKenzie had heard Nan’s counsel to Bess. +“Never heard of such a thing. Never saw such a +thing happen. Couldn’t possibly sit quietly and +watch a bullfight. Too exciting. Too much blood +and gore. No place to bring a woman.”</p> + +<p>Adair had been upset by Grace’s fainting spell +and now he was sorry he had ever brought the +girls here. Already he was casting about in his +mind for something else to do that would wipe +the memory of the unpleasantness of the spectacle +out of their minds. He was oblivious of the fact +that none of them outside of perhaps Nan and +Amelia had witnessed the fight with their whole +attention. He didn’t yet know the story of Linda. +The fact that her presence distracted them consequently +had gone unobserved.</p> + +<p>“Got your things? Come on. We’re going +now.” Abruptly he made up his mind and plunged +into action without further ado.</p> + +<p>“But father,” Alice demurred.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Don’t ‘but’ me,” Adair answered. “We’re +going to get out of this outlandish place right +away. Can’t have you all fainting on my hands. +Ready?” He was already halfway out the row +and effectively blocking the view of the ring of +all the people who had seats behind his party. But +it didn’t matter to him. In fact, he was so concerned +with his own immediate problem that no +one else in the world existed. Now he turned +around again to see if the girls were following +him.</p> + +<p>“Fine spectacle for civilized people to put on,” +he muttered. “Hurry, you people. Can’t be all +day getting out of here.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right.” The voice that agreed with him +was an American voice and it startled him. Adair +looked up. “What’s that?” he asked the question +gruffly.</p> + +<p>“I said, ‘that’s right,’” the stranger answered. +He was sitting about three rows behind where +Adair was standing.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” Adair looked more +belligerent than ever.</p> + +<p>“I mean you can’t be all day getting out of +here.” The voice in back answered positively.</p> + +<p>“W-w-why, you old—old—old,” Adair spluttered. +He could think of no epithet appropriate +and yet forceful enough to call his critic in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +presence of the girls. So his spluttering died away +as he brandished his cane and just stood and +looked.</p> + +<p>“Daddy, daddy,” Alice put a soft hand on his +arm. “Do come. We are blocking the view.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing to see down there anyway,” Adair +returned. “These Americans,” he went on talking +loudly and looking back at the man above him, +“come down here and think they can run everything. +Want to tell us to move on. Who do they +think they are anyway?”</p> + +<p>“Sh, daddy.” Alice was worried for fear her +father would start a fight, even while she was +secretly amused that he was accusing a fellow +countryman of doing the very thing that he was +guilty of. “We must get down and out so that we +can find how Grace is,” she added tactfully.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m hurrying just as fast as these Mexicans +will let me,” Adair answered. “I always said +they were the slowest, most inconsiderate people +in the world.”</p> + +<p>Adair was wrong in what he said, and he knew +it. As he was now sputtering about them being +inconsiderate, so often he had sputtered because +of their patient consideration for other people. +Then he had said that they were too polite.</p> + +<p>However, Adair prided himself on his willingness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +to change his mind. “Only dunces never contradict +themselves,” he often said.</p> + +<p>Now, Alice and the girls were themselves moving +along as fast as they could behind him, so, +though he continued to mutter and even brandish +his cane at others whom he suspected of calling +at him in Spanish, he was soon safely out in the +aisle and they all hurried up the stairs and out.</p> + +<p>“O-o-ooh, but that was close,” Laura’s eyes +were dancing at the recollection of the scene in +the stands as she and Nan stepped out into the +street.</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t it though?” Nan was laughing too, +now, though at the time, she, like Alice, had been +worried for fear Adair would come to blows with +the American.</p> + +<p>“Two Americans come to blows at a bullfight,” +Laura said, “and the bullfight is forgotten.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I was afraid of,” Nan whispered. +“These people in this country are so hot-headed +that I was afraid there would be a general +riot, before we got out of there. They were all +worked up so over the first fight that they would +have entered our private little fray without any +question.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I thought too,” Laura agreed. +“And did you see the expression on Bess’s face?”</p> + +<p>“No,” Nan returned, “but I can just imagine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +what it was like. She hates scenes of any kind. I +do too, but this one was almost funny. Cousin +Adair is so quick tempered that he glides in and +out of trouble with the greatest of ease.”</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t he though?” Amelia contributed. “It +fascinates me when I see one of his explosions +coming. Every time he opens his mouth, he gets +in deeper.”</p> + +<p>“That is funny when you see it happen to someone +else,” Laura agreed somewhat ruefully. “But +when it happens to you, if you have a sensitive +soul, like mine, it’s pretty embarrassing.” Laura +was in earnest, for her quick tongue often did its +work before she had a chance to stop it. “Oh +Laura,” her mother had more than once shaken +her head over her daughter’s failing, “you need +to count to a hundred at least when you feel your +cheeks flushing and your head getting hot with +anger. And you need to button your mouth up +tight, or you’ll always be terribly unhappy.”</p> + +<p>Laura thought of this now, and giggled.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know what’s so funny,” Bess +remarked. She still felt irritated at what had happened. +“Maybe if you had seen Linda Riggs looking +around at us, you wouldn’t be giggling the +way you are. I wish I could have just gone right +through that floor.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>“But it was concrete and you couldn’t.” Laura +pretended to be very practical.</p> + +<p>“That is, not without hurting herself,” Amelia +appended.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it isn’t funny.” Bess was genuinely upset. +She would have hated the scene anyway, and when +it occurred in Linda’s presence, she hated it doubly. +“You should have seen the look of pity and +disgust and triumph on her face when she saw +that it was our party that was making all the +fuss,” Bess went on, growing more vehement the +more she talked. “It was positively humiliating.”</p> + +<p>More than any of the others, Bess cared about +what other people thought of her. Always conscious +of herself and eager to make a good impression, +she was always upset when things went +wrong at all. When they did not run just according +to the way she thought they should, in public +especially, she felt like hiding her head and running. +“It’s the way I am and I can’t help it,” she +retorted once when Nan accused her of being +over-sensitive, and so she never made the proper +effort to overcome her failing.</p> + +<p>“Who cares what Linda thinks?” Laura said +airily as Walker and Grace joined the party, and +the incident was forgotten, for the moment, while +everyone made a fuss over Grace.</p> + +<p>“You’re just a sissy,” Laura teased. “See a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +little bit of blood and you go off in a faint. What +will you do when we start dissecting things in +biology at school next fall?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.” Grace looked worried as +though she was going to have to do the dissecting +right away.</p> + +<p>“Tut! Tut! We’ll worry about that when the +time comes,” Adair MacKenzie answered as +though it was his problem to be handled in due +course. “How are you now?” He looked at Grace +closely while he asked the question. “Feeling all +right again, are you?” He spoke gently, as he +might have spoken to Alice, his daughter, and a +warm feeling of sympathy toward him went +through all those standing around.</p> + +<p>“Why,” Nan said afterward, and Bess had to +agree, “I believe he was irritable up in the stands +because he was worried about Grace.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so.” Bess was much less tolerant of +other people’s failings than her friend. “But that +was no excuse for him to get all riled up. I can’t +forget the way Linda looked.”</p> + +<p>“Bessie, forget it.” Nan spoke sharply. “It’s +not important at all. It doesn’t matter what Linda +thinks of us. And it is important that we not criticise +Cousin Adair. After all, we are his guests.”</p> + +<p>“You are right,” Bess agreed. She could, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +occasion, be generous in yielding when she knew +she was in the wrong.</p> + +<p>As they talked these things over, the whole +party walked toward the waiting car. Again, it +was a voice from the United States that arrested +them, but one more softly spoken than that they +had heard in the grandstands.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon,” it said. Nan and her +Lakeview Hall companions looked up startled. +The speaker who had accosted them was accompanied +by none other than Linda Riggs!</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> + +<small>LINDA PERFORMS AN INTRODUCTION</small></h2> + + +<p>“I beg your pardon.” Linda Riggs’ companion +spoke again, “but could you direct us to Avenida +Chapultepec?”</p> + +<p>Before anyone could answer Linda rushed over +to Nan and took her by the arm. “Why, Nancy +Sherwood!” she exclaimed as though Nan was the +best friend she had in the world. “I’m so surprised +to see you here. When did you arrive? +Isn’t this city just perfectly gorgeous? More +quaint, don’t you think, than anything we saw in +Europe?”</p> + +<p>Nan was at a loss as to what to say. Deep within +her she was entirely out of patience with the +situation. Linda was being disgustedly affected. +She was talking slowly, dragging her vowels and +gesturing with her hands, acting as a person twice +her age might act and even then be nauseous. But +Linda disregarded Nan’s coolness.</p> + +<p>“And you, Bess,” Linda turned to Elizabeth +Harley. “Imagine seeing you here. Isn’t it all too +romantic for words, a whole crowd of Lakeview<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +Hall people meeting in this far-off corner of the +globe. The most astounding things do happen, +don’t they?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they do,” Laura remarked dryly, looking +Linda up and down as she did so.</p> + +<p>“And you, Laura Polk. Why, you are all together, +I do believe.” Linda acted as though she +had made a brilliant observation. She was having +a difficult time, even for her, in the situation, for +her effusions were being received rather coldly to +say the least.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to have you meet my friend, Arthur +Howard,” she went on, forcing Nan to introduce +her and her companion to her cousin and Alice.</p> + +<p>“Hm! Glad to meet you.” Adair MacKenzie +said abruptly. “Got to be going now. Sorry, don’t +know the way to Avenida whatever-it-was-you-said. +Can’t keep any of these streets straight in my +mind. They’re all mixed up.” With this, he summarily +herded his daughter, Nan, Laura, Bess, +and Amelia toward the car where Walker Jamieson +and Grace who had gone on alone together +were waiting. Linda and her companion were thus +left behind.</p> + +<p>“Nan,” Grace hardly waited until the girls +were in the car beside her before she asked the +question, “was that Linda Riggs that you were +talking to out there?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>“None other,” Laura answered. “And why are +you giggling so, Bess. A few moments ago you +were all hot and bothered about Linda and now +you’re laughing. Will you please make up your +mind about what you’re thinking.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s so funny.” Bess was off again. “Did +you see the way she looked when Mr. MacKenzie +walked away so suddenly. I do believe that she +thought we would fall all over her the way she +was falling all over us. Oh, dear, did that do my +heart good!” Bess sounded positively gleeful.</p> + +<p>“Mine too.” Laura was laughing with her.</p> + +<p>“And do you remember,” Bess went on, “how, +when Mr. MacKenzie analyzed all of us when he +first met us, we wished that some day he would +have the chance to do it to Linda. Well, that wish +almost came true down there. I do believe that if +we had stayed a moment longer he would have +done it. I was hoping—”</p> + +<p>“Elizabeth Harley! I thought you didn’t like +Cousin Adair,” Nan, too, was tickled at the whole +situation.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I do now,” Bess capitulated. “I just love +him. Do you know that’s the first time since we’ve +known her, that we’ve seen her as embarrassed +as she makes us sometimes. How I wish we had +stayed just a moment longer.”</p> + +<p>“What’s this about your just loving someone?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +Adair turned around to join in the conversation.</p> + +<p>Bess blushed.</p> + +<p>“Well, all I can say is,” he went on when she +failed to answer. “I hope it’s not that girl back +there that we just met that you’re being so enthusiastic +about. Don’t like her at all myself. No +character. She’s snippy. She’s deceitful. Can’t even +talk without putting on airs. Can’t stand her. +Hope she’s no friend of yours.” He turned to Nan +as he said this last.</p> + +<p>Nan shook her head and said nothing further. +She felt, and rightly so, that it was unnecessary to +discuss Linda among people who did not know +her. This was a consideration that Linda would +never have shown Nan. In fact, time and again, +Linda had purposely attempted to blacken Nan’s +character in front of strangers. This was one reason +that Bess, loyal as she was to Nan, disliked +Linda so much.</p> + +<p>“Can’t tolerate people who are affected,” +Adair MacKenzie went on blustering as the car +drove out into the street. “And didn’t like that +man she was with either. He didn’t have a very +honest look about him.”