Mexican Mystery Series
by Helen Randolph
[The Secret of Casa Grande]
[The Mystery of Carlitos]
[Crossed Trails in Mexico]
Copyright, MCMXXXVI
The Saalfield Publishing Company
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE [I. The Mysterious Blue-Eyed Boy] 7 [II. Neighbors in the Cave] 19 [III. An Unwelcome Visitor] 33 [IV. The Cave Family Disappears] 44 [V. Footprints] 55 [VI. A Mysterious Light] 69 [VII. The Charcoal Maker] 86 [VIII. Friends at Last] 100 [IX. “I’m Going to Solve the Mystery”] 111 [X. A Soiled Yellowed Envelope] 122 [XI. The Bear Returns] 135 [XII. Jo Ann’s Trophy] 149 [XIII. José’s Strange Story] 161 [XIV. The Piñata] 171 [XV. “Carlitos—Gone!”] 181 [XVI. On a Dangerous Trail] 196 [XVII. A Startling Cry] 206 [XVIII. Prisoners] 218 [XIX. A Daring Plan] 229 [XX. The New Hope Mine] 239
CHAPTER I
THE MYSTERIOUS BLUE-EYED BOY
Jo Ann jerked the crude, hand-made chair off the oxcart and set it down in the shade of the thatched roof of the house.
“Your throne’s ready, Your Majesty,” she called over gaily to the pale, worn-looking Mrs. Blackwell whose daughter Florence was helping her off the burro.
“Whoever heard of a throne looking like that?” laughed the slender, hazel-eyed girl beside Jo Ann. “Wait a minute.” She spread a bright rainbow-hued Mexican blanket over the chair. “Now that looks more like a throne.”
Jo Ann nodded her dark curly bob. “You’re right, Peg—as usual.” She turned to Mrs. Blackwell. “I know you’re dead tired. That long automobile trip over the rough roads was bad enough, but the ride up the mountain on that poky donkey was worse yet.”