Just as she dashed in, she bumped into a man hurrying out.
“Oh—I—beg your——” she began, then gasped, “Oh, it’s you! I’ve—been hunting—for you!”
“What’s happened?” the mystery man asked, guiding her outside, away from the curious stare of the people in the office.
As quickly as she could manage in her breathless state, she recounted what had happened.
“Glad you found me in time,” he replied. “I was just ready to leave in pursuit. What’s your car’s number?” He jerked out a notebook from his pocket and jotted down the number she gave him. “I’ll try to get your car back to you,” he added then. “About your getting home this afternoon——”
He broke off in the middle of his sentence and turned to the tall, erect Mexican man standing back of him, whom Jo Ann now noticed for the first time. “Gonzales, I want you to drive this girl and her friends to their home out beyond San Geronimo. She’ll tell you how to get there, if you don’t know.” He turned again to Jo Ann, saying, “This is Juan Gonzales, my right-hand man; Gonzales, this is my right-hand girl, Miss Jo Ann Cutrer. Take good care of her.” He addressed Jo Ann again: “He’s a careful driver. I’ll write to you as soon as I can.” With an “Adios” he hurried on to the curb, sprang into a tan roadster, and drove off rapidly.
By that time Peggy and Florence had come puffing up, and after introducing Mr. Gonzales to them, Jo Ann explained that he was to drive them home. Florence, with her knowledge of Mexicans and their language, talked for a few minutes in Spanish with the stranger before agreeing to this plan. Having decided that he was a gentleman and trustworthy, she told Jo Ann that she, for one, thought they ought to be starting back home shortly. “As soon as we get our packages at the market, we’ll be ready, won’t we?”
“I have a few things I’d like to get,” spoke up Peggy.
“How long will it take you to finish your shopping?” Mr. Gonzales asked in excellent English, surprising them all so that there was a moment’s silence before Peggy answered, “I’ll be ready in about fifteen or twenty minutes. You girls will be too, won’t you?”
Both nodded assent.