</p> + +<p>“But he was nice-looking.” Bess let the words +out before she realized what she was doing, and +the wrath of Adair MacKenzie descended upon +her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Nice-looking! That’s all you think of. Nice-looking, +bah! Can’t judge people by their looks. +It’s what’s in their eyes and their hearts that +counts. Have to see that before you can accurately +decide what they are. Anybody can dress up and +make a good appearance. You, Bessie,” he lowered +his tone at a look from Alice, “you’ve got +to learn something about true values before you +get much older. You’re a nice sort of girl, but you +put too much emphasis on money and worldly +goods. You’ll have to be taught sometime that +they are not so important as you think.</p> + +<p>“That goes for all of you,” he ended, sweeping +them all with his glance. “You’ve all had easy +lives, so you don’t know yet, really, what’s worth +while and what isn’t.”</p> + +<p>“Now, that girl back there,” he resumed his +talk after a few moments of silence, “she has no +conception what-so-ever of worth. What’s her +name, anyway?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Linda Riggs,” Nan answered.</p> + +<p>“Not the daughter of the railroad king?”</p> + +<p>“That’s right.” Nan nodded her head.</p> + +<p>“Knew him, when he was a young fellow,” +Adair paused, remembering his own youth. “He +was a nice chap then. Can’t understand how he +could have reared such a poor excuse for a daughter. +We belonged to the same college fraternity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +He was president of it at one time I think. Always +helping people out. Everybody liked him. +That’s how he happened to get on in the world +the way he did. Met up with someone who had +lots of dough and no son to carry on the family +name. Riggs seemed to fill the bill, so the wealthy +old codger took him into his business and +taught him the ropes.</p> + +<p>“Riggs wore well, and when the old man died +he inherited the fortune. Sounds like a fairy story, +but those things happen. Jamieson here must know +the tale.”</p> + +<p>Walker nodded in agreement. “Do. Interviewed +the old bird one time under particularly +difficult circumstances. There was a big railroad +merger story about to break, and nobody wanted +to talk. I got wind of it through a hot tip from a +stooge in New York. Tried everything in order +to get the story, and finally in desperation went +to Riggs himself. It was rumored that he had the +controlling interest in the stock. I had to go +through a dozen secretaries before I finally got +to him.</p> + +<p>“Then he didn’t want to talk either. However, +some little thing I said in passing, captured his +fancy, and before I knew it, I was laying all my +cards on the table and he was putting them together +so that they made sense. When we were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +finished, I realized that I had one of the biggest +stories of the year and was about to grab my hat +and run out to put it on the wires, when he put out +a restraining hand. ‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘but I must +ask you to keep this quiet for twenty-four hours +longer. If you promise, I assure you that no one +else will get the release until your paper has the +scoop all sewed up.’</p> + +<p>“In a way I was up a tree, because I knew that +if the story had leaked out to me, someone else +was very likely to get wind of it too. I hesitated. +He stuck out his hand as though to shake mine +and he did it in such a frank friendly fashion, that +I agreed to what he asked, even though I knew it was +a dumb thing to do under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>“But there was something about the man that +inspired confidence and regard.”</p> + +<p>“Lived up to the agreement, didn’t he?” Adair +said positively.</p> + +<p>“Sure did,” Walker assented, “and under difficulty +too. Just as I suspected, some other paper +did get wind of the story and sent one of their +ace men out to get the details. Riggs let him in, +quizzed him to find out what he knew, excused +himself, and then called me to tell me that the +time was up, that I’d better shoot the yarn right +through if I wanted to scoop the rest of the +dailies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, after he did that, he went back into his +office and told the other reporter the whole story +he had told me. It took him three hours to tell it, +and when my competitor came out of the office +our extras were already on the street.”</p> + +<p>“That was the Midwestern merger, wasn’t it?” +Adair questioned.</p> + +<p>“Right!” Jamieson agreed. “Remember it, +don’t you? But you chits,” he turned his attention +to the girls who had been listening with their customary +attention to his tale, “you wouldn’t remember. +You were hardly out of your cradles +then. Nan here was probably still creeping around +in rompers. Bess, well, Bess probably didn’t creep, +that was too dirty for her, but she was probably +beginning to put her hands up to her father and +saying, ‘gimme’.”</p> + +<p>This brought a laugh from everyone, including +Adair MacKenzie.</p> + +<p>“Can’t understand,” he returned to the question +of Linda, “how a girl with a father like Riggs +could be such an obnoxious person.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there are lots of explanations,” Walker +answered. “I happen to know that his wife died +when the girl was just a baby. He was all broken +up and turned to the child for comfort. Guess he +lavished all his attention on her and spoiled her.”</p> + +<p>“Sounds plausible,” Adair agreed, and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +looked at Alice. “See how I ruined my daughter +with kindness,” he twitted. “Let her get out of +hand completely. Now I can’t do anything with +her.”</p> + +<p>“Want to get rid of her?” Walker winked at +Alice, as he asked the question.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” Adair was startled.</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing, dad,” Alice frowned at Walker. +“Where are we going now.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know.” Adair took out his watch as he +shook his head. He frowned. “Guess we can make +it though,” he continued, laughing with the others +at his own inconsistency.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX<br /> + +<small>FLOATING GARDENS</small></h2> + + +<p>“Xochimilco or place of flowers. How lovely,” +Nan spoke softly in the presence of the beauty +before her.</p> + +<p>Adair MacKenzie in his desire to introduce the +girls to something that would make them forget +the bullfight had brought them to one of the +prettiest places in all Mexico. Now, he was looking +exceedingly pleased with himself.</p> + +<p>“Oh, daddy,” Alice too was thrilled at the +spectacle before them. “Many, many times I’ve +heard of the floating gardens of Mexico and I’ve +always wanted to see them.”</p> + +<p>“Well, there they are,” Adair said as off-handedly +as possible under the circumstances. “Now +you see them.”</p> + +<p>They laughed at his matter-of-factness.</p> + +<p>“If you will allow me,” Walker Jamieson who +had deserted the party immediately after the car +had been parked, now brought a canoe he had +rented and paddled up one of the many canals +before them to a stop at their feet. He stood up +and held out his arm to Alice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Fair lady, you come first.” He said as he +helped her in and assisted her to a seat opposite +him. “And now, Nan.” So one after the other he +helped the members of the party to places in the +large canoe.</p> + +<p>“H-h-hm,” Adair MacKenzie cleared his throat +as he seated his bulk. “Now, I’d say this is more +in keeping with what young ladies should like. +How about it?” He addressed his question to +Grace who was beaming beside him.</p> + +<p>She nodded in agreement.</p> + +<p>Everyone was completely happy as Walker +pushed the canoe off. So the rest of the afternoon +was whiled away in paddling lazily through the +flower-bordered canals.</p> + +<p>“Why are they called floating gardens?” Nan +addressed her question to Walker who seemed a +fountainhead of information about all sorts of +things.</p> + +<p>“Simply because they float,” Walker answered +as he disentangled his paddle from some lily stems +along the side.</p> + +<p>“But you can’t actually see them move,” Nan +said as she peered earnestly at one of the many +islands.</p> + +<p>“No, you can’t, now,” Walker agreed. “But +there was a time, Miss Curiosity, ages ago when +these beautiful gardens actually did float from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +place to place, a time when you didn’t know from +one day to the next just where you’d wake up and +find a certain particularly beautiful one.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” The subject was an intriguing one and +Nan wanted to know all about it.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they say,” Walker continued quietly, “that +the earth of the gardens lies on interlacing twigs. +Naturally before the water filled in as it is now, +these twigs moved with the current and carried +their burden of earth and flowers along with them.</p> + +<p>“This was always a beautiful spot,” he continued, +“even back before the Aztecs found the +eagle on the cactus and conquered the region and +settled their capitol. When they did all this and +found themselves with leisure on their hands, the +nobles made of this place a playground, and the +Aztec papa and mama came here with the Aztec +child for Sunday picnics.</p> + +<p>“Today, if I hadn’t been as energetic as I am,” +he paused and grinned at the snort that this +brought forth from Alice’s father, “a descendant +of these same Aztecs, who still, by the way, speaks +the tongue of his forefathers, would have been +plying this gondola. The Aztecs still live around +here and still preserve many of the ancient customs +of their people.”</p> + +<p>He rested the paddle on the side of the canoe +as he finished and, as water dripped from it making<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +little rings in the canal, he sat idly dreaming. +The canoe drifted along and came to rest under +an over-hanging willow. No one spoke. It was a +magic moment, for the sun was setting and sending +low rays over the water. Tropical birds were +singing full-throated songs and in the distance +they could hear, faintly, the sound of music.</p> + +<p>Finally, Alice spoke. “It can’t be very different,” +she said, “than it was centuries ago. For +the same exotic flowers ran wild here then that +do now, and the same birds sang. How queer that +makes me feel. Century after century has unrolled +and yet this is the same.”</p> + +<p>“I know.” Walker looked across at her. +“Makes you feel, doesn’t it, that time isn’t so important +after all, that a philosophy in which +‘mañana’ is the all-important word is perhaps not +such a bad one after all.”</p> + +<p>“Here, here,” Adair MacKenzie broke the +spell. “Don’t go preaching that mañana business +to these girls. They are lazy enough as it is. Look +at them now, will you?”</p> + +<p>In truth, the girls did all look comfortable and +lazy, entirely at peace with themselves and the +world and not at all like the busy energetic beings +that they were at school.</p> + +<p>“The world doesn’t seem real, does it?” Nan +looked at Bess as she made this observation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>“No,” Bess answered. “Not real at all. This, +I believe, is the most romantic spot we have ever +been in.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Nan agreed idly, and for some reason +or other her thoughts drifted back towards home +and school and then to Walter, Grace’s brother.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Grace broke +in on her train of thought as though she knew +what had been going on in Nan’s mind. “Mother +said in that letter I got at Wells Fargo’s this +morning that she had consented to let Walter go +on a motor trip through the West and Mexico +with his Spanish teacher.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.” Nan’s voice betrayed her interest, and +she was conscious as she spoke that all the girls +were suddenly more alert. The piece of news was +one they were interested in too.</p> + +<p>“It seems,” Grace went on, pleased that she +had the attention of everyone, “that every year +he takes a group down through this district so +that they can hear Spanish spoken by the people +whose tongue it is. Walter likes Spanish and so +he’s going along with them.”</p> + +<p>“When will he be here,” Bess asked the question +which she knew Nan wanted to ask but +wouldn’t in face of the interest that everyone was +showing in the matter.</p> + +<p>“Oh, mother wasn’t sure,” Grace answered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +“It all depends on so many things. They’ll be +gone the whole summer and will linger at the +places the boys seem to like the best. It seems that +the teacher leaves the itinerary almost entirely +up to them.”</p> + +<p>“Sounds like fun.” Nan tried to be casual and +general as she spoke, but she didn’t altogether +succeed.</p> + +<p>“What’s all this about?” Adair MacKenzie +had caught the drift of the conversation. “Who +is this Walter anyway?”</p> + +<p>“He is Grace’s brother,” Nan answered.</p> + +<p>“Yes?” Adair was not to be put off so easily.</p> + +<p>“And he went with us to Rose Ranch a few +summers ago and met us in London with Grace’s +mother and dad last year.” Nan thought it would +be better for her to answer the questions.</p> + +<p>“Hm-m-m. Think I understand.” Adair appeared +to be devoting much thought to this +“understanding” business for he said nothing +further for a while. Finally, as though he suddenly +remembered what they had been talking +about, he returned to the subject.</p> + +<p>“Why can’t the young hoodlums—I have no +doubt but what they are young hoodlums, all boys +are—stop at the hacienda with us for a few +days?” he asked.</p> + +<p>Grace’s face beamed at this. “Why, how nice!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +she exclaimed, “but just think, there will be five +of them at least.