Evening star., 1926-09-23

are not sure whether she ie dead or
alive? Then to whom do 1 go?"
The man hesitated.
Had you brought the rings" he
said at length, II should have re-
piled that you had a mother land
would soon find her; as it is now
he shrugged his shoulders.
II see. Then 1 beg that instead of
being carried among strangers l may
be allowed to return to my own con-
vent in the Argentine. My experience
in America has not been one to make
me love that country, and as l can
gain nothing by remaining here, may
l not sail from the nearest port?"
II cannot promise you that now"
"Senor Milana, your brother has
told me that his ring was stolen from
about his neck while he was under
going the trance. DO you know who
stole that ring?"
ne. Do youo"
81 think that 1t was the woman in
the drawing room"'
And why do you think that?" he
asked eagerly.
Because there was no one else in
the car who could have done it,
do you know then who that
woman was?"
Yes! Do you?"
My brother knew"
''Then why did he accuse me of
stealing it,"
1T was the natural thought! 1t
was the companion to your ring, the
noe you had been told to watch for.
And who else could have known that
he possessed it? One thing, however,
Is sure. Some one has that ring, and
we shall detain you until we find it,
together with the one you left in the
car. 1t may take several weeks, but
l promise that you will he safe as long
as you obey us implicitly and make
no effort to escape from the home
which will shelter you. DO you
agree?"
Yes" Carolita replied simply.
what else can 1 do? Where should
| go?"
lie made no reply and the car sped
onward.
Darkness had fallen once more and
the car gained In speed until Carulita
was thoroughly frightened. The road
was rough and she tossed from side
to side like a ball. soon becoming
bruised and sore all over. and still
Milana drove on, as one possessed.
The moon had risen and the sky
was ablaZe with stars. At any other
time CaIolita would have enjoyed the
beauty Of such a night, but under her
present stress of emotion she did not
even notice 1t: her thoughts centered
on her perilous position, while ever
and again she thought of Paul and
the love he had offered her, the love
she had returned, but had been forced
to put from her.
She had learned much from Milana,
o1 ,of h do hoH hnny, h1,f ho
confirmation Of her own intuitions
With each passing hour she became
more certain that her destiny was in
some way connected with that of
Paul and that Walter Reynolds and
his wife were her enemies. even now
journeying somewhere because of her
arrival in America. She could not
fathom the mystery of the two Mi
lanas or her connection with them,
but now that she had lost her first
fear she gave them little thought
Memories of Paul absorbed her while
the pain in her heart cut deeper and
deeper.
After time she became aware that
civilization was once more approach
ing. An occasional ranch or farm
loomed on the horizon and was quick
ly left behind. They dashed through
one small village, another, and came
at length to a large town where the
car slowed down.
Here we are" the man at her side
announced. I'm taking you to my
mothers house. She will be good to
you. Have no fear
For the first time Carolita re-
membered that her bags had been
left behind upon the train.
oh" She cried. "Do you know
that | have not a possession in the
world? Everything I owned was left
upon the train. Shall 1 ever recover
my bags?"
Was there anything of value in
them?"
''All my clothing!"
That can easily be replaced
The car swung around the corner
as he spoke and pulled up before a
comfortable looking house fronting
directly upon the street and with a
light over the old Spanish doorway.
and in this doorway lounged the figure
of a man. Carohta heard Senior Mi
lana draw in his breath at the sight
of this figure, and for a. moment she
thought that he was about to press
the ear forward again, but in that
moment the figure in the doorway
made spring which landed him upon
the running board of the car, his
hands upon the wheel.
Hello" hearty voice cried. beat
you to 1t, didn't /. Grand day for a
drive, wasn't it? All right. little girl?''
voice. She raised her eyes In fear
and question!
Coutinuad-ln Tomoxrow,S StaZl