by Roy J. Snell
CHAPTER XXII.--CAPTAIN VON BLUSEN BOBS UP AGAIN.
"Are you sure?" asked Shirley, her face also turning a shade whiter.
"Try it yourself," replied Mabel.
Shirley advanced and laid hold of the knob, but the door would not open.
The girls looked at each other in alarm.
"I never heard that they always locked the doors in Mexico," said Mabel.
"Nor I," agreed Shirley. "Do you suppose it was an accident?"
"I don't know what to think," replied Mabel.
There was no denying the fact that both girls were badly frightened.They darted hither and thither about the room, seeking a means ofegress; but there was none and they finally sat down.
"It must have been an accident," said Shirley at last. "Surely Mrs.Sebastian would have no reason for wishing to keep us prisoners."
"That's what I think," Mabel agreed. "The door must have locked itself."
"Well, all we can do is wait for some one to return," said Shirley.
And so they waited.
As the minutes passed, each seemingly more slowly than the one that hadgone before, the fright of the girls increased.
An hour passed and still Mrs. Sebastian had not returned.
Shirley was about to speak, when they heard the sounds of footstepsoutside and the doorknob turned. The door opened and Mrs. Sebastianstepped in smiling.
"I had no idea I had been gone so long," she exclaimed. "Why didn't youcall me? You have been as quiet as mice."
Shirley and Mabel each drew a breath of great relief.
"Then you didn't lock us in purposely?" asked Mabel.
"Lock you in? What do you mean?"
"The door was locked and we couldn't get out. That's why we were soquiet," replied Shirley, laughing. "We thought you had locked us in."
"The idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Sebastian. "The door locked?" She approachedand examined it. Then she looked up with a smile. "Why, the catch ison," she exclaimed, smiling. "And were you frightened?"
"No, not much," replied Mabel slowly. "We knew it must have been lockedaccidentally."
"Of course," replied the woman. "Now would you care to wash up a bit?Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes."
The girls nodded and the woman led the way. Fifteen minutes later allwere seated in the cozy dining room, where Shirley and Mabel had theirfirst introduction to Mexican cooking.
Each girl sampled everything that was placed before her, and in spite oftheir efforts to try and enjoy the meal, disappointment was writtenlarge on their features. Mrs. Sebastian noticed this and laughed, whilethe donna and her husband smiled slightly.
"So you don't like the Mexican dishes," said Mrs. Sebastian.
"Well, they are a little too hot for me," said Shirley, somewhatruefully.
"Try some of these tortillas," said the man, "perhaps you will find themto your liking, though they are warm."
The girls tried some, but with no better result. They finally gave up indespair.
The meal over, Mrs. Sebastian led the way back to the other room, whichapparently was the parlor. Here all sat down to talk and the girls spenta very pleasant afternoon.
Finally Shirley looked at her watch. "What time did Captain Anderson saywe would leave?" she asked of Mrs. Sebastian.
"Soon after five o'clock," was the reply. "Why?"
"It's almost four now," replied Shirley. "Hadn't we better be going?"
"Oh, no, we have plenty of time," was the answer. "It will not take usso long to get back."
Shirley subsided, and the others continued the conversation.
At half past four Shirley again mentioned the time. Mrs. Sebastianarose, spoke a few words to the others in Spanish, and then came over toShirley.
"I have decided," she said, laying a hand on the girl's shoulder, "toremain here over night and go on by train to-morrow. Will not you andMabel stay with me?"
"I am sorry, but we can't do that," replied Shirley. "If you will call acab for us and direct the driver, we shall not trouble you to take usback to the boat."
"But we should like to have you stay," said the donna.
"We would indeed be glad to do so, but father would worry," said Mabel.
The Don also added his voice, but the girls turned a deaf ear. Botharose and put on their hats. Then they approached to tell their hostsgood-bye.
Mrs. Sebastian spoke quickly to the Don and his wife in Spanish. Thenshe turned to the girls.
"Come," she said, "remove your hats and stay."
"It is impossible," replied Mabel.
"We would be glad to if we could," said Shirley, "but we must hurry now,or we shall be too late, and the ship will go without us."
The girls turned toward the door.
