The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-01
Chapter 81
AT MERIDA

OudpLcE q
AT MERIDA
GREENE rubbed at lump over
his temple. Thoughtfully he ad-
justed his coat upon his shoulders
and studied a ragged rent in its side
through which some papers in the
pocket had been blown by the bullet.
"H-m-m-u1," he grunted. so this
is Mexico. What happened? A safe
and sane Fourth"
They explained as much as they
knew. While they talked the train
began to move. haltingiy at first then
with gathering speed. Lights began
to slip past the car windows: then
the trucks Of the cars screeched
around a turn. They were passing
through lane lined with shadowy
buildings.
Merida, I guess" offered Ho-
garth.
They jerked into q tifrnly lighted
station. The men began 10 arrange
the boxes so as to be ready for their
departure. The train stopped.
The other passengers crowded
through the door. Outside they
could see dozens Of armed soldiers
patrolling the platforms. There was
acommotion at the doorway. A huge
man shouldered himself through the
press and approached down the
aisle.
His face was blue-jowled and dark,
smoke from his black eigaret drib-
bled through thick nostrils. He wore
the bleached linen suit Of the haci-
endadO. with the tunic buttoning up
to the neck. His arm was carried In
q black silken sling.
He doomed above the seated Amer
leans. For an instant Janice did not
recognize him, then she caught her
breath. 1t was ortega. the man
whom Frank Grahame had suspect
ed as being involved in her abduc-
ton in Hollywood a month ago.
While she had told them all in My.
berg's once that she did not believe
that Ortega was implicated: never
theless to herself she admitted that
she was insure. Janice looking at
him now, was conscious Of q sense
Of uneasiness as his glance met
hers--a tiny ringing Of some sub.
conscious bell OF unrest as those fiat.
toned eyes were turned down to her.
He bowed deeply.
Miss Kent" he began. "How are
you Mr.. Greene. and Mr.. Hogarth.
It is pleasure to see you all again.
! am delighted" His somber stare
made his statement sound contra.
dictory. Il have q message for you
from Mr.. McGrath. your advance
man."
Greene stirred irritably. where
II he?"
The big mans glance fiickered
over Mr.. Greene and paused at the
torn and stained shirt front. He al
Bowed the question to remain un.
answered and addressed himself to
Janice.
so Mr.. Mybelg decided TO go on
with the picture? 1t is good. | shall
be delighted to help you. Il has been
Q great regret OF mine that I was
forced to leave Hollywood so sud
denly. was planning TO return
when I met Mr.. McGrath. decided.
then. TO await your arrival"
JANICE wished the man did not
- make her feel so uneasy. Was this
the suave. welLmannered ortega
that had sent her daily flowers IN
Hollywood? He seemed the same
but with q subtle difference.
Once. two years before she had
met IN induatrial executive and had
been taken through one az his fae.
tories. She had admired him Tor his
power. decisiveness. and shrewd
command OF his organization: later
she met him at a masquerade cos.
tuned as an eighteenth century
beau ard he had been clumsy and
ridiculous.
She thought of him now. looking
AZ ortega. In q sort OF reverse way
this had happened to him. The pol.
ished latin aristocrat In Hollywood
had become somewhat gross-he
was more effective this way Janice
admitted--but there was a shade OF
ineongruity In it--like y fop turned
rowdy.
$50 you waited" said Mr.. Greene.
yeah. That's Rne. But where in
helrs McGrathf He should have
met Us at Progreso. He didn't show
up. Instead we come here and get
shot at What b IL A revolution
What's the matter with you guys
down heref Dop.t you know this is
lousy publicity Now II { was run.
Ming this country"