Crossed Trails in Mexico / Mexican Mystery Stories #3

ed to start the car and drive away before the me

low tone, "That was a narrow escape. If those men'd s

e had been listening to them and peeking into their car. It was too bad she and Florence couldn't have got some wate

the next moment, "Surely we'll be able to find some water

again, and Jo Ann was almost i

excitedly, "There's a water carr

art jogging ahead there

o some ranch house or village, and m

d Florence called out in Spanish to the old wrinkled water car

burro promptly stopped, and the man stood

"we need water for our ca

d and reached for the bucket

s Prudence exclaimed, feeling relieved at sight of the water. "Do you suppo

babl

ashing dishes and clothes in a thimbleful of water wouldn't suit me at all, eithe

ontrast of life in the d

with the precious fluid, they drove off, the girls and Ca

ting for one of the men to look over the papers Carlitos and Florence talked in Spanish to the other man. Jo Ann half smiled to he

y, "I can't get used to having a foreigner for a nephew. I

beautiful," Jo Ann replied. "I'd be glad, if I were you, that he k

ope

tone houses and the picturesque church with its bell tower. From behind half-closed doors they caught glimpses of dark, eager faces

rence as she gazed at the vast stretch of silvery grays and tawny browns which

e isn't beauty of some description. I agree with

e up Miss Prudence as the car suddenly dipped into a d

suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, look-

in which he was pointing, and soon all were able to d

joyous exultation that the other girls and Carlitos shared. "Just

e deep purple changing into a soft, mauve-tinted gray, while the distant

way, Miss Prudence's expression brightened. "

ed Jo Ann as she turned in

ey had reached the first mountain range and begun to climb the w

glimpses of the valley below and of the road beyond as it threaded its way higher and highe

t each time Peggy broke in with such warm praises of Jo Ann's driving that she subsided. "Jo never lets her nerve

ng away, but can she keep this old Ford from r

along like a-well, maybe not like a Cadillac,

Prudence did not cease to be nervous

he city, the girls' and Carlitos's e

de city," exulted Carlitos, obl

! The lovely music-those beautiful dark-eyed se?oritas-and, oh, those handsome men! Light of my eyes! Pride of my heart

nderstood by Miss Prudence, Florence hastily checked her mirth and remark

s she was familiar with the hotels, she choose the best one and drive directly t

like," Florence replied, then added, "I'd better drive the rest of t

to you. I'd get all mixed up on the one-way streets and go in th

people viewed the streets, the shops and hou

odern hotel, Miss Prudence went with Florence and Peggy to

wanted to talk to a real Mexican boy once more. He was still chatting with him in a lively flow of Spanish when Miss Prudence came back. At first she frowned in disappro

ul language, and the people here-why, there aren't any

nce's suggestion they went to an old restaurant with a more distinctive Mexican atmosphere and cookery than the hotel

rlitos, "You two may order your food in Spanish, but not I." Her smile suddenly disappeared

aughed Florence. "That's only ab

. "O-oh! I see. I'd

nd even Miss Prudence, who at first was dubious about Mexican cookery

tos, though, enjoy

xico last fall," Florence declared, while Carlitos w

d they could hear the band in the little park, or

" exclaimed Peggy eagerly. "I adore walking a

rence. "You want to go,

he strolling around while I sit on o

her consent to their plan, she began explaining how the Mexican girls walked slowly round and round the square, while the boys walked equally as slowly on the inside in the

That being the case, I'

nd seats, and the three girls joined the laughing, dark-eyed se?orita

ntion centered on the spectators sitting or standing near

the crowd in the background. Her heart leaped. There was the mystery man! The very man t

assure herself that she was not mistaken, Florence pulled he

the mystery man on

r mind. You're probably imagining that it's

et back around to that corne

going to point out,

him. I wish you didn't have to

square to her this time. When at last she reached the corner again, she gazed eage

erated. "And I wanted to tell him about thos