Show F U n d e P r e W za cm 0 eko nak u I 1 0 george georee agnew chamberlain by george agnew chamberlain service CHAPTER XV continued Is 18 yank oft off bridle and saddle and turn him loose suddenly joyce began to sob what ar are you crying about theres simply nothing else to do oh its not that cried joyce still weeping 1 as she un buckled throat latch and girth its tro nido im lm im crying about tro nido dont said dirk rac incase se dont dons or have me so I 1 cant do a damn thing dont you suppose hell then he continued quietly joyce hold on a bit we may both have to ride rayo the batt erys run down ohl she gasped grief forgotten in the face of fresh disaster suddenly dirk started tearing out the front cushion here it is thank god the crank get in in joyce take the throttle and work the choke hurry he leaped out and in a moment was cranking with all his might no use not a spark then he began using reason and judgment giving joyce time enough to do the same they tensed teased the motor teased it into a first gasp of life then more teasing then a roar so sudden so mighty that it seemed the old car would shake itself to pieces before joyce could shut off the throttle the backfiring was deafening more like a machine gun than a motor oh dirk she screamed though he was already at her side 1 I cant make it stop chos a fool now he yelled at the top of his voice take your foot off the accelerator and push yourself over then he was at the wheel backing turning cautiously for fear of the spikes of heads but finally straightening out on the toluca trail shifting into second and at last into high joyce turned kneeled on the seat and looked back the riders were closer now quite close some of them were already dismounting their carbines and running to kneel on the farther edge of the barranca never mind the bumps dirk she called over her shoulder give her gas and take everything that comes the shooting is about to start how far off are they asked dirk then and there joyce was stumped tor for is there a woman alive who knows by sight the difference between a hundred yards and a half a mile 1 I dont know she said 1 I haie nt the least idea of course you have he shouted impatiently how tar far Is it ten yards or a mile 1 I dont know said joyce im not being stubborn I 1 just dont know then she cried never mind here it comes the first bullet struck in line but well behind the car it ricocheted and passed over them with a screaming whine that wa was s enough tor for dirk he opened the throttle wide and sent the flivver careening across the prairie making note of the direction he would have to take to bring it back to the abandoned trail more bullets followed but none so threatening as the first and presently there was silence joyce sat down and sank back sighing her relief 1 I guess were safe dirk we better nurse the tires a bit they must be pretty soft youre right said dirk slowing down how long has this soap box been parked in that gully let me see said joyce calculatingly la Is it a year no it cant be ill give you a chance to figure it out for or yourself dirk ilow how many days have you been at la barranca e a nine said dirk promptly T then cn add three to that said J joics oyce it seem possible twelve days less than two I 1 was away twelve years ive been back twelve days somehow it make sense CHAPTER XVI at the first crossroads they were lucky enough to get gas and the poor old flivver faithful to the last limbed bumped into toluca a little before noon abandoning it in a side street to avoid unnecessary complications they walked to the san carlos and before long were feasting on crystal trout fresh from the lerma and certain equally famed accessories more than once they raised their eyes to look at each other across the table then dropped them because their hearts were too full of content for words but the moment the meat meal was over dirk said without warning joyce joyca will you marry me ive got to know yes dirk when this afternoon As soon as we get to the city oh why wait till then asked joyce but dirk was vas in no playing mood mccause Pc cause theres no american con sul in toluca he answered gravely does there have to be a consul either that or some authorized officer from the embassy any preacher in good standing can do the trick but the presence ot of an american official as witness is what makes it legal at home 1 I see said joyce slowly then she raised her eyes to his face dirk im yours ill do whatever you want me to he ha reached out to lay his hand band on hers 1 I love you joyce and I 1 love you dirk Is that why we must hurry so think it would make us willing to wait he frowned you told me your reason for rushing to mexico city but I 1 think I 1 guessed it to attend to general onelia said joyce also fro frowning 1 I thought so said dirk and why were going to marry today when you take on onelia or ra r M ap oc A A 0 A person of your particular looks size and adorable build the ambassador or any other small try fry I 1 want a right nobody can dispute to be in the ring to sit in your corner she smiled again I 1 love you dirk going out in search of the finest car available he walked on air he was glad to be alive glad to be relieved of the strain of driving and to sit in the back with his arm around joyce both of them wrapped in the same rug arrived in the city they drove straight to his little house and from her first glimpse of its exterior to the last long look within joyce was conscious of pleased wonder and a steadily increasing sense of well being here was a nurtured loveliness in bulk individual to the core yet with arms held wide to all devotees of good taste she was happy in this house even pablo masking amazement all but choking on suppressed joy at the return of his rn missing issing master seemed of its warp and woof what about a hot bath to start with asked dirk splendid she answered quickly then her lips drooped 1 I anything to put on dont worry said dirk search the world and you find a costume more becoming than what youre wearing to a person of your particular looks size and adorable build silly head 1 I can furnish you a soft shirt for a blouse and by the time youre ready tor for them the jodhpurs will have been brushed and pressed as sweet as a flower he turned to pablo pablo this is the senorita joyce sewell from whom you may take ake orders as coming from myself only more so give her into the charge of paulina As tor for the rest I 1 leave it to her since she talks spanish better than either of you dirk had not dismissed the hild car and without bothering to anfor inform in joyce or even waiting to wash his hands he started tor for the embassy proper passing the chancellery by the great iron gate was opened by a strange porter but the man on the door was an old friend good afternoon antonio buenas bienas tardes bardes don deecke De erke cried antonio excitedly buenas bienas tardes bardes buenas bienas tardes bardes tar des Is the