The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 36

Shirley and Mabel nodded their understanding of this, and turned to view the pa.s.sing sights.

After an hour's drive the cab pulled up before a house somewhat larger than the rest, and the cabman dismounted and threw open the door.

"Here we are at last," said Mrs. Sebastian as she alighted and motioned the girls to follow. Then she gave the cabman a single piece of silver and turned to the heavy door.

This she opened without the formality of a knock, and led the way across a small patio-a courtyard-in the center of what appeared to be the house itself. Here they brought up against another door, and Mrs.

Sebastian knocked sharply three times.

There was a moment's delay, then the door swung open and a man's face appeared.

At sight of Mrs. Sebastian the man stepped back with a bow, and Mrs.

Sebastian, followed by the two girls, swept by him.

The door slammed behind them.

Mrs. Sebastian led the way into a small but luxuriously furnished room off the main hall, where she turned to the man who had followed them, and spoke a few words in Spanish. The man bowed and departed.

"I told him to announce our arrival," explained Mrs. Sebastian.

The girls surveyed the interior of the handsome apartment curiously.

"I had no idea they lived so well in Mexico," said Shirley.

"Nor I," declared Mabel.

"The upper cla.s.ses live as well in Mexico as elsewhere," replied Mrs.

Sebastian. "It is only the poorer-or peon-cla.s.s that you have heard about, apparently."

Footsteps sounded without and a moment later a handsomely attired woman entered the room, followed a moment later by a fancifully garbed man.

The woman rushed up to Mrs. Sebastian and they greeted each other affectionately. The man also appeared glad to see the visitor.

Mrs. Sebastian then presented the girls, and it developed that both Don Miguel and his wife-for so they were introduced-spoke English. They made the girls welcome, and told them to make themselves at home.

"I have promised them a real Mexican dinner," explained Mrs. Sebastian with a little laugh.

"They shall have it," replied Don Miguel, throwing wide his arms.

"And now," said Mrs. Sebastian, "where can we have a talk?"

"In the next room," was the reply.

"Good! I am sure my young friends will excuse me for half an hour."

She looked inquiringly at the two girls. The latter nodded, and the Don and two women made their way from the room.

The moment they were gone, Shirley and Mabel began an inspection of the room. There were two windows, both of which looked on the street and both of which were barred.

Shirley uttered an exclamation.

"Barred!" she said.

"That's nothing," laughed Mabel. "Surely you remember all windows are barred in Mexico."

"That's so," agreed Shirley.

After some further inspection of the room, Mabel crossed to the door through which they had come, and turned the k.n.o.b. Then her face paled and she stepped back with an exclamation of alarm.

"What's the matter, Mabel?" asked Shirley.

For a moment Mabel did not reply. Again she turned the k.n.o.b and then she stepped back and looked at Shirley.

"It's locked!" she declared.

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 k.n.o.b, 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 of egress; 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 pa.s.sed, each seemingly more slowly than the one that had gone before, the fright of the girls increased.

An hour pa.s.sed and still Mrs. Sebastian had not returned.