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?” Adair dismissed this as an objection. +“Got lots of room. We’ll make a party +of it when they come and serve them a real Mexican +meal.” Adair seemed to have forgotten entirely +that he personally despised Mexican cooking. +“Hot tamales, tortillas, everything.” He +waved his hand grandly as though the whole world +would be at the disposal of the boys for the +asking.</p> + +<p>“Like boys anyway,” Adair went on. “Girls +are a nuisance. Always fainting. Oh, it doesn’t +matter,” he glossed over this last part of conversation +as he saw the blood mounting to Grace’s +cheeks. “Just like to have boys around.” He ended +rather weakly. “Now, let’s see. It’s getting pretty +dark, better move on.” He motioned to Walker +who obediently took the paddle in hand and began +the leisurely journey back.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XX<br /> + +<small>GOOD-BY TO MEXICO CITY</small></h2> + + +<p>“Oh, yesterday was a grand day!” Nan +stretched her arms wide and high as she sat up +in her bed the next morning.</p> + +<p>“Yes, wasn’t it?” Bess rolled over in her bed +and looked at Nan. “It was just full of surprises. +I don’t know what I liked the best.”</p> + +<p>“I do,” Nan said promptly.</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Cousin Adair. I think he’s a darling.”</p> + +<p>“He’d probably roar a mighty roar if he heard +you say that,” Bess laughed at the prospect, “but +you know, I quite agree with you, even if it isn’t +my friend that he has invited to stop at the +hacienda.”</p> + +<p>“But Walter’s a friend to all of us,” Nan +protested.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, of course,” Bess agreed. “He’s a +friend to all of us and a particular friend to you.”</p> + +<p>“Bessie, if this big pillow wasn’t so soft,” Nan +looked at the pillow she was holding in her hand +speculatively, “I’d heave it over at you so fast that +you wouldn’t know what had struck you.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>“That’s all right, Nancy,” Bess laughed. “I +understand. You don’t like to be teased.”</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t it fun last night?” Nan changed the +subject completely.</p> + +<p>“What was fun?” Bess could remember so +many nice things that she really didn’t know which +one Nan was talking about.</p> + +<p>“Dinner on the bank of the canal at Xochimilco,” +Nan answered promptly. “I’ll never forget it. +The lights. The flowers. The music. Who would +ever think to look at him and hear him talk that +Cousin Adair would be romantic enough to think +up anything like that?”</p> + +<p>“I know it.” Bess idly watched an insect that +was buzzing around the room. “I was much surprised. +Then I began to wonder if it wasn’t +Walker Jamieson’s idea after all. You know he +has a clever way of suggesting things to your +cousin, so that when your cousin decides what to +do it appears as though he thought up the idea +originally.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Bess.” Nan appeared to be horrified at +the thought.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you know it’s so.” Bess looked over at +Nan. “It’s lots of fun to watch him do it. Do you +know, sometimes I think that he’s almost clever +enough to make Mr. MacKenzie think that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +idea of his marrying Alice was his, Mr. MacKenzie’s +I mean, originally. Do you suppose?”</p> + +<p>“Bess, if you don’t stop speculating about that, +I don’t know what I’m going to do to you.” Nan +laughed. “You know you might spoil everything +by talking about it,” she ended seriously. “For +all you know the idea has never once entered +Walker Jamieson’s head.”</p> + +<p>Bess hooted at this. “Don’t you ever think +that,” she said finally, “because it isn’t true and +you know it isn’t.”</p> + +<p>“Say, what are you two people doing in bed at +this hour?” Laura stuck her head in the doorway +and inquired. “Don’t you know that it’s long past +time to get up.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, bed’s so nice,” Nan answered, “I just hate +to get up.”</p> + +<p>“Well, all I can say is,” Laura finished before +she closed the door, “the temperature downstairs +is slightly chilly, and if you know what’s good for +you, you’ll be out of there in a jiffy.”</p> + +<p>“Right-o.” Nan jumped up at this bit of information. +“Hi! Laura,” she called after her +friend, “come back here a minute. Was there any +mail this morning,” she asked as Laura’s red head +reappeared.</p> + +<p>“Nothing for us,” Laura answered, “but your +cousin got something that made him blow up.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +That’s why I’m telling you to hurry. I gather +from certain orders I overheard him giving the +chauffeur that he wants to start immediately, if +not sooner, for the hacienda.”</p> + +<p>“Really?” Bess asked, as she too jumped out of +bed. “You mean we are going to leave Mexico +City today.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the impression I’m trying hard to convey,” +Laura responded. “And I think that if you +two lugs want any breakfast at all, you better get +a hustle on.” With this she closed the door definitely +and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, Nan and Bess hurried as they +had not hurried for a long time. “Getting ready +for an early morning class in the winter has nothing +on this,” Bess laughed as she tied a bright +three-cornered scarf around her neck and pulled it +in place.</p> + +<p>“I’ll say it hasn’t,” Nan agreed, quickly tying +the laces in her white oxfords. “A lick and a +promise and we’re ready to go.” With this she +bounded across the room and opened the door +wide for her friend.</p> + +<p>“Such energy!” Bess exclaimed as though horrified. +She was never one to be as exuberant as +Nan. She was always more dignified and more +correct. Nan was more natural and more full of +fun. She did what she liked to do, for the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +part, simply because it was fun. Bess was more +apt to do things because other people did them. +Nan was a leader, and Bess, the follower. That +was, perhaps, the reason they had been friends +for so long. They were alike in some respects, but +totally different in others.</p> + +<p>Now, as they came down the broad stairway +of the big hotel lobby together, this difference +was most plain. Adair MacKenzie, pacing up and +down the lobby even as he did in his office when +he was at work, stopped to look at them.</p> + +<p>“She’ll get by,” he thought with satisfaction as +he noted Nan’s bright face and free, graceful +walk. “’bout time you two made your appearance,” +he said aloud and assumed a grim appearance. +“Finished a day’s work myself already. +Guess it’s another to get you people started.”</p> + +<p>“Started?” Nan questioned.</p> + +<p>“Can’t stay here all the time.” Adair answered +her question. “Anyway, I just got word that the +housekeeper is arriving tomorrow and I’ve got to +get down there and have things straightened +around before she puts in an appearance. These +ornery housekeepers, you know, have to be babied. +If you don’t, they leave every time you turn +around. Someday, someone will invent a robot +that will do the work, and then—”</p> + +<p>“You won’t have a housekeeper to scold anymore,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +daddy,” Alice interrupted and finished for +him.</p> + +<p>“Serve her right,” Adair answered as though +the housekeeper would be the loser. “Can’t see +that she’s any good anyway.”</p> + +<p>“So we’re leaving.” Walker Jamieson joined +the rest in the lobby. He had been out for an early +morning walk and looked fresh and full of life as +he came in. “Got your camera, Nan?” he turned +to her when he spoke.</p> + +<p>“Upstairs,” Nan answered.</p> + +<p>“Let’s take a few pictures,” Walker suggested. +In the face of Adair’s morning state, this seemed +a daring thing to suggest, and Nan looked at +Adair to see his reaction. He seemed not to be +listening.</p> + +<p>“Run along,” Alice gave Nan a little shove. +“Dad’s going to be busy for the next half hour +or so, finishing up some business here, so if we +hurry, we can take all the pictures we want to.”</p> + +<p>At this Nan did go upstairs for her camera. +She was anxious enough to, but she had hesitated +because she never liked to be the one to arouse +her cousin.</p> + +<p>Now, she almost petted the camera as she returned +with it. She loved it and was already looking +forward to the day when she could own one +herself, for she had made up her mind, since<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +Walker had been giving her instructions to learn +all she possibly could about taking pictures. This +was the reason she took pictures of everyone and +everything she saw until Walker declared that the +authorities would be questioning her on suspicion +that she was a spy of some sort.</p> + +<p>“Me, a spy?” Nan laughed at the thought.</p> + +<p>“Well, you do look harmless,” Walker agreed, +“but then strange things do happen, especially to +people who spend all their time taking pictures. +How many have you got now?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” Nan laughed.</p> + +<p>“Come on, ‘fess up’,” Walker urged.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see there must be a dozen rolls upstairs,” +Nan admitted. “It will cost a fortune to develop +them, won’t it?”</p> + +<p>“What do you say to my buying some developer +and pans and whatever else is needed and taking +them along to the hacienda with us?” Walker +asked. “We could develop all your films there +then, for practically nothing.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like that,” Nan agreed enthusiastically, +“but I thought you had some big story you were +going to work on down there.” “Oh, that can wait.” +Walker Jamieson acted as though stories did wait +for people and laughed at himself while he did it. +“Anyway it will only take a jiffy to teach you all +I know about the photography business.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right then,” Nan agreed.</p> + +<p>So it came about that Nan and Walker went to +the hacienda supplied with everything to develop +pictures. How fortunate this was! But then that +story belongs to later chapters.</p> + +<p>“Well, eagle eye, how’s the camera working +this morning?” Laura inquired as Nan and +Walker went out into the lovely patio of their +hotel. “Want to take some pictures of me draped +around one of those tall white pillars?”</p> + +<p>“Do one of you strung from that balcony, up +there, kid,” Walker offered generously.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, kind sir,” Laura replied graciously, +“but since I’m going to need my neck for +a little while longer, I must refuse—with regret +of course.”</p> + +<p>“On second thought, perhaps that is best,” +Walker agreed. “It would be a shame to spoil +this lovely scene this fine morning.”</p> + +<p>“It is pretty, isn’t it?” Nan looked about her +with great satisfaction. The patio or courtyard so +familiar to Spain is a part of the Mexican scene +too, and this one where Nan was taking pictures +was particularly lovely with its gay flowers, deep +green foliage, and pond all surrounded by the +pinkish colored walls of the hotel itself.</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I hate to leave all this,” Nan remarked +when the pictures were taken and she and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +Laura and Walker were returning to the hotel +lobby.</p> + +<p>“And so do we,” the other girls chorused, as +the party all came together.</p> + +<p>“Ah, you go, but you return.” Walker sounded +quite poetic as he said this. “And then, remember, +you have no conception of the adventures the +hacienda holds in store for you.”</p> + +<p>“Have you?” The girls looked suspiciously at +Walker, when Nan asked this question.</p> + +<p>His answer was a mysterious look.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI<br /> + +<small>THE HACIENDA</small></h2> + + +<p>“That must be it over there,” Walker Jamieson +pointed to a low rambling building nestled +among the hills, as the car swung around a curve +in the road.</p> + +<p>The party had, despite sundry irritating delays, +left Mexico City in the middle of the forenoon, +and now, as evening approached they did sight +the hacienda, their destination and proposed home +for the summer.</p> + +<p>“About time,” Adair MacKenzie said curtly. +“Hundred miles from Mexico City. Humph! +That’s what they told me in Memphis. Hundred +miles maybe, as the crow flies, but on this treacherous +piece of bandit-infested highway it’s at least +two hundred.”</p> + +<p>He looked about him, as he finished, as though +he was daring someone to gainsay him. No one +accepted the dare.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” he surveyed the silent +group. “All worn out?” Again, there was no +answer.</p> + +<p>“Say, you,” he looked directly at Nan now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +“are you backing down on your old cousin? Don’t +know what’s happened,” he continued. “Can’t +even get anyone to fight with me any more.” He +really sounded pathetic.</p> + +<p>At this, the whole group broke down in +laughter.</p> + +<p>“What is this?” Adair laughed too now, but +his face bore a puzzled expression.</p> + +<p>“Nothing, dad.” Alice wiped the tears from +her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Don’t say nothing to me, child.” Adair brandished +his cane as though he was going to take +Alice over his knee and spank her. “What were +you trying to do,” he jumped to the correct conclusion +immediately, “give me the silent treatment?”</p> + +<p>Alice nodded her head half guiltily, half roguishly. +The idea had been hers.</p> + +<p>“Your mother tried that years ago,” Adair +reminisced. “It didn’t work then, and it’s not +working now. It’s better to give me an opportunity +to explode,” he advised. “Volcanoes have to +erupt or something terrible happens.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I said, sir.” Walker Jamieson +agreed with the old man.</p> + +<p>“You mean to say, to sit right there and say,” +Adair exploded “that you had the gall to liken +me to a volcano?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walker nodded his head in agreement.</p> + +<p>“You-you-you, why, I like you!” Adair thrust +out his hand and shook that of the young reporter. +“You say what you think no matter how dire the +consequences. Maybe you’re not such a bad reporter +after all.” He said this as though he was +making a great concession.