Part 19 (2/2)
”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.”
”All right then,” Nan agreed.
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.
”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?”
”Do one of you strung from that balcony, up there, kid,” Walker offered generously.
”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.”
”On second thought, perhaps that is best,” Walker agreed. ”It would be a shame to spoil this lovely scene this fine morning.”
”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.
”Oh, but I hate to leave all this,” Nan remarked when the pictures were taken and she and Laura and Walker were returning to the hotel lobby.
”And so do we,” the other girls chorused, as the party all came together.
”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.”
”Have you?” The girls looked suspiciously at Walker, when Nan asked this question.
His answer was a mysterious look.
CHAPTER XXI
THE HACIENDA
”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.
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.
”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.”
He looked about him, as he finished, as though he was daring someone to gainsay him. No one accepted the dare.
”What's the matter?” he surveyed the silent group. ”All worn out?”
Again, there was no answer.
”Say, you,” he looked directly at Nan now, ”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.
At this, the whole group broke down in laughter.
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