Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-05-14
CHAPTER XVI

Paul looked from Joan to Thomas.
CHOW listen, both of you. This may
be something of shock but Karl
was not dead. He had nasty wound
but he's probably still very much
alive"
Thomas looked terror-stricken.
''Then he'll find u.s.
eve were allowed to escape from
that ship for a purpose. We will
doubtless be picked up by other
members of the ring as soon as we
land. We're off the coast of Mexico
now About Mazatlan, if my calcu-
lations are correct
And less than an hour later they
were picked up by fishing boat and
landed at a Mazatlan hotel.
The hotel proved to be old and
magnificent, with beautiful tiled
floors and high-beamed ceilings and
ramps instead of stairways 1t ap-
peared practically deserted except
for the yawning clerk who assigned
them to rooms.
Joan was surprised that Paul
spoke Spanish. ''Is there anything
you can't do?" she asked
81 specialized in languages in col
lege and it comes in handy with my
job. l never know where I'll be
next"
Joan felt better after hot bath.
Joan enjoyed her first taste of pa
paya and the diversified cups of COT
fee served with hot milk and huge
Jumps of unrefined sugar. "No Won
der everyone seems so lazy. Moth
ing to do but eat and sleep and
breathe this heavenly air."
Thomas looked up in disgust.
Sometimes l think you two are
nuts. You sit there and wait for
Karl's gang to come after you as
if the whole thing is joke. I don't
get it. Why don't we get out of here
right now while we still have a
chance?"
eff you tried it, you'd find out how
much chance you have"
'Where are they them" Thomas
demanded.
Don't be impatient. They'll be
with us soon enough"
But when Thomas had gone back
to his room and Joan and Paul
walked in the tropical garden patio
of the hotel, she said seriously,
Thomas is right, Paul Why don't
we leave before it's too late?"
'"This is the end of the trail, hon.
ey. Even if they let us get away,
which they won't, what would we
have gained? Their next move will
lead to the heart of this affair. It's
what I've been waiting for all these
months"
They strolled through the garden
where every variety of tropical fruit
and flower was exhibited by natures
lavish hand.
cts so beautiful and SO peace
full Joan whispered.
Paul held her hand tightly. "Be
patient, dear. Just a little while
longer and everything will be
cleared up, and when we're mar
ried l promise you I'll take a vaca-
ton and there won't be a single
mystery to solve"
Darling, l don't care where we
60 just so we aren't being followed,
or, she added laughing, following
someone else"
Not a single person." Paul prom
ised, "I'l guarantee to be under foot
every hour. You'll probably be tired
OF seeing me around so much"
During the next three days joan S
fortitude began to waver. She un-
derstood Pauls devotion to duty, but
in her heart she longed to escape, to
60 home, to be married, to give up
the chase which seemed to grow
more dangerous and futile all the
time
Il don't know why Pm sticking
around here" Thomas complained
as the three of them sat in the de-
serted hotel bar watching the shafts
of sunshine fall through grilled iron
windows.
You're staying because YOUR
afraid to leave,' Paul said, land
you're smart enough to realize it,"
Thomas stared at him. "This
place is driving me crazy" He
looked around the empty bar in dis
gust. The bartender dozed. The
warm sweet air was heavy and
languorous. Where is everybody"
Didn't you ever hear of 81
esta?" Paul inquired.
Give heard of it," Thomas said,
But people who have Karl Mller's
gang after them aren't apt to waste
time taking siestas.
Nothing doing. I'm sorry you
two have to stay but it isn't safe for