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. No, sir.” Walker hardly knew what +to say in the face of all this unexpectedness.</p> + +<p>“Now, come on here,” Adair turned around +and addressed this to the driver. “Can’t this old +jallopie do more than 15 miles an hour even when +it sees its berth in the distance.” He too, pointed +to the white buildings that stood out from the +green foliage around them.</p> + +<p>“Not a bad looking place, from here.” He went +on contentedly. “Supposed to be one of the finest +in the district, but you never can tell about such +comparisons. Been fooled too many times to believe +much of what I hear now. Take everything +with a grain of salt.</p> + +<p>“Hear that, girl?” He turned to Nan. “Best +always not to believe what you hear. Discount at +least fifty percent and then draw your own conclusions. +That right, Jamieson?”</p> + +<p>Walker nodded his head in complete agreement. +It was one of the first lessons he had learned +as a cub reporter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now, as they talked, the car climbed a steep +hill. At the top, they turned to the right and came +upon the hacienda.</p> + +<p>“How perfectly lovely!” Alice’s face was all +aglow as she caught her first real glimpse of the +place. The buildings were in Spanish style of a +stucco material of a color bordering on the pink. +There were iron balconies, large windows, and a +courtyard or patio complete with palms, a fountain, +and seats.</p> + +<p>The girls had thought that there could be +nothing in the world so pretty as the patio in their +hotel in Mexico City, but here already was one +that surpassed it.</p> + +<p>“Humph!” Adair MacKenzie was as pleased +as the others at his first sight of the place, but +more cautious than they and more reluctant to let +his real feelings be known, he let his “Humph!” +be his only comment as he descended from the +car and walked with the others through the archway +into the courtyard.</p> + +<p>There crowds of natives awaited the arrival of +the new master, and the overseer of the place +hurried forth to greet him.</p> + +<p>“Eet ees a pleasure, señor,” he said as he +took Adair’s hand and bowed deeply. The rest in +the party smiled and hung back at this bit of +Mexican courtesy. Walker grinned broadly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>“You, Señorita, are next,” he whispered in +Alice’s ear. “Are you prepared to have your hand +kissed by a servant who would consider it an honor +to die in your service?”</p> + +<p>“Be still,” Alice murmured, and then smiled +as the overseer did come forward, take her hand +and bow deeply. “Buenos días, señorita,” he +greeted her. “May your stay here be as pleasant +to you as your honoring us with your presence has +been to us.”</p> + +<p>“Come on, now,” Adair was always impatient +with the elaborate courtesies of the south, impatient +probably because he never felt at ease +with them. “I always suspect,” Alice laughed once +when she and Walker were talking about Adair’s +abruptness, “that he’s more than a little afraid +that some day some one of these strangers will +break down and kiss him on the cheek.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what he would do?” Walker paused +in speculation.</p> + +<p>“You might try it yourself, sometime, and find +out,” Alice retorted.</p> + +<p>“Do you want to have me ousted bag and baggage +from your presence, fair lady?” Walker +questioned, but Alice never had a chance to answer, +for just at that moment her father came +upon the two and demanded all their attention.</p> + +<p>Alice smiled over this in recollection now as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +they went through the door of the main building +and into a spacious entrance hall with its big winding +stairway, its high-beamed ceiling, and its pretty +tiled floor. Walker caught the smile and guessed +at its origin, but he said nothing as they were all +escorted up the broad steps to their quarters.</p> + +<p>“Ours, all ours?” Bess questioned when the +Lakeview Hall girls were conducted to a suite of +five rooms overlooking on one side the patio and +the other, a river, broad fields, and mountains in +the distance.</p> + +<p>“Si, si, Señoritas,” the smiling Mexican maid, +Soledad, who was to be theirs during their stay, +hadn’t understood the question, but “Si, si,” +seemed the proper answer. Now she bustled about +trying to help them until her curiosity as to what +was going on downstairs got the better of her +and on some slight pretext she left.</p> + +<p>“Just think of it!” Bess exclaimed when she +had disappeared. “A whole suite of rooms of our +own, a maid, and everything, oh, everything we +can wish for. It’s a magic country and Adair MacKenzie +is the presiding genie.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he is in one way,” Laura admitted +dryly. “When he waves his wand things happen.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and he goes up in smoke,” Nan added.</p> + +<p>“Right,” Laura laughed, “and there’s no one +that can do it more expertly.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>Alone now, the girls went from one to another +of their rooms enjoying everything. Even Grace, +accustomed as she was to luxury, was greatly impressed. +She had never been in a house like this +before.</p> + +<p>The rooms were big and spacious with heavy +oaken furniture, thick rugs, tapestries, and beds +so high that it was necessary to climb up a little +ladder in order to get to them. Each room had +big double windows opening out onto the patio.</p> + +<p>Bess stood out on hers and looked down on the +courtyard below where maids were already busy +setting a table under a tree centuries old. “Do +they ever serenade people here,” she directed her +question toward those inside.</p> + +<p>“I hear that they do, sometimes,” Nan called +back. “But you have to wait for a clear night, with +a sky that’s blue as blue can be, a moon big and +silver, shining low over these pretty buildings, +and stars that are bigger and closer to earth than +any you have ever seen.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Nan Sherwood,” Bess came into the +room now. “Where did you learn all these +things?”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” Nan shrugged her shoulders, “this atmosphere +gets into your blood and you just can’t +help yourself. There is only one regret that I +have.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>“And that?” Bess couldn’t imagine anyone having +any regrets at this time. The world seemed +just perfect to her now.</p> + +<p>“That Rhoda isn’t here with us,” Nan replied +promptly. She had been thinking of Rhoda a great +deal in the past few days that had been such fun.</p> + +<p>“I know,” Grace agreed with Nan softly. “I +have been thinking of her too. We should be hearing +from her now in a few days because in those +last letters that we sent we told her to direct all +future mail to this place.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder how you get your mail here,” Laura +said. “Do you suppose a Mexican caballero comes +dashing up on a donkey, sweeps his hat in a wide +arc toward the ground, and then deposits the bills +and things as though they were special messages +from the king of Spain?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Laura, don’t be silly,” Bess was taking +her romance seriously and didn’t want it to be +spoiled with laughter. “Do you suppose,” she +turned to Nan now, “that all those people that we +saw down there in the courtyard live on this +estate.”</p> + +<p>“Probably those and many more,” Nan assented, +“but we’ll have to wait for the tour of the +estate that’s been promised before we know for +sure. And there are a million other things, at least +that I want to know about.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Me too,” Laura agreed, and the rest chimed +in, for this Mexican hacienda was something that +captured the imagination of all of them.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII<br /> + +<small>STUBBORN FOOLS</small></h2> + + +<p>“Oh, Bess, you should see yourself now,” Nan +laughed the next morning. It was early and the +girls were all mounted on mules as they passed +through the archway of the patio and out into the +gardens with their huge palms and brilliant flowers +and birds.</p> + +<p>“Feel like a fool myself,” Adair grumbled as +he tried to adjust his position on the beast he was +riding. And truly, he was a ridiculous figure.</p> + +<p>“Well, dad,” Alice pretended that she was +trying to mollify him, “you just weren’t made to +ride a mule. Nor were you,” she looked at +Walker Jamieson’s long dangling legs as she +spoke.</p> + +<p>“Nor you either,” Walker retorted laughing. +“You’re too little. Hey, you,” he broke off his +conversation with Alice quickly and called to Nan, +“don’t do that.”</p> + +<p>“What?” Nan asked innocently.</p> + +<p>“You know. Don’t look so innocent.”</p> + +<p>“Nan Sherwood!” Bess guessed at what +Walker was driving at. “You’re not taking pictures +of us in <em>these</em> outfits are you?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>“She not only is, but she has,” Walker answered +before Nan could say anything. “I saw her sliding +that little camera back into its case.”</p> + +<p>“Nan, please,” Alice joined in the protest, +“have mercy on us and think how our children and +grandchildren will laugh if they ever see pictures +of us riding mule-back. We’re all perfect sights.”</p> + +<p>But Nan had already taken the pictures, so the +protests came too late. Now it was Adair MacKenzie +who diverted their attention. “Get along +there. Get a move on, you slow poke.” Adair was +kicking the sides of his mule with real force. But +the mule was accustomed to such treatment and +he only raised his ears lazily, turned his head +slowly and looked at his rider sleepily. Then he +stopped, dead in his tracks.</p> + +<p>“Get along there, get along, I say,” Adair +kicked the mule again. “Can’t you understand +plain English?”</p> + +<p>“Understands only Spanish, I guess, Mr. MacKenzie,” +Walker said. “Try that on him.”</p> + +<p>“If he can’t understand English, the best language +in the world, he can’t understand anything,” +Adair was as stubborn as the mule he was +on, but for once all his railing, all his sputtering, +all the ordering that he could do, didn’t accomplish +a thing. The mule just wouldn’t move.</p> + +<p>“Here you,” Adair called ahead to their guide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +who had philosophically shrugged his shoulders +at the outburst of the new master, and sat now, +on his mule on the trail above waiting for the +party to move on. At the call, he ambled back to +see what was wrong.</p> + +<p>“Hey, you,” Adair was impatient with everyone +and everything now. “Get a hustle on. It’s today +we want to see this blasted estate, today. Not +mañana.”</p> + +<p>The guide understood one word, ‘mañana.’ His +face broke into a broad grin. “Si, si, señor. Si, +Señoritas.” He was more than glad that these +strangers could speak his language. Now, he broke +out into a voluble explanation, all in Spanish of +course, as to how to treat a mule.</p> + +<p>Walker stood off laughing heartily at the whole +situation. Adair MacKenzie did not understand +one single word of what was being said to him, +but it was coming forth so fast that he could +neither interrupt nor stop the flow. For once in his +life he looked utterly helpless.</p> + +<p>Alice was as amused as Walker. “Poor dear,” +she said, “to think that he should come all of this +way to be baffled by a mule and a man whose +philosophy says ‘tomorrow’, we will do it +‘tomorrow’.”</p> + +<p>Adair saw their smiles. It was more than he +could stand, more than any man could stand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +Awkwardly, he dismounted from his beast, walked +around in front and shook his ever present cane +at him. The beast did nothing but blink.</p> + +<p>“Why, wh-wh-why, you good-for-nothing, +senseless, no-count, beast you,” he burst forth in +a torrent, “if you think you can stop me, you’re +mistaken. You’ll go up there if I have to carry +you and you’ll not take a picture of that either,” +Adair turned to Nan with this last. It was somehow +much more satisfying to explode to Nan than +to either the beast or the Mexican.</p> + +<p>“No, cousin,” Nan answered as seriously as she +could.</p> + +<p>“And don’t be meek either.” He brandished +his cane again. “Never get anyplace like that.” +There was no satisfying the man now. Neither +agreement nor disagreement could placate him. +Nan kept still.</p> + +<p>It was Alice finally, who smoothed his ruffled +feelings and got him back on the mule. “Now, +daddy,” she said quietly, “if you’ll just sit quietly +and wait, the mule will go, but you can’t beat him +into action the way you do me.” Saying this she +laughed up at him. He stooped over and kissed +her.</p> + +<p>It was nice to see this father and daughter +together. They seemed to understand one another +perfectly. Adair, explode as he might, could never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +frighten Alice. She knew how soft-hearted and +kind he was underneath all his crust. She had +known from babyhood that he wouldn’t intentionally, +for all his angry outbursts, hurt anyone.</p> + +<p>Now, having smoothed his ruffled feelings +some, she let Walker assist her back on her mule. +The party moved slowly along the narrow stony +trail while huge limbs of great palm trees waved +slightly above them.</p> + +<p>Reaching the top of a high hill on the estate +they looked out over the countryside.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” Laura, ever curious, indicated +a point in the distance, something that showed +black against the sky and that clearly had been +built by man.</p> + +<p>Walker drew forth his field glasses and directed +his glance toward the object. “Can’t be sure,” he +rendered his verdict after some thought, “but think +it might be a pyramid. There are several in the +district you know. Perhaps the most famous of +them all is the one that a hunter down from New +York discovered three or four years ago. It’s +rather inaccessible, but such an old one that some +old codger in the East with a lot of money on his +hands donated a considerable sum to have it +opened.”</p> + +<p>“What did they find?” Nan asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, lots of dried up bones.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>“That all?” Nan sounded disappointed.