The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 37

Shirley was about to speak, when they heard the sounds of footsteps outside and the doork.n.o.b turned. The door opened and Mrs. Sebastian stepped in smiling.

"I had no idea I had been gone so long," she exclaimed. "Why didn't you call me? You have been as quiet as mice."

Shirley and Mabel each drew a breath of great relief.

"Then you didn't lock us in purposely?" asked Mabel.

"Lock you in? What do you mean?"

"The door was locked and we couldn't get out. That's why we were so quiet," replied Shirley, laughing. "We thought you had locked us in."

"The idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Sebastian. "The door locked?" She approached and examined it. Then she looked up with a smile. "Why, the catch is on," she exclaimed, smiling. "And were you frightened?"

"No, not much," replied Mabel slowly. "We knew it must have been locked accidentally."

"Of course," replied the woman. "Now would you care to wash up a bit?

Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes."

The girls nodded and the woman led the way. Fifteen minutes later all were seated in the cozy dining room, where Shirley and Mabel had their first introduction to Mexican cooking.

Each girl sampled everything that was placed before her, and in spite of their efforts to try and enjoy the meal, disappointment was written large on their features. Mrs. Sebastian noticed this and laughed, while the donna and her husband smiled slightly.

"So you don't like the Mexican dishes," said Mrs. Sebastian.

"Well, they are a little too hot for me," said Shirley, somewhat ruefully.

"Try some of these tortillas," said the man, "perhaps you will find them to your liking, though they are warm."

The girls tried some, but with no better result. They finally gave up in despair.

The meal over, Mrs. Sebastian led the way back to the other room, which apparently was the parlor. Here all sat down to talk and the girls spent a very pleasant afternoon.

Finally Shirley looked at her watch. "What time did Captain Anderson say we would leave?" she asked of Mrs. Sebastian.

"Soon after five o'clock," was the reply. "Why?"

"It's almost four now," replied Shirley. "Hadn't we better be going?"

"Oh, no, we have plenty of time," was the answer. "It will not take us so long to get back."

Shirley subsided, and the others continued the conversation.

At half past four Shirley again mentioned the time. Mrs. Sebastian arose, spoke a few words to the others in Spanish, and then came over to Shirley.

"I have decided," she said, laying a hand on the girl's shoulder, "to remain here over night and go on by train to-morrow. Will not you and Mabel stay with me?"

"I am sorry, but we can't do that," replied Shirley. "If you will call a cab for us and direct the driver, we shall not trouble you to take us back to the boat."

"But we should like to have you stay," said the donna.

"We would indeed be glad to do so, but father would worry," said Mabel.

The Don also added his voice, but the girls turned a deaf ear. Both arose and put on their hats. Then they approached to tell their hosts good-bye.

Mrs. Sebastian spoke quickly to the Don and his wife in Spanish. Then she turned to the girls.

"Come," she said, "remove your hats and stay."

"It is impossible," replied Mabel.

"We would be glad to if we could," said Shirley, "but we must hurry now, or we shall be too late, and the ship will go without us."

The girls turned toward the door.

"One moment," said Mrs. Sebastian, raising a hand.

The girls halted in their tracks.

"We must insist upon your staying over with us," said the woman quietly.

"But-" began Shirley.

"I said we must insist," repeated Mrs. Sebastian. "You may as well remove your hats."

Both girls stared at her in utter astonishment. Shirley was the first to grasp the significance of the situation.

"Then it is true!" she exclaimed; "the door was locked! We are prisoners!"

The man of the house bowed low.

"Prisoners, or guests," he said. "It shall be as you prefer."

Shirley did not reply, but leaped quickly toward the door. The others were across the room and could not interfere. The door swung open, and Shirley called out:

"Quick, Mabel! Run!"

Mabel sprang after her friend.

But the time taken to open the door proved costly. Before Shirley could dart through it, Mrs. Sebastian had her by both shoulders, while the other woman held Mabel powerless.

Then they led the girls back into the room and bade them sit down.

Perceiving the uselessness of resistance, the girls obeyed.

Mabel immediately broke into tears, and Shirley threw her arms about her.

"Don't cry, dearie," she exclaimed. "We are in no danger. They will not dare to harm us."

She gazed at their three captors angrily.