[The Mystery of Carlitos]
[The Secret of Casa Grande]
[Crossed Trails in Mexico]
COPYRIGHT 1936 BY
A. L. Burt Company
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE [I. “I’m Afraid I’m Going to Lose My Life”] 7 [II. The Mystery Man] 19 [III. The Hitch-Hiker] 29 [IV. Pressing Difficulties] 38 [V. The Hidden Car] 51 [VI. A Familiar Face] 63 [VII. “We Must Get an Early Start”] 78 [VIII. At the Mine] 90 [IX. Miss Prudence’s Cleaning Spree] 100 [X. The Indefinite Mañana] 111 [XI. The Secret of the Olla] 119 [XII. Heading for Trouble] 127 [XIII. The Pottery Woman’s Warning] 139 [XIV. Jo Ann’s Search] 148 [XV. Anxious Moments] 161 [XVI. Down the Mine Shaft] 177 [XVII. In the Darkness] 189 [XVIII. Jo Ann Finds a Way] 200 [XIX. An Exciting Race] 216 [XX. More Troubles] 229 [XXI. Welcome Guests] 243
CHAPTER I
“I’M AFRAID I’M GOING TO LOSE MY LIFE”
Peggy nudged Jo Ann and pointed to the sign ahead: “Speed limit, 80 miles.”
Jo Ann’s dark brown eyes twinkled. “It’s plain to see we’re out in the Texas open now—the wide open.”
“Too bad poor old Jitters can’t accept the invitation to do eighty. She’s doing well when she makes forty or fifty. But even if she could go faster, Florence wouldn’t let her.” Peggy gestured toward the small, trim, fair-haired girl at the wheel.
“Florence has lived in Mexico so long that she’s slow but sure like the Mexicans. She’s always saying, ‘Why the great rush? There’s plenty of time!’ If I were driving, now—” Jo Ann nodded her mop of unruly black curls vigorously—“I’d encourage Jitters to go her limit, especially since she has brand-new tires.”
“Here too. Weren’t we lucky to find such a bargain in a car? I’ll admit she’s not much on looks and that she shakes till she deserves the name of Jitters—but she’s ours, all ours.” Peggy’s hazel eyes gazed admiringly upon their old battered Ford.