</p> + +<p>“Well, not exactly,” Walker admitted and then +stopped. He enjoyed teasing these youngsters.</p> + +<p>“Well, what did they find then,” Nan persisted.</p> + +<p>“Some jewels. Some gold. Some exceptionally +fine pottery.”</p> + +<p>“And—” Nan saw that he was still holding +out.</p> + +<p>“Some poison spiders that killed three members +of the excavation party. Now you satisfied?” +Walker grinned down at her.</p> + +<p>“Well, yes,” Nan agreed. “But I still want to +visit a pyramid sometime.”</p> + +<p>“Visit those in Egypt,” Walker advised. +“There’s nothing more impressive.”</p> + +<p>“You been there?” Nan questioned. The path +was wide enough so that they could ride now with +their mules side by side.</p> + +<p>“Yes, years ago, with my father,” Walker answered. +“He had a bad case of the wanderlust, +so whenever he could scrape a few dollars together, +off he would go to some outlandish place.”</p> + +<p>“Taking your mother with him?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, sometimes. She went up into Alaska when +he went to pan gold from the streams. She went +down into South America when he went as an +engineer on a big industrial project. And she went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +when he set out for Russia after the revolution, +but after that she gave up.”</p> + +<p>“You must be like your father,” Nan +commented.</p> + +<p>“Oh, a little,” Walker admitted. “But I haven’t +quite got the wanderlust as much as he has. He +could go into raptures over anything that was far +away from him. I’ve been thinking of him a lot +today, riding over this estate. He spent some time +down here in Mexico, and never grew tired of +extolling the country. This was after my mother +died.</p> + +<p>“Though we are not entering the country at all +that he was fondest of, I’ve been thinking of his +descriptions of it, especially after seeing that +pyramid in the distance.</p> + +<p>“It was down in Oaxaca and was called, I believe, +Tehuantepec. It took days to get there by +horseback, according to his account, and the route +was through tropical jungles more dense than any +others in the world. You see my father never saw +mediocre things,” he explained by the way.</p> + +<p>“The City itself lay on a river by the same +name in a gorgeous tropical setting surrounded +by orchards and many gardens, all shaded by +flowering trees and palms.</p> + +<p>“The population was largely Indian, a tribe +that had its own language and preserved its own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +traditions, but it seems that above all this particular +tribe was known for its beautiful women, more +independent, more lovely, and more beautifully +dressed than any of the women in other tribes.</p> + +<p>“He described them as being tall, well-built, +and industrious. Their dresses consisted of long +full skirts made of bright colors with a deep white +flounce at the bottom, that swept the ground +and covered their bare feet. The blouse was short +and square-necked and for adornment they wore +much jewelry, earrings and long heavy chains hung +with ten and twenty American gold pieces.</p> + +<p>“They had a graceful carriage, walking straight +and firmly with an ease that only those women +who have been trained to carry things on their +head have. These people, he said, carry their +flowers, fruit, and foods to the market in painted +gourd bowls perched firmly on the crowns of their +heads.</p> + +<p>“Ah, yes, those people were perfect, more perfect +my father said than any he had ever come +across. But then, my father,” Walker admitted +boyishly, “always did tell a grand tale.”</p> + +<p>“So that’s why you became a newspaper man,” +Nan concluded.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I suppose so,” Walker admitted. “You +know this taste for queer places and queer things +is often bred right in your bones.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Say, what are you two talking about back +there?” Adair MacKenzie suddenly became conscious +of the fact that two in his party were paying +no attention whatsoever to him and his troubles +with his mule. Had he had a horse, he would +liked to have galloped back beside them, but with +a mule there was no galloping. As it was he turned +the mule’s head sharply.</p> + +<p>It was just too much. The mule was tired of his +burden anyway, so before anyone realized at all +what was happening, Adair was deposited firmly +on the ground and the mule, with more intelligence +perhaps than he had been given credit for, +was gazing at him soberly.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII<br /> + +<small>IN A PATIO</small></h2> + + +<p>“Are you hurt? Daddy, are you hurt?” Alice +cried, but even as she did, tears of laughter were +rolling down her cheeks. She had never in her life +seen her father in such a ridiculous position, which +was saying something, for Adair MacKenzie had +a knack of getting himself in more absurd situations +than anyone else in the world.</p> + +<p>“Stop your blubbering.” Adair was thoroughly +irritated this time. “I’ll conquer you yet.” He +scolded the mule. “Think you can vanquish +Adair MacKenzie, do you? I’ll show you.” But +to all of this scolding that fell dully on the tropical +verdure about them, that sounded harsh and +out of place in the soft greenness of the scene, the +mule never blinked an eyelash.</p> + +<p>“Daddy, are you hurt?” Alice repeated her +question as she took hold of one arm while +Walker Jamieson took the other.</p> + +<p>But their offers of assistance went unappreciated. +Adair MacKenzie merely shook off their +hands, used his own to push himself up, and then +stood, brushing himself off while he continued his +tirade.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Now, you’re going home, and you’re going to +stay there.” Adair spluttered off into the kind of +scolding that he might have given an erring child. +With this, he about faced and walked, leading the +mule beside him the three miles back to the +hacienda.</p> + +<p>It was a quiet party, but one full of suppressed +mirth, that wound its way back over the path. +The Lakeview Hall girls could scarcely contain +themselves until they got in their apartments.</p> + +<p>“It was just perfect.” Laura laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>“Did you see the way he looked, and the way +the donkey looked?” Amelia asked.</p> + +<p>“They just stared at one another until I thought +that cousin Adair would beat the beast with his +cane.”</p> + +<p>“I thought of that, too,” Bess said. “But I +guess he’s too kind-hearted to do anything like +that.”</p> + +<p>Bess was right. Adair MacKenzie had never in +his life made any attempt to hurt a dumb animal +in any way until that morning when he had dug +his heels in irritation into the mule’s side. At +home, he always had animals about him, a dog +that was now well along in years, a stable full of +horses, and yes, a mule that he once bought on the +street when he saw its master trying to beat it +into moving along.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>“The crust of that mule,” Laura said slangily. +“Did it ever do my heart good to see its stubbornness +matched against Mr. MacKenzie’s! I wonder +what kind of a character sketch he would make of +it, if he had the chance, that is, I mean, if the +mule could understand him.”</p> + +<p>“Probably, ‘stubborn fool’ and let it go at +that,” Nan answered. “Anyway his troubles with +that mule will never be forgotten.”</p> + +<p>“And ‘stubborn as a mule’, will always mean +something to us now,” Nan added. “Now, we’ve +got to get ready and get downstairs. Dinner’s +going to be ready very shortly.”</p> + +<p>So the girls changed their clothes, washed, +combed and presented themselves downstairs all +clean and neat.</p> + +<p>There was no one around. They walked through +the great hall and out into the patio. Still they +found no one except the servants.</p> + +<p>“I never saw so much help in all my life,” +Grace remarked. “Why, just millions of people +work here. I haven’t seen the same person twice +at all.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you hear Walker Jamieson say that +labor’s cheap in this country?” Nan explained. +“Everyone has one or two or three servants. But +I wonder where cousin Adair and everyone is +now.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>She hadn’t long to wait, for just as she spoke +they heard loud voices from the direction of the +kitchen at the back, and shortly Adair, Alice and +Walker appeared.</p> + +<p>“There that’s done,” Adair slapped his hands +together as though he had just disposed of a +mighty problem. “Trouble, trouble all the while,” +he looked at the girls as he spoke. “If it isn’t one +thing, it’s another. One moment it’s a mule and +the next it’s a woman.” He looked utterly worn +out, and Nan felt sorry for him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, daddy, don’t take Mrs. O’Malley too +seriously,” Alice tried to ease his worry.</p> + +<p>“Too seriously! Well, I like that,” Adair exclaimed. +“When the best housekeeper in all Christendom +threatens to walk out on you, tell me now, +what are you supposed to do? Say, all right, go +ahead? Just what would you do, now?” He looked +at Alice.</p> + +<p>She hesitated.</p> + +<p>“There,” he didn’t give her a chance to answer, +“she’d walk out on you before you did +anything. You can’t hesitate in serious matters +like this. You have to act. But never mind,” he +turned to his guests, “you don’t need to worry. I +have acted. Mrs. O’Malley has promised to stay. +The Chinese cook has promised to stay. Everyone’s +staying. There’ll be no deserting the ship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +on this trip.”</p> + +<p>“That’s fine, daddy,” Alice complimented him. +“And now when do we have dinner?”</p> + +<p>“Dinner? Where’s dinner?” Adair was off +again. He picked up a bell and rang it forcefully. +Everyone, except the famous Mrs. O’Malley and +the Chinese cook came running. People came out +of doors, in through the arches of the patio, and +stuck their heads out from windows. Everyone +thought that there was something radically wrong. +When they saw that it was just the American +again, they disappeared as quickly as they came.</p> + +<p>The old women shook their heads. Would he +never learn, they wondered, that there was no +necessity to rush anything, that if you let things +just go their own quiet, placid way, they would +eventually work themselves out. They couldn’t +understand this man who had come to them as +their master. Already, thanks to the guide of the +morning, legends about him and his wrath were +spreading around the place. The wireless that +civilization knows is fast, but the grapevine among +the Mexican Indians was even more effective.</p> + +<p>When he saw the commotion he had caused, +Adair MacKenzie sat down, and shortly dinner +appeared, as it would have appeared even though +he had done nothing.</p> + +<p>The dinner was good and the cool fruit juices<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +that followed it were good. And everyone sat, as +long as the warmth of the day permitted, in the +patio under the tropical sky and talked some, sat +silent more, for it was all very peaceful.</p> + +<p>“So you’re not going to work on that smuggling +story after all?” Adair MacKenzie asked Walker +just before they all got up to go in.</p> + +<p>“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Walker answered +carefully. “Feel the need of a little rest now and +I like this place and I like the people and it’s hard +to tear myself away.”</p> + +<p>“We thank you, don’t we?” Adair took his +daughter’s hand in his. He felt vaguely that there +was something more serious in all of this than +appeared on the surface, but just now he was too +tired to question. He squeezed Alice’s hand.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV<br /> + +<small>STOLEN!</small></h2> + + +<p>“Nan, it’s a letter from Rhoda,” Bess repeated +the information twice before she got any response +at all, and then it was only a grunt. It was the +morning after the famous mule-back excursion, +and Nan was in her room alone until Bess’s +entrance.</p> + +<p>“Whatever are you doing?” Bess asked when +she saw that Nan, strangely enough, didn’t seem +to be interested in her bit of information.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, I can’t find it anyplace,” Nan looked +as though the world had come to an end. She had +all that she could do to keep from crying.</p> + +<p>“Find what?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my ring. You know the one I mean, the +one old Mr. Blake gave me in Scotland last summer. +He said it was a family heirloom and that I +should keep it as long as I lived and then see that +it was passed on down to my children. Now, it’s +gone and I’m sure I left it in this room when we +went away yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure, Nan?” Bess looked worried too, +now. The ring was a lovely thing with the bluest +of blue sapphires in an old-fashioned gold setting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +Bess had coveted it herself, and often wanted to +wear it. But she respected Nan’s sentiment about +the bit of jewelry enough to have not even asked +to try it on.</p> + +<p>Now it was gone!</p> + +<p>“When did you wear it last?”</p> + +<p>“Bess, I had it on yesterday morning before we +went on that trip by muleback and I took it off +because I was afraid I would lose it. I left it in +this box I’m sure, and it isn’t here now. I’ve looked +through it a dozen times.” As she finished, she +proffered the box to Bess, who took it, opened it +up, and carefully looked through the trinkets +contained therein. The ring wasn’t there.</p> + +<p>“Have you told anybody, yet?” Bess questioned.</p> + +<p>“No, but if it doesn’t come to light pretty soon, +I’m going to tell cousin Adair. I’m almost afraid +to do that, because he values the ring almost as +much as I. He saw it once, he said, when he was +in Scotland, and he was proud to think that it +came to me. Now I’ve lost it, and I’m sure he’ll +think that I’ve been very careless.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t matter what he thinks,” Bess said +firmly. “You’d better tell him right away. If someone +has stolen it, he’s the only one that can find +the culprit. Come on, let’s go downstairs now. Or +do you want me to hunt first?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, do that.” Nan did dread telling Adair +MacKenzie of her loss.