United States or Vanuatu ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Supper was served for the young people aboard the Ramona, by direction of the British officer who was put in charge. There was rather more room to move about than on the Tartar. After the meal the merriest since the strange quest had begun explanations were forthcoming. "I want to know how Inez got those papers away from Ramo," said Walter, with a flash of admiration at the Spanish girl.
"Zat man Senor Ramo I do not like zat he should see me." "Oh, you mustn't be so timid," declared Jack's sister. "He won't harm you." "No, but my father " "I think you are mistaken, Inez!" went on Cora. "At any rate, he has seen us he remembers us as from having come out on the same steamer with us," for Senor Ramo was now bowing, and is smile spread itself over his oily and expansive countenance.
"She might cause him to act hastily. He might do something desperate." "She only wants some papers she thinks he has," said Jack, "and I guess she's going to get them," for Senor Ramo was putting his hand to his inside breast pocket. "I'll soon straighten out this tangle," the lieutenant promised. "I'll have the ring-leaders locked up, and then we'll get at the bottom of the whole affair.
Inez said Ramo explained to her that he intended to keep her father a prisoner only a short time longer. With Senor Ralcanto free, the plans of the smugglers would have been interfered with, for the father of Inez, and his party, stood for law and order. "But now I free my father myself!" cried the Spanish girl, proudly. "No more do I wait for that fat one!"
Walter, just see if we can get a carriage, or a motor, to the marina. We'll take a boat from there out to the Boldero." "I will give you a letter to the captain," said Senor Ramo. "He knows me well, and he will show you every courtesy." "Surely," thought Cora, "this man cannot be a political plotter, who would put innocent men in prison. Inez must be mistaken about him. He is very kind."
"Jack, perhaps you had better go and thank Senor Ramo at once," suggested Cora. "He may be able to give you some good advice, too, about fitting up the Tartar for the cruise. He seems to know a great deal about these islands." "I'll see him at once," agreed her brother. "Just send up my card to him, please," he requested the hotel clerk. "To whom, Senor?" "To Mr. Ramo."
Then the tall decayed Rampinelli and, followed by a calle, the Ramo Barzizza, and next the Mengaldo, with a very choice doorway and arches, now a statuary store; then the yellow Avogadro, now an antiquity dealer's and tenements, with a fondamenta; then a new building, and we reach the fine red palace adjoining the Casa Petrarca, with its ramping garden.
In fact, he may prove to be at the bottom of the whole business." And so it turned out. Senor Ramo, while pretending to be a respectable Spanish coffee merchant, had been engaged secretly in smuggling. It was he who planned the mutiny on the Ramona for purposes of his own, though the storm gave him unexpected aid.
"No, but as soon as she heard that Senor Ramo had left suddenly, she associated it with the taking of her documents, evidently." "Nonsense!" exclaimed Walter. "That's what I say," added Cora. "But we mustn't make fun of Inez she can't bear it." "Of course not. Besides, I guess none of us feel very much like making fun," went on Walter.
So insistent was she that it looked, as though she meant to make a personal assault on-Senor Ramo, and take the papers from his ill-fitting frock coat. "Whew!" whistled Walter, "that's going some, isn't it?" "Walter! How can you?" remonstrated Cora. "At such a time, too!" "Just can't help it!" he murmured. "He's getting his deserts all right."
Word Of The Day