The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-17
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and AngeLque Abeyta,. invite him
to 60 on with them. Ramon and
Angelique are on their way to the
de Forest hacienda, Thunder
Mesa" for a Christmas party.
They reach the hacienda and
are welcomed by Pearl John de
Forest. Bob likes him, but is
struck by the gloomy, almost for.
bidding atmosphere of the, place.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER II
Although the house was in gala
attire and was very large nobody
else appeared to help Pearl John
welcome the guests. This struck
Bob as odd, since Ramon and An
| gelique had said q party was about
to take place. AS quickly as he
could, he explained to young de
torest how he happened to be with
the others, and asked if he could
telephone TO Santa Fe for help
with his car.
ave haven't any telephone here
on Thunder Mesa" Pearl John re-
Piled, "but don't let the matter
worry you. Well send someone
down for it in the morning. In
the meantime, well be only too
happy to have you accept our hos
pitality. An extra man is always
a welcome addition, You know,
| Besides, I'd like to talk to you
when | have time. We're so
blamed quiet and isolated up here
on the mesa, we don't have a
chance to meet many outsiders.
Please give me that pleasure" His
manner was so sincere, almost
wistful, that Bob held out his
hand.
"Thanks lot. You put it very
nicely he answered. Especially
when am the one who unwit-
tingly crashed this party"
As his watch pointed to half
past 7, Bob was summoned to dim
ner. Walking down a long hall,
he found himself in a huge dining
room. Here, again, there was a
fire in a big fireplace but, though
many candles were burning on
either side of the room, there were
the same eerie shadows and the
same feeling of hostility that Bob
had sensed in the living room.
A number of people had as
sembled for the evening meal, and
soon Bob made the acquaintance
of the family of the house on
Thunder Mesa. First, he was in
troduced to two older brothers Of
Pearl John de Forest, and, to his
establishment, discovered that they,
too, had the first name of Pearl.
Pearl Sam was perhaps 40 years
old and Pearl Pierre about 3S.
Both were dourfaced men, with
black hair like their younger bro
theirs, but they had suspicious,
/ furtive look about them which
Pearl John lacked entirely.
The thought crossed Bob's mind
that he should hate to mix with
either of the older men. Their
beak-like noses and thin, cruel lips
gave the impression that they
would stop at least. Both men
merely grunted conventional
acknowledgment as they shook
hands. . 3D..
Next, Bob was presented to a
fierce-looking little old lady,
Tante Josephine. She fixed him
With bright, black eyes that seem
ed to see through him, and her
thin, claw-like hands clutched. a
gold-headed cane as though it
were a weapon.
"Ha, a stranger, en-. what
brings you to Thunder Mesa :?
| Generally folks pass us by-it
they can" Her voice was cracked
and shrill, and she seemed to. be
amused, for she went off into lit
tie shrieks of laughter. ,
At the sound, a young girl
came hurrying into the room, and
gently held bottle of smelling
salts to the old ,lady's nose, sooth-
ing her with, little pats as though
she were child.
"This is Betty Welch, Bob" ex-
planned Pearl John. "Tante leads
her a dogs life, but can't get
along without her. Betty's one
Of the best things about Thunder
Mesa"
The admiration in his voice
made Bob glance quickly at the
girl. A Slight flush showed on
her face, but he could not tell
whether it was caused by annoy:
anee. She was certainly easy to
| look at, he decided, with her
| golden hair and violet eyes. She
smiled at Bob and then he no.
ticed that a fascinating dimple
showed at the corner of her
mouth. Among so many dark
skinned people, her pale, rather
delicate beauty was arresting, and
even the exotic. Angelique suffer
ed by comparison. =,
"I'm awfully glad to meet YOU,
she told him in a low. cordial
voice.
Bob. had the impression that she
meant what she said. Perhaps
this place wasn't going to be so
bad, after all, Beside Ramon Vas
quez and Angelique, the last mem
Der Of the dinner party was a tall,
thin professor Of archaeology, Fro,
fessor Shaw, who shook hands alb
sent mindedly, then, turned his
full attention to the really excel
lent dinner, which was served at
once.
| In spite of Pearl Johns efforts
| to promote general conversation,
the meal passed in comparative
silence. : Ramon and Angelique,
| Rob and BETTY. did what they