He laughed, albeit a tiny gleam of fear had flickered for a moment in his eyes.
“But I weel not be here,” he said smoothly. “And you, my preety flower, will not be able to tell them w’ere I have gone.”
Valerie swallowed with difficulty. The fellow was getting on her nerves. He knew her story about her friends coming had been a bluff and he was gloating over the fact. If something didn’t happen soon, her nerve would go to pieces.
Chapter XIV
TRAPPED
Gale, her revolver clasped firmly in her right hand, and the knife with which she was to free Valerie secure in her left, crept forward to the door. What if the door was bolted on the inside? That would spoil everything! With her foot she pushed on the heavy panels and, creaking protestingly, the door swung inward.
The Mexican had wheeled sharply when the door first moved, and now he stared in amazement at the slender girl on the threshold and then at the business-like revolver in her hand.
“Oh, Gale!” was all that Valerie could manage to utter, so great was her joy and relief.
“Hands up, Señor,” Gale commanded.
The knife clattered to the floor as the Mexican obediently raised his arms above his head. Gale walked forward to Valerie.
“O. K., Val?”