Part 32 (2/2)

”Well, I don't know that it is of much importance I came to tell you that I think we can start”

They set off and reached Rio Frio without trouble soazed at theht that, for the most part, they watched the party with unfriendly curiosity She was eager to meet her father, but when they disot a shock A dark-skinned woallery to welcome them, but Cliffe was not there

CHAPTER XXII

HELD FOR RANSOM

Goized The senor Cliffe had not yet arrived fro In the ood senora Garcia would look after the senorita's comfort

Evelyn had to be content with that Indeed, she was too tired to feel , however, she was troubled by unpleasant suspicions It had been a shock to find Cliffe absent, and she began to review the in with, it now see a e; then, the senora Herrero had not kept her proone back While she wondered whether all this had any sinister , Evelyn felt for a packet of paper currency which she had, at her father's advice, sewn into her dress She found that it was gone A hurried search showed that the stitches had been neatly cut

For a few moments she felt unnerved, and then resolutely pulled herself together This was no time for hysteria It was obvious that she had been duped The lost sue, but with the exception of a few coins it was all she had, and it had not been stolen by a common thief

Somebody had searched her clothes while she slept and taken theto the , she looked out at the town It had a mean, dilapidated air; the few inhabitants she salyabout looked poverty-stricken and furtive Their harsh voices jarred; one could expect no syners Hitherto she had been indulged and carefully protected, but she was now alone and in danger, and the novel experience was daunting Still, she saw that it was unwise to give her irapple with the situation

She finished dressing and without waiting for thechocolate found her way to the roo It stretched across one end of the house on the second floor and was furnished in rather barbarous taste Although there was a profusion of colored silk and a hint of sensual luxury, it was obviously a man's room, and Evelyn studied the woht in breakfast

Senora Garcia was coarsely handsome, but she had not the easy manners of a lady of rank and her dark color hinted at Indian blood Her expression was arrogant, and Evelyn felt that she was hostile Besides, she spoke an uncouth Spanish that the girl could not understand at all Breakfast was a trial of nerve, but Evelyn knew that she must eat and hide her fears When breakfast was over she would have a talk with Gomez

He soon calance Her servile obedience was significant

”_Buenos dias, senorita_,” he greeted Evelyn sly

”When do you expect ret that I cannot answer positively It er”

”But you brought me here to meet him!”

Gomez smiled, and spread out his hands in a way that always irritated Evelyn

”It now appears that the senor Cliffe's business with the President is not finished,” he said

”It would not prevent his co to meet me if he had promised”

”You should know best,” Go ”Still, it looks as if the senor Cliffe put his business first and is not very anxious about you”