CHAPTER XXI.--A WOMAN PLOTTER.

Aboard the _Yucatan_ was a woman passenger, who, on the trip up the Pacific, had made herself very agreeable to the members of the Willing party. She was not an American although she spoke English fluently, with the slightest of accents. Neither Shirley nor Mabel had asked her nationality, but they had agreed that she must be a Spaniard.

The woman had given her name as Mrs. Miguel Sebastian and this strengthened the belief of the members of the Willing party that she was a native of one of the Latin countries. She had come aboard the ship for the first time at Colon, but for several days had kept to her stateroom, so the passengers had not seen much of her.

She was young, hardly more than twenty-five, slender, rather light complexioned for a Spaniard, and extremely pretty. Since leaving Champerico she had been much in the company of Shirley and Mabel, and both girls had taken an instinctive liking to her.

She had travelled much, apparently, and told them tales of many lands. Her husband, she said, was abroad in Europe, but would join her in San Francisco within a month. She was well posted on current events, and seemed to have the history of Mexico at her finger tips.

It was while the _Yucatan_ was steaming into the harbor of Acapulco, the first Mexican port at which they were to touch, that Mrs. Sebastian related some of the history of the revolution-torn republic.

"I have always been greatly interested in Mexico," she told the girls, as the three leaned over the rail this morning. "I have spent several years in the country. I have friends here in Acapulco, and I shall make an effort to see them while here. Would you care to go with me?"

"We would love to," declared Shirley, "but I don't know whether Dad will consent to our going without him."

"We shall see," returned Mrs. Sebastian. "I can promise you a dinner that you will never forget. Nowhere outside of Mexico can you get real Mexican food, and it will be something to remember."

Colonel Ashton, Mr. Willing and Dick now joined the others on deck, and Shirley asked for permission to accompany Mrs. Sebastian.

Mr. Willing appeared somewhat dubious, but Mrs. Sebastian also asked him to consent.

"I'll promise to return them to you safely," she said with a smile.

"In that event, I shall give my consent to their going, madam," returned Colonel Ashton gallantly.

"And I," agreed Mr. Willing.

"Thanks so much," said Mrs. Sebastian, "and I'll go and ask Captain Anderson just how long we shall remain here."

She walked away.

"Mr. Willing," said Dick, "it may appear wrong, but somehow or other I don't exactly trust that woman."

"Pooh!" replied Mr. Willing. "What does a youngster like you know?"

"Perhaps I am wrong," replied Dick, "but something tells me she is not to be trusted. She is up to some mischief."

"Why, Dick!" exclaimed Shirley. "Don't you want us to go?"

"To tell the truth I don't," was the reply.

"Young man," said Colonel Ashton, "you will learn, as you grow older, not to jump to such rash conclusions. Mrs. Sebastian is a gentlewoman."

"Right you are, Ashton," declared Mr. Willing. "We're old enough to know, eh?"

The two men smiled at each other and walked away, leaving the young people together.

Mrs. Sebastian returned a few moments later.

"Captain Anderson says we shall be here until evening," she said, "so we shall have plenty of time for our trip ashore. He says we may go in the first boat, so you girls had better run along to your cabin and get ready. Mr. Stanley will entertain me until you return."

Shirley and Mabel hurried away, and Dick and Mrs. Sebastian stood together looking across the water at the shore, which was drawing closer rapidly.

"Where are you going when you get ashore?" asked Dick abruptly.

"Why, I am going to call upon a friend," was the smiling reply.

"Then you have been here before?" questioned Dick.

"Many times."

"Mrs. Sebastian," said Dick quietly, "are you a Mexican?"

The woman started back in surprise.

"Why, no," she replied at last. "I was born in Spain. Why do you ask?"

"I just wondered," was Dick's evasive answer. "By the way, I suppose it is perfectly peaceful here now?"

"Yes, indeed," was the reply. "I guess the fighting is all over, now that General Villa has been successful in Chihuahua and other northern states."

"But there has been trouble down here?"

"Oh yes, but it is all over. Besides, the revolutionists probably have not enough money to buy arms and ammunition."

"Why don't they steal them? It wouldn't be the first time."

Mrs. Sebastian's face turned red.

"What do you mean?" she asked angrily.

"I am sorry I offended you," Dick apologized. "I spoke thoughtlessly."

