New Britain herald., 1923-05-02

he tried % eheeF her up, bur il va,
hopeless task, For az least tbs
twentieth tine, he told the EiFl thai
same enc must have taken E3asilis Il
safety, He had n0 knowledge thai
warranted his certainty tits words
sounded empty even 10 himself tbs
last time he uttered them, So, IN
silence, they covered the last half
mile, After four or five unsueeessr
fni attempts, Melody found Mas
through the ehaked eFeekrbottom,
He was in the lead when they came
out and was the fiFst 10 catch sight
Of the iioad-sN'ept home, Both wings
Of the house we're gone, Not sign
remained OF harms or eeFrais,
Melody knew Mercedes had come
m beside him, but he could not take
his eyes away from the ruins,
The cowboy neFyed himself 10 face
the girl beside him, She was staring
fiHeily at all that was left Of the
snee beautiful hacienda, II had
been the only home Mercedes had
ever known, Every childhood mems
DRY eentered within its walls, Under
ether circumstances its destruction
would have crushed her; but she had
heen through too much this night all
ready, Her nerves and emotions had
lost the power 20 react TO further
torture,
She was da2ed by what she beheld.
She wanted 10 dash into the ruins and
search with fsyerish haste for Basilio,
but a tranee.like lethargy enyeloped
her, II frightened Melody more
than tears, His voice qnavered un-
certainty as he spoke 10 her.
"ill take a look inside, II you'li
wait out here"
mo. I'll 80 with you"
you better not do that" the cog
boy begged. ''Thinss'll be torn mp
pretty bad In there"
"But -Basilio." She hesitatad
over the word.
II tell you. we won't find him.
senorita. He amt here"
II was his old assertion. Mercedes
had moved ahead OF HIM II she
were determined 10 search the ruins.
II would he useless for him IN try TO
hold her back. II would be better
to stay ut her side and buck her up
II she did ind anything,
II took him some time TO clear n
passage into that part OF the house
which had escaped total destruction.
A foot OF mud and debris covered the
floors. Furniture was piled on end.
Great holes gaped In the walls where
the plaster had given way.
Melody found lamp upstairs. He
called time after time for the child
before he came down. Mercedes had
cried out, too. but they got no an
swer. With the aid of the light. they
went over the wreckage carefully, but
not trace Of the child or OF the two
Did servants was to be had.
Faith In his own prophecy began
% grow in the red-haired one.
81 knew somebody had got them
out," he stated.
Maybe they got lost when they
ried to rum" Mercedes murmured
nournfully.
mo. The flood came too quick |
or that. II they hadn't been warned,
heyd be right here. Well find !
hem at some of the neighbors to the
vest. If you say so. we'll go now"
II best stay here. Senior. I'm tired
so tired. You will go quicker
" Yourself"
But can't leave You here all
lone in this place. You'd be scared
o death. II looks haunted"
She smiled at him tenderly.
There is nothing here to brighten
ne. my friend Mercedes knows
very rock and stone in this house.
{ spirits come here, they must be the
pirits of those who loved me: my
lother---or my father My good
lther."
HE was that. all right" Melody
tapped out. He was a hundred
err cent"
The cowboy gazed at the door.
ri be blubberin like a kid If I don't
ct out of here in a hurry" he MUIR
lured to himself. Aloud he said:
'Il wait here till you get upstairs.
III be light in three hours. Now
ont you get nervous. won't come
ack without him."
A few minutes later she heard him
ding away.
CHAPTER XNXI.
The Note on the Door
Melody had instilled in Mercedes
,me degree of confidence In his
-. ,ef nI