</p> + +<p>Bess looked thoroughly, but nowhere could she +find the ring.</p> + +<p>So together, the two girls went down the stairs, +Bess this time in the role of comforter.</p> + +<p>They found Adair out in the gardens talking +as best he could with an old gardener who knew +at least a few words of English. Adair looked up +at their entrance.</p> + +<p>“So you like flowers, too,” he greeted them. +Nan nodded her head, and then couldn’t say anything +for a few minutes.</p> + +<p>“Why, what’s the matter, Nancy child,” Adair +was all sympathy as he noted the worried look on +the girl’s face. “Nothing serious, I hope.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid it is,” Nan answered. “You know +my ring—”</p> + +<p>“The sapphire ring that you brought home +from Scotland?” Adair said.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Nan nodded her head to indicate that +he was right. “It’s missing.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, missing?” Adair asked. +“Have you lost it?”</p> + +<p>“No, it was in my room, and it’s gone now.” +Nan said this very positively.</p> + +<p>“Gone, gone where?” Adair flared up as usual.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>“That’s what I don’t know,” Nan was having +a difficult time being patient. “I wish I did.”</p> + +<p>“You think it’s stolen.” Adair now had the +girls by the arm and was taking them back to the +hacienda.</p> + +<p>“I don’t like to say that,” Nan hedged.</p> + +<p>“If that’s what happened, speak up.” Adair +wanted to get to the bottom of this right away +and although he was very fond of Nan he wasn’t +going to spare her or her feelings any now. The +ring, he felt, was a personal loss to him too and +as he went into the house, he was determined to +find it.</p> + +<p>First he quizzed all the girls to find out, if by +chance, they knew of anything that would indicate +that Nan was mistaken. They didn’t. No one +had seen her wearing it after the time at which +she said she had put it away.</p> + +<p>Then he quizzed all of the upstairs’ servants. +This was done with Walker’s help, since he was +the only one in the crowd that knew any Spanish +at all. Again, there was no light cast on the +mystery.</p> + +<p>He called in all the rest of the house servants, +with no results. Then he blustered and fumed and +threatened, but this to no avail.</p> + +<p>Finally, with one last grand threat that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +would find out who the culprit was in spite of +everybody, he sent everyone from the room.</p> + +<p>The girls went up to their quarters together.</p> + +<p>“Now, who do you suppose could have done +anything like that?” Bess wondered as they all sat +around listlessly and hopelessly, for there was +nothing that they could do. “Do you suspect anyone, +Nan?”</p> + +<p>“No one in this whole wide world.” Nan answered +wholeheartedly. “The servants since we +have been here have all been just as nice as they +could be. I don’t think there is a one of them that +would stoop to anything like that.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t seem possible,” soft-spoken Grace +agreed, “but then someone has taken it. We’re +sure of that.”</p> + +<p>“As sure as we are of anything,” Nan said.</p> + +<p>“Is it very valuable, Nan?” Amelia asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know that,” Nan answered. “I +think, however, that the value is mostly sentimental. +It was originally given to one of the Blakes +as a reward by the king. It was supposed then to +have the power to bring the king’s soldiers to the +help of the person wearing it, in whatever trouble +he might be.</p> + +<p>“There is a story that once, someone who +owned it committed treason and was about to be +beheaded when he brought forth the ring. It saved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +him, even then, and instead of killing him they +banished him to another country for ten years. +Ordinarily, it would have been death or a life +banishment, but the ring’s power was mighty.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe then,” Laura suggested, “if you or +your cousin will offer a reward, the ring will turn +up. The person that stole it probably thought that +it was valuable.”</p> + +<p>“I thought of that,” Nan answered, “but cousin +Adair says ‘no,’ that he will get the ring back +without any such monkey business. So I guess we’ll +just have to leave it up to him.”</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXV<br /> + +<small>BESS HAS SUSPICIONS</small></h2> + + +<p>They did leave it up to Adair MacKenzie, and +for several days nothing happened. The house was +like a morgue, for everyone suspected everyone +else and the servants were all under suspicion.</p> + +<p>Finally, Nan couldn’t stand it any longer, and +decided to do a little investigating on her own. It +was Bess who put her on the track.</p> + +<p>“I don’t trust Chinamen,” Bess had confided +and then felt foolish immediately afterward, for +if there was one thing that Nan resented above +all others, it was race prejudice in any form.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, don’t be silly,” Nan dismissed the +statement shortly.</p> + +<p>“But I don’t,” Bess persisted.</p> + +<p>“Elizabeth Harley,” Nan exclaimed, “if you +make that remark again, I’ll never speak to you +as long as I live.” Nan was cross and irritable +these days, because nothing seemed to be going +right and she felt that if she hadn’t said anything +about the ring in the first place, everyone would +be enjoying themselves.</p> + +<p>“But Nan,” Bess put her arm around her +friend. “I don’t mean it all the way you think. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +haven’t liked the cook ever since that first day +when he had a fight with Mrs. O’Malley and +she’s such a dear too.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but Bess, you know how that happened,” +Nan protested. “Mrs. O’Malley went into the kitchen +that he had run for some twenty years and +tried to tell him what to do. He just wouldn’t +stand for it.”</p> + +<p>“Even then, I don’t like him.” Bess persisted. +“He’s been horrid and mean to all of us ever +since we’ve been here. I think he stole your ring, +and if you don’t do something about it, I’m going +to tell Mr. MacKenzie myself.”</p> + +<p>“See here, Bess,” Nan was very serious now. +“If you don’t keep quiet about what you have +just been saying to me, I’m going to be very +angry. I don’t want suspicions being cast on people +who haven’t done anything, and I don’t think he +has, honestly.”</p> + +<p>Bess paused and thought before she said anything +further.</p> + +<p>“And Bess,” Nan said more softly now, “don’t +resent the way I’ve talked to you these days. I +feel very troubled.”</p> + +<p>Bess felt badly too now. It wasn’t very often +that Nan let her temper get away with her, and +since she had, Bess thought, she must be more +troubled than any of us realize. So the subject<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +was dropped between the two friends.</p> + +<p>But Bess’s remarks had done their work. When +Nan was alone, the thought of what Bess had +said, came back to her again and again. She dismissed +it impatiently at first, but then little things +about the cook began to come to her attention +constantly.</p> + +<p>Finally she determined to do something about +it all and so, one day when she was alone, she +went back to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>She was just about to open the door and go +through when she heard loud voices.</p> + +<p>“I tell you it’s not enough,” one, an American +voice was saying.</p> + +<p>“Alle samee, it’s all I can get.” The voice of +the cook came to her in reply.</p> + +<p>Nan stopped, startled. This, why, this verified +Bess’s suspicions. Nan stood back and listened +further, but heard nothing. She had come in on +the end of the argument. Shortly, she heard a +door slam on the other side of the kitchen, and +then there were no more sounds at all.</p> + +<p>She waited for some time, and then cautiously +opened the door and went in.</p> + +<p>Over in one corner, the cook, alone, was busy +preparing the evening meal. He looked up as the +girl entered, and was on the point of reprimanding +her for invading his quarters when he stopped,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +recognizing her. He waited then, resentfully, for +her to speak.</p> + +<p>Nan was equally wary however, so there was +a moment of embarrassed silence, before either +said anything. Then, as they stood waiting, a call +outside distracted their attention.</p> + +<p>The cook answered it, and when he returned, +they both felt more at ease. He brought her a +stool to sit on and offered her some of his choice +cookies, so before long they were talking to one +another. They talked about little things, and Nan +went away without mentioning the ring or the +conversation she had heard at all.</p> + +<p>But she went back the next day. Following this +procedure it wasn’t long before the cook poured +out his whole sorry tale.</p> + +<p>Nan later, when she got Walker Jamieson +alone, told it and swore him to secrecy.</p> + +<p>“Then he took the ring,” Walker concluded, +when the story had all been told.</p> + +<p>“He hasn’t said so,” Nan was being very careful +that the facts were all understood as they +were, not as other people might imagine them +to be.</p> + +<p>“No, not in so many words,” Walker agreed, +“but then, he did. You and I know that, and it’s +not necessary to tell anyone at all anything about +this yet. It’s a bigger story than you realize,” he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +ended, “and it has many, many more angles than +this particular one. Let me work on it awhile +without any interference.”</p> + +<p>Nan agreed to this, and so the two conspirators +parted.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI<br /> + +<small>SERENADERS</small></h2> + + +<p>“What’s going on downstairs?” Laura came +into Nan’s room quietly. “Of course, it’s none of +my business,” she went on, “but everything seems +to be in an uproar. Your cousin is ranting around +as I’ve never seen him rant before, and Walker +Jamieson is there and he looks as though everything +is wrong with the world.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I don’t know,” Nan looked up from +the diary she was writing, a diary in which she +kept a day by day account of her trip. But she +looked worried. Had Walker, after all, told the +story that they had promised to keep a secret and +was her cousin insisting on getting to the bottom +of everything right away?</p> + +<p>“What were they talking about?” she asked +Laura.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” Laura answered. “When I +came through the room, they stopped, and seemed +to be waiting until I got out, before continuing. +I got the point and hurried. I was only after a +magazine that I had left in the room, anyway. +But even for the short time I was in there, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +air seemed so heavy with emotion that you could +cut it.”</p> + +<p>“And you didn’t hear anything?” Nan repeated +the thought of her former question.</p> + +<p>“I said, ‘no’.” Laura insisted. “Why, what did +you expect me to hear?” She looked at her friend +intently. As Bess often did in similar circumstances, +Laura now felt that Nan knew much +more about what was going on downstairs than +she wanted to reveal.</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing,” Nan managed to say this airily, +as though she truly had had nothing in view when +she asked the question. So saying, she screwed the +top on her fountain pen, put her diary away, and +stamped a letter she had just written home. With +these little things done, she turned again to Laura, +“Do you know that Grace’s brother and his +friends are expected here at the hacienda tomorrow?” +she asked.</p> + +<p>“Are they? Tomorrow?” Laura had been out +in the courtyard watching some Mexican youngsters +at play when Grace had told Nan. Now, the +information was a surprise to her. “What’s been +planned? How many will there be? How long +will they stay?” The questions rolled off her +tongue one after the other, until Nan stopped her.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Laura,” she said, “one at a time, please. +We’ve not planned anything definite yet and we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +don’t know how many nor how long, but we’re +hoping that they can stay at least a week. Isn’t it +all going to be fun!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Laura was almost as excited as Nan. +“It’s going to be grand to have them all here. +Now, let’s go and get the other girls and plan +something.”</p> + +<p>But before they could get out of the room, the +others came bursting in. “Oh, do you know,” Bess +got the words out first, “Walter and his friends +probably will arrive tonight.” Amelia and Grace +nodded their heads in unison.</p> + +<p>“How do you know?” Nan asked.</p> + +<p>“Here’s a telegram.” Grace waved it in the air. +“It says,” she read, “‘Arriving tonight. Six of us. +Anxious to see you. Walter.’ I wonder when +they’ll get here.” Saying this, she went over to the +windows and looked down into the courtyard as +though she expected them at once. Then she +turned toward the others again, “How good it’s +going to be!” she exclaimed. “I’ve been a little +lonesome for someone from home ever since +Rhoda’s mother became so ill.”</p> + +<p>“Have you, Gracie?” Nan put her arm affectionately +around the more timid girl’s shoulder. +“I guess we all have been. It will be good to see +Walter because he has seen all our parents since<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +we left. Now let’s go downstairs and tell cousin +Adair.”</p> + +<p>But the girls lingered a little while longer, talking +and planning. “It must have been fate that +kept us there,” Laura laughed afterwards, for +one of the very nicest things of all their trip happened +just before they departed.</p> + +<p>It was Nan who heard it first, that faint far-away +sound of the strumming of a guitar. “Sh! +Quiet!” she broke in on the hubbub in the room. +“What’s that I hear?” They all listened for a +second.</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing.” Laura waved the question +aside, “and do you think we can get Mr. MacKenzie +to go with us again on a mule ride over +the estate?” she went on with the planning of +entertainment for the boys.