ambassador at home and awake si senor corno no tell him a mr van would like to see him be sure you give the message just as I 1 say it As they entered the vast living room the ambassador himself emerged with a rush from his study stopped and stared well he gasped ill say you came on the run I 1 his eyes moved up and down you changed those clothes since you left dirk glanced downward ruefully then looked up and grinned 1 I admit its pretty bad sir especially since I 1 come as a private citizen what do you mean I 1 fired you yet 1 I was merely anticipating said dirk looking around what are you hunting tor for two things A chair with a washable cover and a drink forgive me my boy sit anywhere you like theres nobody to kick about it since im a grass wid vid ower from a week ago till the christmas holidays ill ring tor for your usual come on now on your mind im here for assistance sir I 1 want you to help me marry miss joyce sewell of la barranca this afternoon the ambassador collapsed into the nearest chair and groaned then they talked talked as only two men who possess an identical background can talk the rapid fire ol of questions and answers covered not only dirks absence but swept from such broad considerations as his ancestry tor for three generations back down to the trifling matter of his present private income in dollars and cents with salary omitted yet there was no confusion when they got through there was nothing either of them know about th the e inner and outer workings of dirk van Sut tart lets see where we stand said the ambassador summing up you want to marry miss sewell well ashes certainly of age as far as that operation is concerned so stopping you by getting her stepmother her to stop her is definitely out then you state you cant wait even to telephone your people because of the urgency ot of securing conelias On elias aid because what they say aou I 1 ant make any difference anyway and finally because probably in europe he scowled the first of those three reasons is bothering me trouble heading straight this way you worry on that score said dirk As a matter of tact fact sir miss sewell emphatically want the aid of this establishment lish ment she says she can get along a whole lot better without it her idea is whatever that ever since embassies have been run tor for trade and to hell with the trader become mere stumbling blocks to the pioneer also a constant pain an eyesore EM eh exclaimed the ambassador atoni astonished shed then he asked with genuine solicitude are you sure ashes quite all there quite said dirk confidently the truth is sir im inclined to agree with her give her a chance and shell make a monkey out of onelia which is more than we have ever been able to do dirk im calling you dirk because I 1 want you to think of me as sitting here in place of your father in less than two weeks this girl has managed to do extraordinary things to your mind so much so that I 1 beg you not to trust it until youve taken advice from someone capable of judging her with impartial eyes 1 I agree to that said dirk promptly what about yours do you think they would be impartial the ambassador frowned then smiled all I 1 can say is id try my best to make them so when can you bring the paragon around dont think me impertinent but there time tor for that besides since she has nothing but riding clothes she might find it embarrassing 1 I take it youre inviting me to your house stated the ambassador yes sir said dirk and id be a lot more humble about it it if you waived your ambassadorship to act as my father a bullseye bulls eye conceded I 1 I 1 the ambassador lets go the quicker the better do you mind it if I 1 have a wash sir begged dirk 1 I have time later on help yourself you certainly need it and you know the way dirk washed all he could reach without undressing then paused long enough to do some important telephoning consequently several minutes elapsed before he found himself in the ambassadorial car and only then did he feel a first twinge of trepidation almost an hour had passed since he had abandoned his prospective bride without warning how would she react to such cavalier treatment how to the surprise he was about to spring on her absurd as it might appear what joyce thought about anything seemed to him a lot more important than what the ambassador was going to think about joyce even so he was in for a shock tor for the moment pablo opened the closed door of the living room and stood back that his master and his masters chief might pass they ey crashed in upon an astonishing scene before them back to the door and with hands thrust in her breeches pockets stood joyce I 1 I 1 in n an unmistakable posture of battle beyond a veritable lioness of a hatless woman not only in appearance but by virtue of her roar paced the room from side to side words were vere tumbling out of her in an unceasing and reverberating rever berating rumble yet joyces joycea voice accurately pitched could cut across it quite clearly without apparent forcing its no use margarida she was saying you carl can yelp all you like but youre here and youre going to stay try to get out and ill ride you down the block why ive ive kept on these clothes joyce please cried dirk in an agonized voice then he collected himself and faced the older woman margarida fonseco may I 1 present his excellency the ambassador of the united states he laid his hand on joyces joycea shoulder as she turned chief he half gulped this is joyce joyce sewell the ambassador found himself looking into as straight and blue a pa pair I 1 r 0 of f eyes as he had ever seen eyes of a blue that at the moment was 21 almost most black he took a hand cool to the touch slender yet amazingly firm and the next instant a current of courage and the will to fight swept up the length of his arm straight to his heart my dear he heard himself saying after quite a pause dont you think we might all sit down of course said joyce then hesitated looking doubtfully toward margarida at that moment pablo appeared at the door stood back and announced loudly general sebastiano San sanches clies y robles ex minister of war general cried the ambas ambassador advancing with outstretched d hand what brings you here of all places and people 1 I dont know said the general glancing around in a bewildered manner 1 I really dont excellency I 1 came in answer to a mysterious message from the young lady who caused us so much trouble brought about my downfall and thus established my reputation for all time as a prophet Is she here joyce stepped forward presente mi general she smiled but almost immediately turned sober if I 1 did you an injury im more than willing and ready to make amends general im going to tell you a story frequently I 1 shall have occasion to call upon margarida fonseca for confirmation whenever she denies a point you may take it she means the contrary let her face be my star witness I 1 defy her lips TO BE CONTINUED |