The Blue Grass Seminary Girls on the Water Part 45

The woman's face turned red.

"You do us an injustice," she replied. "What I have done has been for my country."

"I thought you were a Spaniard," interrupted Mabel.

"I am, on my mother's side," was the reply. "My father was a Mexican."

"Well, I wouldn't be mixed up in any such business," declared Mabel. "I think you should be punished for the manner in which you got us in your power."

"But it was for my country. Surely you can understand that?"

"No, I can't understand it," declared Shirley. "It's robbery that you are attempting."

The woman shrugged her shoulders.

"There is no use talking to you," she said.

She went out of the room, locking the door behind her.

"Well, here we are," said Mabel, with a wry look at her chum. "Now, what are we going to do?"

"I wish we could escape," declared Shirley. "I'll tell you what. The next time we hear any one coming, we'll stand behind the door, and as soon as they come in we'll slip out and run. If we can reach the street some one may help us."

"There will be no harm trying," Mabel agreed. "They won't hurt us, I am sure."

It was several hours later before they had the opportunity of putting their plan to the test.

"Quick! Here comes some one!" whispered Shirley.

She took her stand behind the door and Mabel joined her there. A key turned in the lock, and the door swung slowly inward. The girls were out of sight behind the door.

Mrs. Sebastian, being unable to see them, advanced into the room with a startled exclamation, and looked hurriedly about. Seizing a moment when the woman was looking the other way, Shirley, closely followed by Mabel, dashed from her place of concealment and out the door.

Mabel was just disappearing through the door when Mrs. Sebastian wheeled suddenly about and caught sight of her. The woman sprang forward with a cry, but Mabel, in pa.s.sing, had seized the k.n.o.b of the door and pulled it to after her.

It was the work of an instant to turn the key in the lock, and Mrs.

Sebastian was safe in the girls' recent prison.

"Now what?" said Shirley when Mabel had come up to her.

From the room they had just quitted a series of blows were rained on the door, and Mrs. Sebastian's voice could be heard calling for help.

"No one knows she's in there so if the disturbance is heard they'll think it is us," declared Mabel. "If we are silent and careful now, we may be able to get out."

Shirley advanced cautiously and peered into the next room. Then she returned to Mabel.

"No getting out that way," she whispered.

Mabel advanced and looked into the room beyond. In it sat Hernandez and his wife.

Shirley nodded her head.

"No, we can't get out there," she agreed.

The girls looked about for some other means of escape.

They now stood in what appeared to be a long and narrow hall, and at Shirley's whispered suggestion they went back along it. Far to the rear they could see a faint beam of light and Shirley's heart beat faster with renewed hope.

At last they came to a high window, through which the light streamed. It was out of reach of the girls, but Shirley found a chair which she dragged forth and mounted. Her shoulders now were on a level with the window.

The girl uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.

"What is it, Shirley?" asked Mabel breathlessly.

"We can get out here," was the reply, "the window is not barred."

"Hurry then," cried Mabel anxiously. "I'll come right after you."

Shirley wasted no further words. She drew herself to the sill, and looked down. Then she shuddered slightly. It was a long drop, fully twenty feet.

But Shirley did not hesitate, for she realized that the jump must be taken. She lowered herself until she clung to the window with her hands, then released her hold and dropped.

She fell in a sprawling heap, and she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. In spite of this, she was up in an instant, however, and turned her eyes to the window, where Mabel's head had just appeared.

The latter drew herself to the window sill, and then glanced down at the ground.

"I can't do it, Shirley," she exclaimed.

"Of course you can," called her chum. "Lower yourself as far as you can and then drop."

Mabel maneuvered about the window trying to get into such a position that she could lower herself. But her fright was such that she was afraid to loose her hold long enough to change her position. She looked down at Shirley helplessly.

"I tell you I can't," she declared.

"But you must, Mabel," replied Shirley anxiously. "Hurry!"

Again Mabel moved about, but the result was the same.

"Mabel! Jump!" cried Shirley.

Mabel now began to cry, as she moved about a little on her perch.

"I-I-can't, Sh-Shirley," she said. "I am afraid!"

"My goodness!" muttered Shirley to herself. "What shall I do? I can't climb back up there after her."

She considered the matter for several moments, the while Mabel sat in the window and sobbed. Then Shirley reached a decision, and acted immediately.