Evening star., 1926-09-22
! Mysterious Sweetheart
7 BY ELLA WISTER HALNES
(Copyigh
Copyright. 1e26.)

fear? Why did you not take it back?'
'Why not?' Carolita could not tell
him. for she hardly knew herself. A
lie must do! A clever lie.
II was in another part of the car
when I hid it," she heard her voice ex'
planning. then I dared not go back
for fear of you"'
| For fear of me?'
| Yes, you were always watching. l
know not who you are.'
Her communication reduced the
Italian to apparent despair. He sat
back in his own corner now, again
hopping his brow. Carolita, still faint
| but relieved, watched him from the
corner of her eye. Her secret was out
and she still lived. Hope dawned
again.
Presently Milana leaned forward
and lowered the window behind the
chauffeur. tapping him on the shoul-
der. The car slowed down, and
Milana, standing up. whispered in his
ear. A conference lasting some min
utes took place between the two. and
Carolita, catching a stray word knew
that they We're speaking in Spanish.
She looked out again, and saw that
the city had been left behind. The car
was in open country, though on a
Wlue, pdFeu Todu. w mere Wouiu ILLS
mysterious journey end? Where was
Paul? Had he found the note she had
left hidden in her section?
| Yes, he would find the note. The
car would be searched Immediately
upon her disappearance. Paul had al
ready guessed the secret of the twin
rings. He would hunt for the second
one--would find it-would cherish
them both as long as he lived.
Tears flooded her eyes and over
| flowed. but in the darkness she was
safe from observation, and the whirr
Of the engine drowned the sobs which
shook her frame. 1t was SO cruel to be
obliged to give up the love which had
come SO suddenly, unasked, unex-
pected, yet so strong that 1t had swept
her off her feet. All her life she had
dreamed of such love, longed for it,
| hoped, prayed. The thought that it
might come to her in this new life had
helped to soften the pain of parting
| from the sisters. One read in books of
such things-maidens in quest of pro-
lection, gallant knights waiting at the
| crossroads to kill the dragon and
marry the ladye faire!
| Yet her widest dreams had not ap.
| preached the reality of the adventure
that had awaited her coming. Love,
murder which had turned out to be a
joke, sorry one at that; mystery
| fear, threats, flight and now a dash
ing ride into deeper and deeper night
alone with man she hated-going
she knew not Wherei
| The conference ended. and Milana
sank back in the seat while the chauf-
| feur began to back the car, turning it
completely saround.
Where are we going?" she de.
manded of Milana. "Who are you?
I've answered you, now answer me!
| Are you my guardian, Senior ShapirO?"
| mo. I am his friend"
Then why did you not explain that
on the steamer instead of trying to
terroriZe me? If you had the other
ring 1t would have been simple enough
to say you were travelling with me.
/ Why did you hide away? Did you fear
some one?"
For you. yes. You have enemies" !"
'Senor Milana, I am beginning to
think you are utterly ridiculous! How
can a girl who comes for the first time
to country where she knows not a
single soul have enemies?'
Il think" Milana replied quietly,
that for a girl who knows not a sin
gle soul you have made some rather
important acquaintance, is it not so?"
Carolita blushed, and for a moment
she gave way to the exquisite tide of
feeling which the thought of Paul al
ways brought to the surface. Where
was he now. this gallant champion of
a strangers cause? 1t was cruel to be
torn from him, but at least she had
bought his safety!
Nobody could hurt him, now that
she had gone out of his life. He was
free to continue as before their chance
meeting in the Twentieth Century
fnd ooI Al cr
it seemed as one looked back.
May I help you with your order?
You are a stranger in this country
are you not? My name is Paul Rey-
nolds. I shall be so happy to be of
service"
| II am not quite sure how I
should ask for my dinner" she had re-
piled shyly. looking up into his frank,
smiling face. Yes, l am from the Ar
gentine. l have never seen such a din
ing car before"
And then after dinner he had ac-
companied her back to her Pullman,
sat beside her chatting. happened into
the diner again at breakfast time
turned up in the very next section on
the California train! 1t had all been
so delightful. An adventure Of the
widest romance-her very first, out
side of convent walls!
| She naQ redd OF American men,
their courtesy, the happy homes they
made for their women. their honesty
and kindness.
"Once in the United States you will
be quite SAFE the sisters had prom
| iSed. do Just as we direct and all
will be we'll" Well. Could they but
have known. those gentle nuns. the
only friends she had ever known in a
big empty world.
1t would be easy to return to them
she reflected. She had enough money
to live until a letter could reach them.
They would gladly send money for her
return. She had also, the thought
brought blush, the addresses of Paul
Reynolds. both in New York and
Santa Barbara. Not on paper, to be
sure. but written indelibly upon her
memory, just as he had mentioned
them in conversation. Perhaps she
might still communicate with him! If
she dared-if she ever fathomed the
mystery of her life-indeed. if her
| life were spared!
And all the while the car was dash
ing forward with appalling speed, far
into the open spaces, heading south.