</p> + +<p>“It is too something,” Nan insisted, for she +heard again the sound of music. “Listen!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nan, you’re hearing things,” Laura perhaps +was more impatient than any of the others, +for she was intrigued with the idea of asking +Adair to get on a mule again, and she wanted to +talk about it.</p> + +<p>“She isn’t either.” Bess heard the strains now. +“I hear something too.”</p> + +<p>“Come—oh, look!” Nan was at a balcony +window beckoning the others eagerly. They all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +clustered round her, and there in the moonlit +courtyard below them Walter and his friends +were serenading the girls. When they all appeared, +the music grew louder, stronger, and the +boys harmonized their voices as they sang for +the second time,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Soft o’er the fountain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ling’ring falls the southern moon;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Far o’er the mountain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Breaks the day too soon!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In thy dark eyes’ splendor,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where the warm light loves to dwell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weary looks, yet tender,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Speak their fond fare-well.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nita! Juanita!—”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>As they swung into the chorus, the girls, laughing +but enjoying it all thoroughly, pulled flowers +that they had picked that day from the garden +from their dresses and threw them down. The +chorus ended, and the girls clapped. The boys +laughed up at them, and others in the courtyard +who had been attracted by the music called for +more.</p> + +<p>It was all very gay and happy. The boys did +sing an encore, and then as Alice and Adair came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +out on the veranda they broke off, and Walter +went up the steps and introduced himself and his +friends. The girls came down and they all had a +merry evening together, talking over the million +and one things that had been happening.</p> + +<p>It was not until the afternoon of the next day, +that Nan and Walter had a moment alone together. +Then she told him the story of her missing +ring.</p> + +<p>“Then the cook didn’t actually tell you that he +took it?” Walter asked at the end.</p> + +<p>“No, but he implied it,” Nan answered, “and +I’m as sure he did as I am certain that he is not +to be blamed.”</p> + +<p>Walter couldn’t restrain the smile that came +at this. Nan always trusted people, always felt +that there was good in everyone. This was one of +the things that first attracted Walter to her. +Somehow, she, unlike many others her own age, +never found enjoyment in criticising others. She +seemed to understand their faults and to be able +to explain them sympathetically no matter what +they were. Now, in talking of the man whom she +felt sure had stolen her ring, she honestly believed +that, in doing so, he had been influenced by conditions +over which he had no control. She felt +sorry for him, and didn’t want to do him any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +injury. This was one of the big reasons why she +had pledged Walker Jamieson to secrecy.</p> + +<p>“And what does Mr. MacKenzie think of all +of this?” Walter asked just before Nan left him +to dress for dinner.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he doesn’t know anything about it at all,” +Nan hastened to explain, “and I don’t want you +to say a thing. This is all a secret until—until—until—”</p> + +<p>“Until what?” Walter looked at the young +girl curiously, as she stopped midway in her +sentence.</p> + +<p>“Until it’s solved,” Nan smiled at her friend, +and then refused to explain further.</p> + +<p>“Nancy Sherwood,” Walter spoke seriously +now, “if you’re not careful, you’re going to get +yourself all involved in a plot that might hurt +you. Come, be sensible for once. Either forget the +ring entirely, or tell your cousin all that you know +about it. Promise?”</p> + +<p>Nan shook her head. She couldn’t tell Walter +that she and Walker had already made certain +promises about the ring and the Chinaman’s part +in its disappearance. She couldn’t tell him that the +reporter sensed a big story and asked her to protect +the details until he had arrived at a solution. +She couldn’t tell him, but she wanted to.</p> + +<p>Now it was Grace who saved what otherwise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +might have been an embarrassing situation. She +came out into the corner of the patio where Nan +and Walter were standing.</p> + +<p>“Nan,” she asked, “did you know that Walker +Jamieson left the hacienda early this afternoon +and that he took his bags with him?”</p> + +<p>“Left the hacienda!” Nan exclaimed, “are you +sure, Grace?”</p> + +<p>“As sure as I am of anything,” Grace replied, +“and if you don’t believe me you can either wait +to see if he appears at dinner, or you can go in +right now and ask Bess.”</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII<br /> + +<small>WALKER DEPARTS</small></h2> + + +<p>However, it was Bess who sought Nan out, and +that before Grace had barely had time to finish +divulging her bit of news.</p> + +<p>“What did I tell you?” Bess greeted Nan as +soon as she could find her.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” Nan retorted.</p> + +<p>“I mean that talk we had some time ago up in +your room.”</p> + +<p>“What talk?” Nan pretended to have +forgotten.</p> + +<p>“You know as well as I,” Bess responded impatiently. +“I mean that talk about Walker and +Alice. It was nice, but it’s all over now.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“I mean that Walker talked to your cousin +sometime yesterday, that your cousin was simply +furious, and that Walker Jamieson has left, never +to return!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Bess, don’t get romantic about it,” Nan +said abruptly. “Now get your breath and tell me +actually what you know.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I have,” Bess insisted. “Walker wanted to +marry Alice and Adair MacKenzie said ‘no!’ +Walker left without saying goodby to anyone and +nobody knows when he is going to return if at all. +Alice has gone to her room, and everybody in the +house is all broken up, except the old housekeeper. +All she does is shake her head and say ‘You just +wait. This will all be all right in the end. Young +people are too hasty.’</p> + +<p>“Imagine that!” Bess ran on indignantly. “She +says young people are too hasty, when all the +trouble here is caused by Mr. MacKenzie and he +certainly isn’t young!”</p> + +<p>“Elizabeth Harley, you be careful!” Nan +warned her friend. “You don’t know for sure +whether what you are saying is true or not. You’ll +have everybody in trouble if you don’t watch out.”</p> + +<p>“But Nan, I could just cry,” Bess protested. +“He is such a nice person and so is she. And now +it’s all spoiled.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, Bess,” Nan spoke more softly now. +Then she looked over at Walter as though begging +him to leave them for a few moments which +he did.</p> + +<p>“Now, see here,” she spoke sternly to Bess +when he disappeared. “If there is anything at all +in what you say, and I doubt it, there is nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +in the world to be gained by crying and talking +and interfering.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not interfering!” Bess was indignant.</p> + +<p>“Well, then talking about it,” Nan corrected +herself. “We can’t do anything about it except +sit around and wait. I don’t believe that Walker +has gone away for the reason you say he has at +all, and if he has, he’ll be back.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if he hasn’t gone away for that reason, +why has he gone at all?” Bess demanded.</p> + +<p>“You can’t tell,” Nan answered lamely. Why +was it, she thought, that she was forever running +into the secret that she had promised Walker she +would keep. She had done the same thing ten +minutes ago with Walter. Now she was doing it +with her best friend. “You’ve just got to wait and +find out,” she added.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Bess,” she made a decided effort to +change the subject, “let’s go in and get the camera. +I want to take some pictures of the boys. Anyway +we are neglecting them by staying out here like +this.”</p> + +<p>“Neglecting them!” Bess exclaimed. “They’ve +done nothing all day but sit around and loaf. +They’re a lazy bunch, and we all had such high +hopes.” She let her sentence die away tragically.</p> + +<p>“Why,” she wrinkled up her nose at Nan, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +she spoke, “are boys in general so dumb? Oh, +Walter’s all right, but all the rest are just like +bumps on a log.”</p> + +<p>“No, they aren’t,” Nan denied. “Don’t you +remember last night when they were all out there +below our balconies? You didn’t think they were +bumps on a log then, did you?”</p> + +<p>Bess shook her head and her eyes shone. “No, +that was grand,” she said. “But today, they just +don’t do anything.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe they think that we’re neglecting +them?” Nan suggested.</p> + +<p>“Well, let them,” Bess flounced away from +Nan and into the house.</p> + +<p>Nan looked bewilderedly after her. “What can +be wrong with Bess,” she asked herself and then +did go after her camera. If Bess didn’t want any +pictures of the visitors, she did.</p> + +<p>A few hours later, after an afternoon siesta +and a long cool refreshing drink of fruit juices +beneath the palms of the courtyard, everyone felt +better. Alice’s eyes were red and swollen with +crying, but she made an appearance. Adair MacKenzie +was even more terse than usual, but he +was kinder too. And Bess who had but three hours +before found the boys so disagreeable now was +surrounded by them. She was telling them in low<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +tones of the donkey episode of the day before.</p> + +<p>It was all very cheerful and pleasant despite the +emptiness that was felt because of Walker’s absence. +However, no one mentioned his name. In +fact, he might have remained away from the +hacienda, away from Alice, indefinitely, if it +hadn’t been for Adair himself, Adair and Nan.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, girls, how do you like your new +home now?” Adair MacKenzie was feeling somewhat +talkative after his long refreshing drink of +loganberry juice. “A pretty nice place, isn’t it?” +He looked about himself with a satisfied sort of +appreciation. Adair MacKenzie for all of his +Scotch blood and his leanings toward economy +really liked the good things of life. This southern +home pleased him.</p> + +<p>“It’s grand, Cousin Adair,” Nan answered for +them all. “Perfectly grand. There’s only one thing +that’s lacking.”</p> + +<p>“And that?”</p> + +<p>“We’re missing Rhoda. She was so excited +about the plans to come down here that she could +hardly contain herself, and now we won’t see her +all summer. We won’t see her until we get back +to school in the fall.”</p> + +<p>“Who said you wouldn’t?” Adair asked +suddenly. “Don’t jump to conclusions like that. +Just to show you how wrong you are—you’re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +leaving tomorrow morning by plane to visit with +this Hammond girl over the week end, and then +if it’s at all possible, she is to come back with you +to stay here for a week or two. Now, how’s that?”</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII<br /> + +<small>NAN’S BIG ADVENTURE</small></h2> + + +<p>Nan couldn’t answer for a moment, then unexpectedly, +even to herself, she threw her arms +around Adair MacKenzie’s neck and kissed him.</p> + +<p>“Tut! Tut!” he straightened his necktie and +adjusted the soft white collar of his shirt after her +hug. “Can’t stand for this. What’s the matter? +Aren’t you pleased?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear!” Nan’s face was flushed and her +eyes bright as she answered. “There was never +in all this wide world a nicer cousin than you are +being to me.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a second,” Adair was immensely pleased +at this outburst. “What will these young men all +think of you? Want to make them jealous of an +old codger like me? Better watch out.”</p> + +<p>Nan looked at the boys sitting around the +ground and in the big comfortable chairs and +blushed furiously. She had completely forgotten, +at the announcement of her proposed journey that +anyone else was present beside the girls whom she +knew so well.</p> + +<p>But her embarrassment couldn’t last long in the +face of the excitement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nan was going for Rhoda! Nan was going by +plane to get Rhoda and bring her back. Nan was +going to start the next morning and by Monday +she would be back, having flown half the length +of Mexico to the border and then from there to +Rose Ranch.</p> + +<p>It was exciting to think of, but then a thousand, +a million times more exciting in reality, for all +sorts of unexpected things were to come about +as the result of that ride.</p> + +<p>Now, Nan could scarcely contain herself as she +sat in the group and listened to the little everyday +things they were talking about. The only +thing that really penetrated her consciousness was +the fact that she was leaving and that when she +returned Walter and his friends would have left.</p> + +<p>Adair brought this fact to life. In his free open, +hospitable style, he tried to induce the youngsters +to linger. He liked them, liked the excitement +they had caused, for in spite of Bess’s complaint +to Nan that they were a dull lot, they kept things +moving from the moment they serenaded their +hostesses until they left.</p> + +<p>Through the days there had been hikes, parties, +a visit into the interior by auto, and an excursion +to a small village where the Indians were celebrating +a native holiday. They had seen them +dressed in native dress, dancing native dances<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +with all the abandon of a people freed from the +daily routine, and they had witnessed one of their +elaborate religious rites in which the ritual of the +church and the ritual of pagan ancestors who +had worshipped the Sun God were mingled with +one another to result in a queer worship that was +unlike anything any place else in the world.