Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/254

 "Coming," says Jack. He drops his find into his hip pocket and proceeds to forget all about it.

"What is to be done with Carlos, now that he is here?" he inquires as he rejoins the Navarros.

"Carlos must return to Santiago at once," declares El Terredo. "If I might add to the already large debt of gratitude, I would ask that you accompany him."

"Gladly, Navarro. My intentions were to make Santiago at all speed. You will not have Carlos return by rail?"

"No; by horse."

"There is a possibility of running into trouble upon his arrival at the city."

"True; and to obviate that I have conceived a plan, not startlingly original. Carlos must disguise himself in feminine attire."

"Ah, then I pose in the role of a knight errant escorting a beautiful maiden over the desert sands to her ancestral halls."

Navarro laughs softly. "Is the part distasteful to you?" he asks.

"Nay. My only regret will be that Carlos is not the beauteous maid she will represent."

"But he will look the part to perfection, I promise you. Half a dozen of my men will act as escort and conduct Carlos to the quinta. But I want the assurance of your active head and arm the greater part of the journey."

"Thank you. And the female toggery—where is that to be procured?"

"That is a more difficult matter to adjust. Do you think the same wardrobe that fitted you out to-night could be called upon in this emergency?"

"It is possible," replies Ashley. "There are women folks about the Hotel Americana, else the house would not present its unusually neat appearance. And there being women some of them probably have a dress or two to spare. I will endeavor to negotiate with the landlord for a suitable costume for your brother."

"Excellent. I will await you here."

The village is quiet as a churchyard when Ashley