“Did Rosita go into the court with you, boys?”
“Rosita? No,” said Harvey. “Is she not in the house with Bella Caceras?”
“No. I have called her several times.”
“Why, that is strange. They came back with us from Mar Bravo. That is, they followed close behind.”
The boy ran into the house and called “Rosita! Rosita! Rosita!”
No answer came.
Louis and Carl hurried after him. “They are hiding downstairs,” said the latter. “They are playing a joke on us because we ran away from them.”
“They shouldn’t do that,” said Harvey. “They must have heard mother call. A joke is a joke, but they ought not to worry her.”
The boys ran down the steps and out in front. The girls were not in sight. They looked in the doorways of the neighboring houses. No one could be seen.
“Rosita! Rosita!” called Harvey and Louis. “Don’t try to hide any longer. We know where you are.”