The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-26


 peared merely to be loafing there | in the sunshine, enjoying the love-
 ly dessert and mountain view. Juarez and Fl Paso were plainly visible five miles in the distance, and between them the silvery Rio Grande snaked of across the far plains. The elevation of Casa Her. mosa added immensely to the view. Betty Mary noted the hill or mountain that rose aDruptly im- mediately behind the house, too.
 Senorita to see Don Luis," the | taxi driver told a man servant who appeared in the arched entryway. 1 Betty Mary got out, paid the driver generously and told him not to wait. She wanted an ex- cuse to be here as long as neces- sary, now that she had dared to come. She gripped her sketching pad hard to avoid showing ner- vousness, and followed the servant inside. He opened ponderous. hand-hewn door and motioned her through. It led to great living room which held IS or 20 people, mostly men. Luis Barro was Sit- ting at a table with several persons around him.
 "senorita!" he jumped up in high surprise.
 Hello - hello, Don Luis!" she began her artist manner again. I just couldn't resist calling on you in so lovely a place! So picturesque and all! It just must be paintedl I should think"
 Miss Jordan! How you come here? How you know this place? How-you-what you do here?"
 "Oh, I just took taxicab. It was a lovely drive. Really it was! The hotel or somebody, I forget who, showed me where you lived. I have always wanted to visit a real Mexican rancho, dear me! So nice of you to welcome me. Aren't you going to introduce me to all those interesting people?"
 liner chattering had given Barro time to collect his own wits. He made pretense of introducing his companions, mentioning them as business callers from Shihuahua City. And let me present Senorita Bettee Marie Jordan" he bowed to her and to them.
 Now, in all truth, Luis Baro had been highly impressed by Betty Mary's beauty. When he was in lighter mood, feeling TO- mantle and a trifle devilish in the Juarez cafe that day, he had maneuvered to become acquainted with her and impress her, as he thought, with his own good man. ners. It was 8 social contact he fully meant to follw up. So ut terly charming a girl was not to be taken lightly.
 And in truth also, he would have followed up that meeting at once if circumstances had permitted. He did shower her with every courtesy he could in the first few days he knew her. He took her to dinner twice, to lunch twice, to a theater once. He sent her an exquisite bracelet in Mexican silver filigree work, so delicately beautiful that Betty Mary loved it instantly and felt like hypocrite for accepting it. But meanwhile, too, his private business had been experiencing some very definite upsets and trou- bles. Black anger had suffused him when his avenues for snug gling cocaine had suddenly been detected. He was furious at what he thought was a group of bum gling, incompetent lieutenants on the American side of the river. And he also had major alien smuggling deal coming to climax.
 T have been so sorree not to have see you as much as hoped" he purred at Betty Mary now, as If in apology for his first lack of hospitality. Tt is honor to have you call, senorita!"
 That was more like it, thought Betty Mary! She breathed little silent sigh of relief, wondering just what tack she ought to take now. She fell back on her sketch HE d5dil, oCSAuhl6 IO iiiONC olOWly and begin to pump the servants when she could. She talked gaily as Don Luis himself showed her to a beautiful sun room and intro duced her to a duenna - the com- bined woman servant and chap eron who so often is blessing to Mexican homes. He promised to join her soon, then went back to his business callers.
 At 2 D. m. that same day, Hope Kildare went to a florist in Fl Paso and ordered $5 worth of roses sent to Miss Betty Mary Jordan, Hotel Montezuma, Juarez. And give them to her in person, or ask where you can take them to her." he com- manded the delivery boy. Say they are from Oscar Smith in Fl Paso, if anybody asks. Here's dollar for