ad, Jo Ann parked the car in front of a small thatched adobe house. "This is the

y by the time he and the boys got here. I don't fancy going into a strange house in a strange--" She stopped abruptly as a fat, smiling-fac

with a "Gracias," then turned and translated

house. Her keen eyes quickly took in the room, which had a neat, wel

ntly the kitchen, as they could hear her rattlin

," Jo Ann whispered to Peggy as they s

a bear. Mountain air always

antial meal right now, and it'll probably be t

y man. Now that she had seen the car of those suspected smugglers in the village so close by, she felt it was more imperative than ever

eed Peggy's nudging her till she squealed out, "Can't yo

gy replied, her twinkling eyes showing t

going to ride in that thing? That must be one of those old-fashioned side-saddle riding skirts she'd heard her grandmother talk about. It'd be absolutely dangerous to ride side saddle in this mountainous country. She'd often heard

red, "Er-Miss Prudence-er-they don'

her skirt, she smiled, "This isn't one of those old side-saddle riding skirts. It's a divided skirt." There was a note of pride in her

rt, Miss Prudence, to start

ived this praise w

n a little table near by. Gesturing and talking rapidly to Jo Ann, she

You are most kind. We have hunger after the long ride. And chocolaté-I love it." She raised

l to the woman, and her black eyes glowed with h

finished eating, Mr. Eldrid

hat José, Pepito's father, was standing near by, his arms caressingly about Carlitos, whom he loved almost as de

manipulated that queer skirt. When they saw her unbutton the front panel and fold it back

murmur to Jo Ann, "It looks like a

I prefer to sleep in pajamas and ride

he thought of the proper Miss Prudence's ever

Miss Prudence rode unusually well, handling her

ice at the edge looked so dangerous to Jo Ann that she tried to keep from looking over. One good t

ising, as the mine had been the scene of the most thrilling adventures they had ever experienced. It was her

e, they found José's wife, Maria, the nurse who had reared Carlitos as one of her family. Thoug

watched her enfold Carlitos in her arms and kiss him on each

of everything, then took Miss Prudence and the girls to adjoining rooms, which looked bare an

cks," Miss Prudence said cris

s it was the first time I saw it. There was a grand piano in

every room! Heavens! You mean to say

ea of the luxurious life. He loved music and cock f

Why, I must fumigate this whole house, c

us-eyed Maria was watching Miss Prudence's frown of evident disapproval and was worried. S

work hard." She gestured to the window and the corners of th

cleaned the house, she was far from being convinced that it was fit for human habitation. Again

hose things," put in Peggy. "They won't ha

he mystery man. She could stop in the village and find out what those smugglers were doing t

nd Peggy were alone sh

what you were planning. You ca

ave a finger in my mystery pie. You know

ourse