r, oldish appearance and quite spoiled his good looks.
Polly herself was beginning to feel disturbed. She wanted Bob and she
wanted him immediately. She looked about her anxiously.

The store was larger than it appeared from without and carried a varied
line of goods piled up on shelves or displayed on counters. On one side,
it seemed to be a grocery store; on the other, dry-goods, shoes, and hats
were set forth, while in the rear were saddles, bridles and other
paraphernalia in leather. A big stove in the middle of the room gave out a
cheerful warmth, for the air was growing very cool as the sun went down.

There were a few people, Mexicans and Indians, in the place and they all
stared curiously at the pretty American. Polly did not realize, though she
was not in the habit of underrating her attractions, how very noticeable
she was in that environment, as she stood there, her tan traveling coat
thrown open showing her dainty white waist, her short, trim skirt with its
big plaid squares, and her neat brown silk stockings and oxfords. Conejo
had not seen her like in many moons and it stared its full.

"I think Bob would be at the station. If I could go there----" Polly
began, with a little lump in her throat.

"This is the station," said Pachuca. "It is Jacob Swartz' store and the
station as well."

"Then something has happened to my letter. He never would have
disappointed me like this," said the girl, despairingly.

"That is quite possible. If you would let me serve you in this matter,
senorita? I have a car at the house of a friend just out of town. I am
driving to my ranch in it to-morrow. If you would let me drive you to
Athens----"

"Drive in an open car in that?" the girl pointed to the whirling sand
outside. "How could we?"

"Easily. Once on our way into the mountains we will leave it behind us."

"Oh, thank you very much, senor, you're very kind, but if Bob doesn't come
I can go to some friends of his, English people, the Morgans, and they
will drive me over in the morning." She was conscious of a sudden desire
to get away from this polite youth who stuck so tightly. It was all very
well to let him amuse her on the train--that was adventure; but to drive
with him through a strange country at night would be pure madness. She
thought he stiffened a bit at her words.

"English people? Oh, yes, undoubtedly that will be wise. Swartz can
probably tell you where to find them."

"Yes, of course." Polly was g