CHAPTER XXII.--CAPTAIN VON BLUSEN BOBS UP AGAIN.

"Are you sure?" asked Shirley, her face also turning a shade whiter.

"Try it yourself," replied Mabel.

Shirley advanced and laid hold of the knob, but the door would not open.

The girls looked at each other in alarm.

"I never heard that they always locked the doors in Mexico," said Mabel.

"Nor I," agreed Shirley. "Do you suppose it was an accident?"

"I don't know what to think," replied Mabel.

There was no denying the fact that both girls were badly frightened. They darted hither and thither about the room, seeking a means of egress; but there was none and they finally sat down.

"It must have been an accident," said Shirley at last. "Surely Mrs. Sebastian would have no reason for wishing to keep us prisoners."

"That's what I think," Mabel agreed. "The door must have locked itself."

"Well, all we can do is wait for some one to return," said Shirley.

And so they waited.

As the minutes passed, each seemingly more slowly than the one that had gone before, the fright of the girls increased.

An hour passed and still Mrs. Sebastian had not returned.

Shirley was about to speak, when they heard the sounds of footsteps outside and the doorknob turned. The door opened and Mrs. Sebastian stepped in smiling.

"I had no idea I had been gone so long," she exclaimed. "Why didn't you call me? You have been as quiet as mice."

Shirley and Mabel each drew a breath of great relief.

"Then you didn't lock us in purposely?" asked Mabel.

"Lock you in? What do you mean?"

"The door was locked and we couldn't get out. That's why we were so quiet," replied Shirley, laughing. "We thought you had locked us in."

"The idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Sebastian. "The door locked?" She approached and examined it. Then she looked up with a smile. "Why, the catch is on," she exclaimed, smiling. "And were you frightened?"

"No, not much," replied Mabel slowly. "We knew it must have been locked accidentally."

"Of course," replied the woman. "Now would you care to wash up a bit? Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes."

The girls nodded and the woman led the way. Fifteen minutes later all were seated in the cozy dining room, where Shirley and Mabel had their first introduction to Mexican cooking.

Each girl sampled everything that was placed before her, and in spite of their efforts to try and enjoy the meal, disappointment was written large on their features. Mrs. Sebastian noticed this and laughed, while the donna and her husband smiled slightly.

"So you don't like the Mexican dishes," said Mrs. Sebastian.

"Well, they are a little too hot for me," said Shirley, somewhat ruefully.

"Try some of these tortillas," said the man, "perhaps you will find them to your liking, though they are warm."

The girls tried some, but with no better result. They finally gave up in despair.

The meal over, Mrs. Sebastian led the way back to the other room, which apparently was the parlor. Here all sat down to talk and the girls spent a very pleasant afternoon.

Finally Shirley looked at her watch. "What time did Captain Anderson say we would leave?" she asked of Mrs. Sebastian.

"Soon after five o'clock," was the reply. "Why?"

"It's almost four now," replied Shirley. "Hadn't we better be going?"

"Oh, no, we have plenty of time," was the answer. "It will not take us so long to get back."

Shirley subsided, and the others continued the conversation.

At half past four Shirley again mentioned the time. Mrs. Sebastian arose, spoke a few words to the others in Spanish, and then came over to Shirley.

"I have decided," she said, laying a hand on the girl's shoulder, "to remain here over night and go on by train to-morrow. Will not you and Mabel stay with me?"

"I am sorry, but we can't do that," replied Shirley. "If you will call a cab for us and direct the driver, we shall not trouble you to take us back to the boat."

"But we should like to have you stay," said the donna.

"We would indeed be glad to do so, but father would worry," said Mabel.

The Don also added his voice, but the girls turned a deaf ear. Both arose and put on their hats. Then they approached to tell their hosts good-bye.

Mrs. Sebastian spoke quickly to the Don and his wife in Spanish. Then she turned to the girls.

"Come," she said, "remove your hats and stay."

"It is impossible," replied Mabel.

"We would be glad to if we could," said Shirley, "but we must hurry now, or we shall be too late, and the ship will go without us."

The girls turned toward the door.

