Part 15 (1/2)
”I fancy we had better let Mr. Robinson attend to those matters,”
Mrs. Kimball said. ”He knows best what moves to make. Poor girl! I know just how she feels.”
The party stopped for a while to look at the statue of Columbus, who discovered Porto Rico on his second voyage. From there, they drove about the city, admiring the various buildings of Spanish architecture, and, as a finish to the drive, went to the old morro--fort or castle--of San Juan. All signs of the bombardment by Admiral Sampson's fleet, during the Spanish-American War, had been done away with. It was a place of interest to them all, for it was very old, and had withstood many attacks. They went through the watch-tower and also the lighthouse.
”Well, I think we've done enough for one day,” announced Cora, as they started back for the hotel. ”I'm quite done out, and I'm sure Jack must be tired.”
”A little,” he admitted.
A concert in the evening, a stroll about the plaza, watching the pretty Spanish girls, and the homely duennas, brought the day to a close.
”And now for bed,” sighed Cora. ”I wonder if one dreams in San Juan any differently than in Chelton?”
”Cheerful Chelton!” cried Bess. ”Doesn't it seem far away!”
All the rooms of our party were near together on the same corridor, Bess, Belle and Cora having connecting apartments. They left the doors open between, and it was due to this that Cora heard, soon after falling into a light doze, the voice of Belle calling her.
”Cora! Cora!” came the entreaty.
”Yes--what is it?” asked Cora, sleepily.
”Some one is in my room!” hissed Belle, in a stage whisper.
”Oh!” cried Cora, and she sat up suddenly, and pulled the cord of the electric light.
CHAPTER XII
LEFT ALONE
The flood of radiance from the electric light shone from Cora's room, into that where Belle was, and with the gleam of the modern illumination, Cora's bravery grew apace.
”What did you say, Belle?” she asked, now quite wide awake. ”Are you ill?”
”No, but, oh! I'm so frightened. There's some one in my room! I'm sure of it!”
”Nonsense!”
”I tell you I can hear some one walking around!” insisted Belle.
”Did you get up and look?” asked Cora.
”Did I get up? Indeed I did not!” was the indignant answer. ”I'm scared stiff as it is.”
”And you want me to look?” murmured Cora.
”Oh, but you have your light lit, Cora dear. And really I am afraid to get up. Do come and see what it is. Perhaps it's only one of those large fruit bats that Inez told us about.”
”A bat! Indeed I'll not come in and have it get tangled in my hair!”
objected Cora. ”I'm going to call some one of the hotel help.”