The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-18
CHAPTER xxvI

The sudden turn of events found Wesley unprepared. He wasn't at all sure what to make of the auto- giro's presence. He guessed, though, that 1t had settled down first near Lona Montoya herself it could land on and take off from a flat space not much bigger than a back yard-and then had dropped down to where the fliers had identified him.
 He knew the ship was a new unit in the equipment of the United States Border Patrol. Now he saw Lona riding back up the trail toward him and he could only surmise that the plane had caused her to turn back.
 She was still several hundred yards away, so he rode slowly on toward the pretty Mexican girl. She recognized him in a moment and spurred her horse.
 "Wesleel" she cried out hap oily when he neared him. You are out riding, tool" Her smile was bright.
 "Yes! T. thought I might do a little shooting. Jackrabbit or coyote maybe. Haven't seen any, thing, though. I like to ride in early morning." He hoped his explanation didn't sound as lame to her as it did to him.
 T come out often to paint and sketch. But today I just ride. You saw the autogiro?"
 "Yes."
 "They stop near me to ask if I have seen any aliens - imagine, Wesleel If I see any estranjero - I would faint!'
 He smiled with her. But he had appraised her equipment, too. She had a gun, and small saddle packs and canteen and rope. But there was definitely no large package such as the horse wrangler said she carried. He wondered if she had al- ready been to the Rainbow Canyon cache and left her parcel But, no, she couldn't possibly have had time.
 ' weel shoot some with you, no?"
 She said it so sweetly. so en- gagingly, that no man could have declined. They dismounted and dropped reins. Morning sun was 8 spotlight now that shone on the white rocks they stuck in cacti. Together they fired first pistols and then the rife he carried, walking to inspect the results of each shot: It was fun, really; fun for any man thus to do target practice in the zestful autumn morning with a beautiful girl.
 Very conscious of her presence Gas any man as shy as Wesley York would bel, he studied her face when she was shooting, stud- jed it closely and in minute de- tail. It occurred to him that she didn't appear as Latin as most Mexican senoritas. 4
 A Mexican is theoretically hall Spanish and half Indian; many are just touched with the Indian blood. In every case, however, they have definite skin hue and 8 racial something about their eyes.
 It seemed to Wesley, now, that Lona lacked these subtle but sig nificant things. Trained to ob- serve details and weigh them in his work as an archaeologist, he began to wonder why Lona was an exception in her national heri- tage.
 When they had exhausted most of their shells Lona suggested they sit for while and talk She found a niche big enough for two in a granite boulder and invited him to join her. Of necessity, he sat close.
 Your home you said is near Vera Cruz, Lona?" He asked then.
 "Yes. An old, old rancho, Wes- lee. You would love it!"
 Surely. A ranch in old Mex icol It's romantic to think about. "
 She laughed, low and musically. T like romantic-minded man, Weslee."
 Mexico is beautiful coun-