"One moment," said Mrs. Sebastian, raising a hand.
The girls halted in their tracks.
"We must insist upon your staying over with us," said the woman quietly.
"But--" began Shirley.
"I said we must insist," repeated Mrs. Sebastian. "You may as wellremove your hats."
Both girls stared at her in utter astonishment. Shirley was the first tograsp the significance of the situation.
"Then it is true!" she exclaimed; "the door was locked! We areprisoners!"
The man of the house bowed low.
"Prisoners, or guests," he said. "It shall be as you prefer."
Shirley did not reply, but leaped quickly toward the door. The otherswere across the room and could not interfere. The door swung open, andShirley called out:
"Quick, Mabel! Run!"
Mabel sprang after her friend.
But the time taken to open the door proved costly. Before Shirley coulddart through it, Mrs. Sebastian had her by both shoulders, while theother woman held Mabel powerless.
Then they led the girls back into the room and bade them sit down.Perceiving the uselessness of resistance, the girls obeyed.
Mabel immediately broke into tears, and Shirley threw her arms abouther.
"Don't cry, dearie," she exclaimed. "We are in no danger. They will notdare to harm us."
She gazed at their three captors angrily.
"What do you want with us?" she demanded.
"You shall know in good time," replied Mrs. Sebastian gruffly.
Her manner had undergone a sudden change. She was no longer thegood-natured, smiling companion of the steamer. Her face was hard, andshe seemed to have aged ten years.
She turned to the other woman.
"Bring paper, pen and ink," she commanded.
The latter hurried away to obey this order, and returned a few momentslater, bearing the required articles, which she placed on a table.
Mrs. Sebastian drew up several chairs and motioned the two girls, whohad been staring at them curiously, to take the seats.
Both realized it would be useless to refuse and did as commanded. Mrs.Sebastian passed the paper, pen and ink to Shirley.
"Write as I dictate," she ordered.
Here Shirley protested.
"What is it you wish me to write?" she asked.
"You'll hear quick enough," was the reply. "Write."
Shirley replaced the pen gently on the table.
"Not until you tell me what you want me to write, and to whom," shereplied quietly.
The others looked at her in surprise, then conversed a few moments inSpanish. At last Mrs. Sebastian said:
"The letter is to your father and to Colonel Ashton. It will contain ademand for $20,000--$10,000 apiece--for your return."
Shirley rose suddenly to her feet and gave a cry of amazement.
"You mean that we are to be held for ransom?" she exclaimed in unbelief.
"Exactly," replied the man.
"And so you are robbers," exclaimed Shirley scornfully.
Mrs. Sebastian's face flushed.
"No," she replied quietly. "But the patriotic forces in Mexico are inneed of money. We have taken this means of getting it for them. Yourfathers are rich. They will no
t miss the money, and it will mean so muchto us."
"And if we refuse to write?" asked Shirley.
"You probably will spend the remainder of your days in Mexico. But youwon't refuse. Come now, write as I dictate."
"May I speak to my friend in private first?" asked Shirley.
Mrs. Sebastian hesitated. Then:
"Yes, but be quick."
Shirley and Mabel put their heads close together.
"Shall I write the letter, Mabel?" asked Shirley.
"Yes," was the instant reply. "Then Dad will know we are in danger andjust what sort of danger. It is the only way we can get word to theothers. I know they will find us."
"I guess you're right," agreed Shirley.
She returned to her place at the table, and picked up the pen.
"Dictate and I shall write," she said.
"I am glad to see you are so sensible," smiled Mrs. Sebastian.
She dictated and Shirley wrote. When she had finished she had both girlsaffix their signatures, and then address an envelope.
She clapped her hands and a young native boy entered the room. To himMrs. Sebastian gave the letter and spoke in Spanish, whereupon the boyhurried away.
Hardly had he gone when there came three sharp knocks at the doorwithout. The conspirators looked at each other in alarm, and the hopesof Shirley and Mabel rose suddenly.
But the latter were doomed to disappointment. Mrs. Sebastian left theroom, only to return a few moments later followed by the figure of aman.
Shirley took one look at him, and gave a cry of surprise.
The newcomer was Captain Von Blusen!
