Evening star., 1936-06-14
June H. 1896

his head backward, and the two young
men seized her firmly by the wrists.
Doubling her elbows into theirs, they
started forward. The gaunt man led
the way; the girl in the rebozo brought
up the rear. Leaving the candle burn
ing. they passed through dark hall
and out into back yard.
A moment later they lifted Kath-
leen over low wall and were present
ly moving cautiously through second
house As they issued to the deserted
street. she drew long breath of
cool night air. and hope again sprang
alive in her heart. Now was her
chance. If only she could break away
between the door and the powerful
open car standing at the curb, no pack
of hounds could catch her
She raised one foot preparatory to
driving the spike of her heel against
the nearest shin but the mere con-
traction OF her muscles betrayed her
intention Before she knew it her other
foot was off the ground and she was
slung like sack into the tonneau.
simultaneously the gaunt man reached
the drivers seat, turned. gripped her
knees and held her powerless until her
two escorts had resumed their places
at her side and secured her elbows as
before. The Cuban girl was still at
the door, trying to turn huge key in
its lock. Not person was in sight. no
light save the sparse street lamps
showed anywhere. but one of the
young men grew panicky.
'Pacar he cried, ''Paquita! Never
mind the door, Gomez
Answering the call. the girl sprang
into the front seat and they were off,
driving without lights for several
blocks; only when they had rounded a
corner were the DINNERS snapped on
i'll answer to cry from passerby.
The car swept into brilliantly lighted
street with cafes still open and scat
tered customers lettering over a last
nlghtcap. When stoplight forced a
halt close to the curb Kathleen turned
her eyes on nearby table where three
youths were seated and strove des-
perately to signal her distress. They
thought she was flirting and one Of
them waved her kiss She sank back
hopelessly and devoted her attention
to memorizing the route.
She made note of looming fortified
hill on the right, of miles of cobbled
pavement under repair, of village
named Cotorro and soon after of a
colonnade of huge trees meeting in a
solid arch overhead. Now the car
glided; though she could not know it,
already they were on the smooth rib
bon of concrete six hundred miles long
that splits the sausage of Cuba in half
from west to east.
For the first time the driver flashed
his headlights and put on full speed.
The hum of the engine became a
steady drone An hour later, the car
was plunging down a smooth incline
with the vast bay and cleaning lights
of Matanzas spread out below. As it
slowed for a sharp turn and the main
street OF the city. Kathleen had an IN
spiration - at this speed, why not
wreck it? Instinctively she felt her two
guards were half asleep and wrcnching
her hands free she hurled herself for-
ward seized the wheel and pulled with
all her might. The car scarcely swerved
so firm was the grip OF the long fingers
she had such reason to remember
The driver laughed; the girl beside
him turned and cried out angflly:
"Geromo! Antonico, NecioS"
Her fury added to the roughness
with which the mapping young men
laid hands on Kathleen and forced her
back between them. But at least
she had learned their names :
Gcromo and Antonico. Only the driver
remained nameless and not for long i
No sooner had they regained the con i
crete highway than the young man onI
Kathleen S left called out to him.