“No, because the moon was on the other side of the house,” she replied; “and besides, he seemed to have some sort of bandanna handkerchief fastened around the lower part of his face as a disguise.”
“And did he say anything that you heard, anything that would give you a clue with regard to who he was?” Frank went on to ask. “I remember that when he first caught me by the throat he did utter a low word, and it was a Mexican word, too,” she answered, slowly, as though her mind might not yet be working as clearly as usual.
“That is a point, then, to be remembered,” the boy insisted, “and here’s something that might give us another clue.”
He picked an object up from the floor, and held it aloft.
“A Mexican sombrero!” exclaimed Andy, recovering his speech at last.
“Just what it is,” said Frank, steadily, “and as is the habit with these men from over the border, this one is decorated heavily with silver beads, and gold buttons, as well as filigree work. One of these hats is worth a lot of money, and the owner is as proud of it as a lady would be of her magnificent diamonds at the opera. Please try and think, Mrs. Ogden, did you ever see this sombrero before?”
He held it up in front of her eyes, slowly turning it around, so that she might observe every part in turn.
The housekeeper uttered a low bubbling cry. Evidently the truth had flashed into her mind, and she was no longer groping in the dark. “Yes, yes, I do remember seeing that hat, Frank, Andy!” she exclaimed.
“On the head of a certain gentleman who went by the name of Jose Sandero?” pursued the boy, as if trying to aid her memory.
“No other, though it was some years ago!” she cried. “They always decorate each new hat in the same way as the last. And when he was here that time to demand his child, only to hear that the court had given her into the keeping of Mr. Witherspoon, Jose Sandero wore just such a sombrero. Oh! it was him, all right; and the poor little darling has been carried off by her own unworthy father. He will make for the border as fast as horses can carry him, hoping to be safe beyond the line before the return of Mr. Witherspoon.”