"One moment," said Mrs. Sebastian, raising a hand.

The girls halted in their tracks.

"We must insist upon your staying over with us," said the woman quietly.

"But--" began Shirley.

"I said we must insist," repeated Mrs. Sebastian. "You may as well remove your hats."

Both girls stared at her in utter astonishment. Shirley was the first to grasp the significance of the situation.

"Then it is true!" she exclaimed; "the door was locked! We are prisoners!"

The man of the house bowed low.

"Prisoners, or guests," he said. "It shall be as you prefer."

Shirley did not reply, but leaped quickly toward the door. The others were across the room and could not interfere. The door swung open, and Shirley called out:

"Quick, Mabel! Run!"

Mabel sprang after her friend.

But the time taken to open the door proved costly. Before Shirley could dart through it, Mrs. Sebastian had her by both shoulders, while the other woman held Mabel powerless.

Then they led the girls back into the room and bade them sit down. Perceiving the uselessness of resistance, the girls obeyed.

Mabel immediately broke into tears, and Shirley threw her arms about her.

"Don't cry, dearie," she exclaimed. "We are in no danger. They will not dare to harm us."

She gazed at their three captors angrily.

"What do you want with us?" she demanded.

"You shall know in good time," replied Mrs. Sebastian gruffly.

Her manner had undergone a sudden change. She was no longer the good-natured, smiling companion of the steamer. Her face was hard, and she seemed to have aged ten years.

She turned to the other woman.

"Bring paper, pen and ink," she commanded.

The latter hurried away to obey this order, and returned a few moments later, bearing the required articles, which she placed on a table.

Mrs. Sebastian drew up several chairs and motioned the two girls, who had been staring at them curiously, to take the seats.

Both realized it would be useless to refuse and did as commanded. Mrs. Sebastian passed the paper, pen and ink to Shirley.

"Write as I dictate," she ordered.

Here Shirley protested.

"What is it you wish me to write?" she asked.

"You'll hear quick enough," was the reply. "Write."

Shirley replaced the pen gently on the table.

"Not until you tell me what you want me to write, and to whom," she replied quietly.

The others looked at her in surprise, then conversed a few moments in Spanish. At last Mrs. Sebastian said:

"The letter is to your father and to Colonel Ashton. It will contain a demand for $20,000--$10,000 apiece--for your return."

Shirley rose suddenly to her feet and gave a cry of amazement.

"You mean that we are to be held for ransom?" she exclaimed in unbelief.

"Exactly," replied the man.

"And so you are robbers," exclaimed Shirley scornfully.

Mrs. Sebastian's face flushed.

"No," she replied quietly. "But the patriotic forces in Mexico are in need of money. We have taken this means of getting it for them. Your fathers are rich. They will not miss the money, and it will mean so much to us."

"And if we refuse to write?" asked Shirley.

"You probably will spend the remainder of your days in Mexico. But you won't refuse. Come now, write as I dictate."

"May I speak to my friend in private first?" asked Shirley.

Mrs. Sebastian hesitated. Then:

"Yes, but be quick."

Shirley and Mabel put their heads close together.

"Shall I write the letter, Mabel?" asked Shirley.

"Yes," was the instant reply. "Then Dad will know we are in danger and just what sort of danger. It is the only way we can get word to the others. I know they will find us."

"I guess you're right," agreed Shirley.

She returned to her place at the table, and picked up the pen.

"Dictate and I shall write," she said.

"I am glad to see you are so sensible," smiled Mrs. Sebastian.

She dictated and Shirley wrote. When she had finished she had both girls affix their signatures, and then address an envelope.

She clapped her hands and a young native boy entered the room. To him Mrs. Sebastian gave the letter and spoke in Spanish, whereupon the boy hurried away.

Hardly had he gone when there came three sharp knocks at the door without. The conspirators looked at each other in alarm, and the hopes of Shirley and Mabel rose suddenly.

But the latter were doomed to disappointment. Mrs. Sebastian left the room, only to return a few moments later followed by the figure of a man.

Shirley took one look at him, and gave a cry of surprise.

The newcomer was Captain Von Blusen!