"Say no more about it," said Mrs. Sebastian with a laugh. "I am naturally touchy on that subject, for I have friends who were of the revolutionary party."

"I see," replied Dick, and the subject was changed as Shirley and Mabel returned to them.

Half an hour later the _Yucatan_ dropped anchor a mile off shore and the small boats were lowered for such passengers as desired to land.

Mrs. Sebastian, Shirley and Mabel soon found themselves in the first boat and making shoreward at a good clip.

"We shall be back in plenty of time," Mrs. Sebastian had called to Mr. Willing just before they took their places in the boat.

The men nodded and waved their hands, and the occupants of the boat returned the salute.

Now the small boat scraped the shore, and an officer sprang out and lent a hand to the passengers. Mrs. Sebastian was the first to go ashore, and Shirley and Mabel followed a moment later.

The little street that ran along the water front was crowded with natives, dirty, ragged and unkempt, with here and there a gaily bedecked Mexican. They did not present a very inviting aspect, and the two girls shrank close to Mrs. Sebastian.

The latter paid no attention to the natives, but pushed her way through the crowd with never a glance to right or left. She continued along the street until they came upon a long line of dilapidated cabs.

She signalled to one of the drivers, who opened the door. Mrs. Sebastian motioned the girls to climb in, spoke a few quick words in Spanish to the driver and entered the cab. A moment later they were being driven through the dirty streets as fast as the old horse could go.

"I thought my friend might be at the landing to meet me," the woman explained, "but as I didn't see anything of her, I thought best to drive right to her home."

Shirley and Mabel nodded their understanding of this, and turned to view the passing sights.

After an hour's drive the cab pulled up before a house somewhat larger than the rest, and the cabman dismounted and threw open the door.

"Here we are at last," said Mrs. Sebastian as she alighted and motioned the girls to follow. Then she gave the cabman a single piece of silver and turned to the heavy door.

This she opened without the formality of a knock, and led the way across a small patio--a courtyard--in the center of what appeared to be the house itself. Here they brought up against another door, and Mrs. Sebastian knocked sharply three times.

There was a moment's delay, then the door swung open and a man's face appeared.

At sight of Mrs. Sebastian the man stepped back with a bow, and Mrs. Sebastian, followed by the two girls, swept by him.

The door slammed behind them.

Mrs. Sebastian led the way into a small but luxuriously furnished room off the main hall, where she turned to the man who had followed them, and spoke a few words in Spanish. The man bowed and departed.

"I told him to announce our arrival," explained Mrs. Sebastian.

The girls surveyed the interior of the handsome apartment curiously.

"I had no idea they lived so well in Mexico," said Shirley.

"Nor I," declared Mabel.

"The upper classes live as well in Mexico as elsewhere," replied Mrs. Sebastian. "It is only the poorer--or peon--class that you have heard about, apparently."

Footsteps sounded without and a moment later a handsomely attired woman entered the room, followed a moment later by a fancifully garbed man. The woman rushed up to Mrs. Sebastian and they greeted each other affectionately. The man also appeared glad to see the visitor.

Mrs. Sebastian then presented the girls, and it developed that both Don Miguel and his wife--for so they were introduced--spoke English. They made the girls welcome, and told them to make themselves at home.

"I have promised them a real Mexican dinner," explained Mrs. Sebastian with a little laugh.

"They shall have it," replied Don Miguel, throwing wide his arms.

"And now," said Mrs. Sebastian, "where can we have a talk?"

"In the next room," was the reply.

"Good! I am sure my young friends will excuse me for half an hour."

She looked inquiringly at the two girls. The latter nodded, and the Don and two women made their way from the room.

The moment they were gone, Shirley and Mabel began an inspection of the room. There were two windows, both of which looked on the street and both of which were barred.

Shirley uttered an exclamation.

"Barred!" she said.

"That's nothing," laughed Mabel. "Surely you remember all windows are barred in Mexico."

"That's so," agreed Shirley.

After some further inspection of the room, Mabel crossed to the door through which they had come, and turned the knob. Then her face paled and she stepped back with an exclamation of alarm.

"What's the matter, Mabel?" asked Shirley.

For a moment Mabel did not reply. Again she turned the knob and then she stepped back and looked at Shirley.

"It's locked!" she declared.