Warren sheaf., 1899-11-02
have enough knowledg Of Spanish to


s.'Why, pe-haps1 Il will, 2 said Duncan,
as if he had just thought of it. But he
told his partner that it was hardly prob
able, as he was going down on the low
er table lands near the coast, and the
excursions usually kept pretty well up
on the higher plateaus.
That night before he started he got a
letter from his mother, and init she
said: "Aice Chambers is lovely, and
we enjoy her somuch.' Sosthat was her
name-C Chambers.
I The next morning he started. His
journey was a tiresome one, and after
several days spent on the train he found
himself one glorious afternoon climb
ing, little mountain path on the back
of a burro. Duncan had told his folks
by wire of his intended trip, and found
by looking over their. itinerary that they
had passed quite near where he now
was. 1SB.sg5 ~.
He had left the train, at a little town
through which they had passed some
days previously, and was making his
way into the country to interview an old
Indian whom he expected to find the
next morning. The title to Mexican
lands often depends on in formation only
obtainable from the kindly Indian.
That night he slept on his blanket
under the stars, and early the next
morning was pushing on, the path
growing still wider and more beautiful.
At last, about nine O'clock, he came
over the spur of the mountain and
looked down on a lovely valley. His
guide and interpreter told him that in
the little village which he could see was
the old Indian.
About noon they arrived, the matter
of the title was soon fixed up and ar
rangements were made to leave the
next morning On the return trip. But
that evening something happened that
altered his plans.
A small party of the villagers who
had been up on the mountain cutting
wood had found a burro wandering
alone. They did not recognize it as
one of the village burros. 1t had a
side saddle on it, and tucked under one
of the straps was little glove. They
knew that a young American or Euro
pean woman must have ridden the
burro, and they began a hunt to find
her. sl
Some miles back they found her un-
conscious by the road, and putting her
on the burro which they had led back
they brought her into camp. AS they
brought her up Duncan walked up the
little village street to see what the mat
ter was. He was astounded to see Alice
Chambers on the back of the little mule.
She was still unconscious. One Of the
old women of the village took her into
the little open shelter, and in a very
few minutes she revived, and, opening
her eyes, smiled a wan smile. When
her eye caught that of Duncan's she
started, and he.stepped up and said:
s'I am Robert Duncan, Miss Cham
bers, and my mother and sister have
been travelling with you. am here on
business, and will be happy to help you
in any way possible. When you are
stronger we shall be glad to hear your.
story
She regained her vigor quickly under
the ministrations of the old Indian
woman, and soon told them that she
had started out with a party to make an
excursion to some famous caves. In
some way she had become separated
from the others and had tried to find
her way back. She became confused,
and, meeting several natives, they had
tried to understand each other, with the
result that she became more and more
at sea.
She had eaten only what some kindly
Indians had given her. At last she went
so long without food that she felt
faintness coming over her, and she
knew no more till she woke and found
herself in the little village.
In a few days she was strong enough
to travel, and Duncan made himself
demi-god in the village by leaving a
sum of money that to the Indians was
fabulous. They calculated that the ex
cursion party must be at the City of
Mexico, and when they reached the
railroad they telegraphed the party An
answer came back which they gotta a
station further on. It said: Thank
God, she is found
They were met at the station by an
enthusiastic crowd made up Of the ex-
cursion party, the American minister
and a great mob of Mexicans, who
cheered the couple to the echo. In
some way the story had gotten into the
papers.
Duncan decided to stay for some days,
and telegraphed his partner to that ef-
feet, who wired back congratulations,
and Duncan found himself hero. He
drove with them and went to see the
sights.
One afternoon he asked Alice if she
would drive with him to the grove Of
5Chapultepec. They dismissed the
.coachman at the entrance and told him
they would meet him there in a couple
of hours. Then they wandered through
the majestic grove, where it is al
ways twilight even at mid day. They
had been talking over heir strange ex-
.perience. Alice, said Duncan, you
8ofa acnIrse know III hat aavarvhndr = +hinl-ss