by Roy J. Snell
CHAPTER XIII THE POTTERY WOMAN'S WARNING
On coming in sight of Miss Prudence and Peggy, the two girls checkedtheir steps.
"Let's don't mention seeing that man before Miss Prudence," Jo Annwarned. "No use alarming her."
"All right," Florence agreed. "He didn't act as if he were dangerous,anyway. He ran, too."
"He didn't want us to see him--to recognize him. What's he doing here?"
Florence shook her head, puzzled. "I can't imagine. The pottery womansaid they always went on to the city after getting the pottery."
All at once it dawned upon Jo Ann that they had not got any ferns andwould soon be back at the pool empty-handed. "Miss Prudence'll wonder whywe didn't get some ferns," she said. "Let's stop this minute and pull upsome."
"All right."
In a few more minutes they had carefully pulled up some clumps of thedaintiest maidenhair specimens in sight and had wrapped elephant-earleaves about their roots to keep the leaf mold from falling off.
When they neared the pool Peggy called out, "What'd you see to make youcome flying back so fast--a rattlesnake or a boa constrictor?"
"Er--neither," Florence replied.
To her and Jo Ann's relief Miss Prudence asked quickly, "Are there reallyboa constrictors around here? Did you ever see one here?"
"Not right here," Florence replied guardedly.
"Close here?"
"Well--fifty miles or so to the south."
"Hop on your horses and let's go this minute." Miss Prudence tapped herboot against her mount's flank and started riding down the path.
In a few minutes the three girls were following.
After Miss Prudence had gone out of hearing distance, Peggy rode overclose to Jo Ann and demanded, "What did you girls see to scare you thatway?"
Jo Ann leaned over and whispered, "One of the smugglers!"
Peggy gave a little sudden start that made her horse quiver responsively."Gol-ly!" she ejaculated. "What'd he come up here for?"
"That's what Florence and I want to know."
By the time the girls had reached the house, Miss Prudence had dismountedand had gone inside.
As they were walking along the corridor to their room Maria hurried outof the kitchen, an excited gleam in her black eyes.
After a swift glance around to assure herself that Miss Prudence was notin sight she called to Florence in a low voice and motioned for all threeof them to come there. As they drew near she went on excitedly, "There isa woman here from San Geronimo to see you. She say she has something totell the senoritas who bought her _ollas_ a few days back. It is veryimportant, she say."
"A woman from San Geronimo to----" Florence checked her flow of Spanishto relay the message in English to Peggy and Jo Ann.
"She must think it's important to come 'way up here," Jo Ann murmured toFlorence as they followed Maria and Peggy into the kitchen. "Do yousuppose it could be something about those----"
Before she could finish her sentence, they were inside the kitchen. Theresitting beside the door talking to Jose was the woman from whom Jo Annhad bought the pottery.
On seeing Jo and Florence the woman rose and hurried over to meet them.With her words tumbling over each other in her excitement, she begantalking to Florence. So rapid was her Spanish that Jo Ann could catchonly a few words now and then. One thing she was sure of, however, wasthat the woman was frightened. But why? She could stand the suspense nolonger and broke in, "What is it, Florence? What's the trouble?"
Florence turned and explained quickly to her and Peggy, "She says sheheard the smugglers threaten to get even with you and me."
Jo Ann's eyes flew open, but she repressed the frightened exclamation onthe tip of her tongue.
"Her oldest girl overheard one of the men tell the other that they'd findout at Pedro's store where we lived," Florence went on; "then that he'ddrive on with the load of pottery and let him wait around here for awhile."
"So that's why that man's here--to get even with us!" Jo Ann exclaimed."That means we'll have to be extremely careful for a few days. Did shesay when the other man'd be back at the village?"
"No, but I'll ask her."
After questioning her closely Florence relayed her answers to the girls."She doesn't know. Says she thinks he'll come one day soon--maybe aboutthis time next week."
"The vague _manana_," Peggy summed up. "That means we'll be sitting ontop of a volcano for no telling how long."
"I'm so thankful we know of the volcano's existence," Jo Ann replied. Shesmiled over at the woman with a "_Muchas gracias_. You have been verykind to walk all this way to tell us about the man."
Florence, too, joined in thanking her, then began talking to theanxious-faced Maria. She could see she was worried even more than theythemselves. "Don't worry, Maria. Jose won't let anything happen to us.Will you, Jose?"
"No, no, Miss Florencita. I will take care of you. But you and Miss Joand Miss Peggy must be very careful. Stay here at the house unless I amwith you. Shall I tell Mr. Eldridge about this?"
"No--well, not yet, anyway." Jo Ann put in hastily. She must get theinformation to the mystery man, and if she stayed a prisoner in thishouse all the time, she couldn't get the chance. Mr. Eldridge might noteven want her and the girls and Miss Prudence to go to the city, if heknew about this man's threat.
"Jose, you haven't gone after the mail yet, have you?" Florence asked.
Jose shook his head. "I am leaving soon."
"Get a burro so this woman can ride home. She must be very tired. I'msure Mr. Eldridge will not object."
"_Bien._ I get the burro." He gestured to the woman. "Come with me."
"Wait just a minute, Jose," spoke up Jo Ann. "I want to give hersomething for her children."
She ran to her room and reappeared in a moment carrying a large box ofcaramels. She handed them to the woman, saying, "Here are some _dulces_for your children. We will come back next week for some more _ollas_. Youwill have some ready then?"
The woman nodded.
Both Maria and the girls felt relieved after the woman and Jose had gonewithout Miss Prudence's seeing her.
"I'd have had to tell Miss Prudence everything from A to Z about thatwoman if she'd seen her," declared Jo Ann. She turned to Maria. "You mustnot let Miss Prudence know anything about what this woman said. _Sabe_?"
"No--I will not. I know nothing," Maria replied with emphasis, thenshrugging her shoulders added, "Miss Prudencia no speak the Spanish. I nospeak the English."
"Even if they did speak the same language, Maria wouldn't confide inher," Jo Ann thought. "They can't understand each other. Neither oneknows how good and kind the other is. Why is it that women living underthe same roof are so often antagonistic to each other?"
Almost the same moment Miss Prudence entered the kitchen, gave Maria afew orders, with Florence as interpreter, then added in a suspicioustone, "I noticed a Mexican woman just leaving the house with a box in herhands. What did Maria give her?"
"Nothing," Florence replied quickly. "Jo Ann gave her a box of caramelsfor her children. She's the woman Jo Ann bought the jars from. I'm goingto get some more from her and from the other villagers and ship them tomy friend in St. Louis, who has a curio shop."
When Miss Prudence changed the subject to a discussion of the menu forsupper, all three girls were relieved.