</p> + +<p>Then they all went to a moving picture show +where Roberta Taylor, the pretty little American +actress whom everybody adored spoke in Spanish. +How queer that seemed! They had all seen the +film—it was an old one—in a theatre in Chicago, +but how different it seemed now with all the conversation +translated into Spanish. They giggled +when the heroine looked up at her tall American +hero and murmured “Señor, Señor,” and when he +greeted her with “Buenos Días” and other common +Spanish phrases. It was all very charming +and amusing and everyone had a grand time.</p> + +<p>But now Nan was going to leave and the boys +were going to leave. The evening, in spite of the +excitement about Nan’s proposed journey, turned +a little sad when they all gathered around Walter +and his guitar to sing as they had each night since +he arrived. The songs they sang were all sad little +songs.</p> + +<p>By next morning all this was forgotten. The +girls were all thrilled over Rhoda’s coming. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +had telegraphed to tell her what was happening +and she had wired back that her mother was well +enough now so that she could carry out the plans +that Adair MacKenzie had made with such enjoyment, +for he did enjoy doing things for other +people. He liked being Santa Claus the year +round.</p> + +<p>So, by ten o’clock the next day a whole caravan +drew up to the airport and Walter, his friends, +Bess, Laura, Grace, Amelia, Adair and Alice saw +Nan off. How exciting it was, getting the ticket, +standing by while the plane’s motors were warmed +up, and then, when the passengers started to get +in, taking pictures of the plane, of the people +around it, and of the crew.</p> + +<p>Finally, she was off and Nan was soaring over +the heads of all her friends. She looked out the +window and waved a big white handkerchief, but +already she seemed part of the clouds and those +below, waving too, couldn’t see her.</p> + +<p>How much fun it was climbing, climbing, climbing. +Nan wasn’t worried at all. She looked out. +Around her were clouds and beneath her the +mountains of Mexico were stretched out. She was +higher than the mountains! Her spirits soared +with the thought and she looked around at her +fellow passengers, two men who were in earnest +conversation, a woman with a small child beside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +her, and another man who seemed to be alone.</p> + +<p>None of them looked particularly interesting +and Nan returned to her watching of the landscape, +so when, after they had traveled for some +time, there was a commotion up in the pilot’s +cabin and the one traveler who seemed alone stood +up and quietly ordered everyone to put his hands +up, Nan was taken completely by surprise.</p> + +<p>“Hands up, there, you!” The remark was addressed +to Nan when she failed to comply with +the first request. She put her hands up. The woman +with the baby screamed. The baby cried. Nan +put her hands down and moved to help the two.</p> + +<p>“Put your hands up there!” the order came +again in good American diction. Nan did. The +voice meant business.</p> + +<p>Now the plane began to rock. It slowed down +some and glided down a hill of air to taxi across +a field in a place far removed from civilization.</p> + +<p>Now, for the first time, Nan was really frightened. +Somehow, up in the air, she hadn’t been +very scared. It had all happened too suddenly. +Now, with her feet on the ground, however, she +felt as though she was going to faint. She clenched +her fists at her side, gritted her teeth, and stood +waiting for the next move.</p> + +<p>It came, quickly. Everyone was ordered to surrender +his pass to cross the border, told to remove<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +his luggage, and then together, they were hurried +over the rough ground to a cabin and locked in.</p> + +<p>Shortly, they heard the motors of the great +plane again and then the drone as it swung around +over head and went off in the direction it was +headed for before anything happened—the +United States.</p> + +<p>The passengers, they were only Nan and the +woman with the baby—the men had all been involved +in the plot—looked at one another in +consternation. What had happened? Were they +being kidnapped and why? How long would they +be left in this deserted spot?</p> + +<p>They tried the doors and the windows. Someone +outside yelled a warning to them. They paced +the floor and the baby cried a pathetic little cry. +They tried to help it, but still it cried, a baffled +little cry.</p> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX<br /> + +<small>HAPPILY EVER AFTER!</small></h2> + + +<p>“Passenger plane X 52 headed toward the border +missing. Nan Sherwood—”</p> + +<p>Walker Jamieson in a newspaper office in Mexico +City got no further as the news came over the +wire. He grabbed a phone, asked for long distance, +and called the hacienda.</p> + +<p>Yes, they had received the news. No, they +didn’t know anything beyond what Walker did. +Nan was traveling alone. Walker breathed a deep +sigh of relief at this. He had been afraid that +Alice was with her.</p> + +<p>It was all a complete mystery. Couldn’t Walker +do something? This plea came from Alice herself +and it wrung his heart.</p> + +<p>“I’ll try.” These were the words with which he +hung up and somehow they comforted the young +woman on the phone. She turned to her father +and said simply, “It was Walker. He’ll help.”</p> + +<p>And Walker did. While government planes +swooped back and forth again and again across +the country looking for a wrecked plane, Walker +was busy working out his own theories.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I tell you,” he was calling his New York editor, +“there’s a whale of a good story here, one +that’s bigger than anyone has guessed. This is no +mere plane accident.</p> + +<p>“How do I know? Oh, just smart that way. +Can’t tell you more now. Want to go through +with it? It will cost plenty of dough. Need a plane +and a couple of darn good pilots.</p> + +<p>“Sky’s the limit, you say? Okey-doke.” With +this he slammed the receiver down and was off.</p> + +<p>He went to the United States Embassy, called +the hacienda again, hired a plane and zoomed off +in the direction X52 was headed for when it disappeared.</p> + +<p>For hours he and his pilot combed the district +and found nothing that satisfied Walker. Then, +along about nightfall a lone shack in a deserted +district attracted his attention. The plane dropped +down.</p> + +<p>Nan heard it, from her shack prison she heard +it and thought that it was the X52 returning. +While she waited, she didn’t know what she +wanted the more—to have the plane come or +have it stay away. If it stayed away, she thought, +that somehow, some way they could get out of +the cabin, but to what end she couldn’t imagine. +In the meantime, she was concerned over the +child and the fear that it would starve.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>She waited tensely as the motor died, as she +heard footsteps approaching the cabin.</p> + +<p>A voice called.</p> + +<p>Where had she heard it before? Could it possibly +be—Walker! Was she dreaming? She heard +it again. This time she answered and a great flood +of relief came over her. It was he! She ran to +the door and shook it, although she had done it +a dozen times before during the day and nothing +had happened. Because Walker was here now, +because there was someone out there that she +knew, she felt that almost anything might come +true. She pushed and shouted and beat upon the +door.</p> + +<p>Walker called to her again. This time she answered. +His relief was as great as hers. She was +alive. His hunch was right! He too beat upon the +door with all his strength, pulled and pushed, but +to no avail. Then he and the pilots got a beam and +rammed it into the unresisting blockade. After +what seemed hours, the door moved on its hinges, +then gave way and Walker found Nan, the pluckiest +little girl in the world he said later, unharmed +by her experience.</p> + +<p>“But Mr. Jamieson,” Nan questioned him as +the plane he had brought took to the air with the +pilots and the other prisoners, the woman and +child, “how did you guess what had happened?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>He didn’t hear her at first. He was already busy +planning the release on the tale he had pieced +together.</p> + +<p>The lead—“Plucky Nan Sherwood Found +Alive in Deserted Shack in Wilderness. Gang of +smugglers exposed in daring attempt to take plane +load of Chinese across the border.”</p> + +<p>Sounded good, he was thinking, but they really +hadn’t been exposed as yet. He knew how they +worked, but he didn’t know who they were. He +turned now to Nan to see if he could find a clue.</p> + +<p>“What did the men who imprisoned you look +like?” he questioned her.</p> + +<p>Nan described them briefly.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear or see anyone besides the people +you saw in the plane?” he questioned.</p> + +<p>Nan hadn’t, but as he talked she had an inspiration. +“Oh, I know, maybe I can help you!” she +exclaimed. Then she told him of the pictures she +had snapped before boarding the transport.</p> + +<p>The rest of the plane ride was a dash toward +a place where the pictures could be developed. +One by one they were brought forth from the +developing fluid, until it seemed as though the +inspiration had not been such a fortunate one after +all. But Walker didn’t give up. It was the last one +that brought the desired results.</p> + +<p>“Why, I know that man.” Walker Jamieson<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +summoned forth from his long experience as a +newspaperman, the recollection of a story about +an aviator who had been discharged from the +airplane mail service because of irregularities. +Here was a picture of the man.</p> + +<p>Nan took it up and studied it. “Why, I know +him too!” she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Of course you do,” Walker agreed. “He was +one of the men who held up the plane, wasn’t he?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and not only that,” Nan now divulged +a surprising bit of information, “he was present +at the bull fight in Mexico City a few days ago.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” Walker looked at her +intently.</p> + +<p>“He was there with a former schoolmate, a +Linda Riggs, and he was introduced to Cousin +Adair by her.”</p> + +<p>“His name?”</p> + +<p>Nan searched back in her memory before she +answered. “Arthur—”</p> + +<p>“Howard?” Walker supplied the name.</p> + +<p>“That’s right.” Nan was smiling now, thinking +of Bess’s glee when she found out what a position +Linda would be in when this story came out.</p> + +<p>“So, you perhaps can even locate him,” Walker +looked at the amazing youngster beside him.</p> + +<p>“Linda is staying—oh, I don’t know.” Nan +looked disappointed as she remembered that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +hadn’t exchanged addresses with the girl. But it +didn’t matter, before the night was over, Linda +Riggs, thoroughly frightened because she had unwittingly +entertained and been entertained by an +international crook, revealed all she knew about +his whereabouts. And before the morning run of +the great metropolitan daily that Walker was +associated with had gone to press, the story was +completed.</p> + +<p>Arthur Howard using visitors’ passes stolen at +the border and altered to suit his needs passed +back and forth freely between the United States +and Mexico. He was engaged in smuggling Chinese +across and in this particularly daring attempt +to finish up a big job had, after he held up the +plane on which Nan had been a passenger, loaded +it heavily with men who had paid high prices to +make the trip.</p> + +<p>The Chinese cook at the hacienda had been involved +because he had paid a high price to try to +get a relative of his across. The ring stolen from +Nan was his last desperate effort to finish his payments, +payments which had been draining all of +his resources for months and had taken all of his +life’s savings. This was the part of his story that +he had told Nan after she had won his confidence.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, Arthur Howard and his gang +were rounded up by a group of United States G-men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +and he received a long prison sentence after +a startling trial.</p> + +<p>But to Nan and her friends at the hacienda, the +most important result of the whole complicated +affair was a certain wedding.</p> + +<p>“Your cousin just couldn’t be mean after +Walker found you,” Bess hugged Nan in her excitement. +“And there is to be that wedding that +we talked about, and you are going to be maid of +honor and we’re all going to be bridesmaids. It +will be in the garden and there will be lots of +guests from all over the country and maybe Walter +will be back here. Oh, Nan, I’m so excited!”</p> + +<p>“And that isn’t the half of it,” Nan finished. +“Cousin Adair has given this place to Walker and +Alice and he’s settled a large sum of money on +them and he’s inviting Momsey and Papa down +for the wedding. Oh, Bess, and Rhoda’s going to +come too, but not by plane,” she added. “Everything +is just perfectly grand!”</p> + +<p>So, let’s leave Nan Sherwood and her friends +to a happy, happy time, to finish out a summer in +Mexico that was more exciting than they ever +imagined a summer could possibly be.</p> + +<hr class="l1"/> + +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="tp">Transcriber’s Notes</p> + +<p>Obvious printer’s errors were silently corrected. Otherwise spelling, +hyphenation, interpunction and syntax of the original have been +preserved.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Nan Sherwood on the Mexican Border, by +Annie Roe Carr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAN SHERWOOD ON THE MEXICAN BORDER *** + +***** This file should be named 36202-h.htm or 36202-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/2/0/36202/ + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, eagkw, Roger Frank and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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