“And, say, Dad,” he added, in a burst of enthusiasm, “that girl’s one good sport. She certainly loves to fly. One of these days I’m just going to have to teach her. Trouble is, they never let her go up. This was only her second or third flight. And, my, how tickled she was over stealing away from her duenna.”
Mr. Hampton tried to look reproving but failed lamentably. Nevertheless, he warned: “Just the same, you mustn’t do that again, Jack, without her father’s consent. What if something happened, some accident?”
“Oh, shucks,” said Jack, “I didn’t fly high with her, and I didn’t take off until the old bus was tuned up and running like a watch. Anyhow,” he added, hastening to change the subject, “it was a good thing I went up because it was then I got your radio message, saying Captain Cornell was here and asking me to come home. The don’s station was out of order again. Some Mexican kid is always monkeying with something or other and putting the whole works out of commission. When it’s working, Rafaela says, they get all the big stations. And”—he laughed—“she says it’s a regular thing for all the Mexicans to turn out since I installed that loud speaker for them, and dance on the flying field at night to the band music they pull out of the air.
“Well, anyhow, back we flew, and I landed her safely and left the motor idling while we walked up to the house. I intended to see her home, say good-bye to the don, and come back.
“The old duenna was still asleep. But just as we stepped back in the patio Don Ferdinand appeared in a state of pretty high excitement. I thought for a minute he was going to comb me for taking Rafaela up in the plane without permission. But, no; he wasn’t even aware that we had been flying.
“‘What’s the matter, father?’ asked Rafaela, anxiously. ‘Has anything happened? Did Pedro bring bad news?’
“The old don walked up and down a few steps, clasping and unclasping his hands behind his back. ‘Just when the mine was beginning to pay again,’ he mourned.
“‘Tell me what is the matter, father,’ demanded Rafaela.
“He halted and faced us. ‘Matter? Matter?’ said he. ‘Matter enough. That devil Ramirez has lured all my men away. They laugh when Pedro begs them to stay and say they will follow Ramirez who will make them rich. Pedro cannot get anybody to work.’
“‘But you can send other men,’ said Rafaela.