Part 23 (1/2)

”Juanita, you have a match in your pocket, haven't you?” she demanded, anxiously.

”Yes, Miss Janet.”

”Strike it, then.”

In the pent stillness of the dark office Janet could hear the Mexican girl fumbling in the pocket of her gingham dress. There came a scratching sound and a tiny flame.

”Be careful of it,” she warned. ”Now give it to me. And close the door.”

Janet lighted the smoky lamp resting on the table, next took it up in her hand. A few papers had fallen upon the floor. The room was still strong with fresh cigarette smoke. Martinez could not have been gone more than five minutes.

And in another five minutes' time too Martinez' captors might be back again!

Holding the lamp aloft she peered about for an old chair, her heart beating rapidly, her lips compressed. But all the chairs, the three or four in the room, were old. Her eyes encountered the Mexican girl staring open-mouthed and scared.

”Take the lamp and keep by me,” Janet ordered. ”Don't upset it. What are you shaking for, you ninny?”

”I can't help it--and you're so white,” the other whimpered.

”Never you mind me; do as I say.”

Janet swiftly went from one chair to another, turning them about, upside down, all ways. No paper was hidden in or under any one of them, or indeed was there s.p.a.ce capable of holding a doc.u.ment. At last she gave up, gazing about in dismay, dread, tears of vexation and anxiety almost rising to her lids. Only one conclusion was to be drawn: the men who had seized the lawyer had found the paper in spite of his precaution.

She examined the chairs a second time feverishly, for time was flying.

”I can't find it, Juanita, the paper he telephoned me to come and get,” she exclaimed.

”Maybe it's in there where he sleeps.” And the Mexican girl pointed at the inner door standing barely ajar.

”We'll see.”

Janet led the way within. There was Martinez' living- and sleeping-room.

The furnis.h.i.+ngs comprised a bed, an old scratched bureau, a stand with wash-bowl, a red and black Navajo blanket on the floor, a trunk, a stool and a dilapidated stuffed chair--just such a chair as a paper could be hidden in. That into this room the lawyer's a.s.sailants had burst their way was apparent from the splintered door hanging from one hinge at the rear.

Beckoning Juanita to bring the lamp, Janet ran to the arm-chair.

”Ah, here it is!” she cried, when she had turned the piece of furniture over and inserted her hand in the rent. ”It wasn't found, after all! Come away now.”

Relief and exultation replaced her depression of the moment before.

She had succeeded; she had helped the lawyer outwit his enemies; she must now return home to await Steele Weir's arrival, or if he failed in that then go to the dam.

In the outer room she bade the Mexican girl place the lamp on the table once more and blow it out. This was done. They groped forward to the door.

”Follow me out quietly, Juanita,” Janet said. ”Only Mr. Martinez knows we've been here, and Mr. Weir, the engineer. See, I'm trusting you.

This is a very important paper for Mr. Weir, and other men are trying to keep it out of his hands. So you must say nothing to any one about our being here.”

Juanita a.s.sented in a whisper. Janet thereupon opened the door and the pair stepped forth. A faint hissing sound directly before them startled both. But the American girl immediately recognized it for what it was, the faint murmur of an automobile engine.

She quietly closed the office door, caught her companion's arm to lead her away.

”Don't talk,” she whispered in her ear.