The Mouse in the Mountain | Page 9

was eighteen. It was horrible there. We had to wear uniforms! With cotton stockings that were all prickly and lumpy."
"That's bad," Doan agreed.
"The orphanage got me a job at the seminary. I'm really very clever at studies and books. But little girls are horrible people, specially rich ones--and I was just a frump and--and a drab. I never saw any men, and if I did they didn't see me. And the seminary is in a small town and terribly strict and conservative, and I was just turning right into an old maid!"
"Until you discovered Mexico and Cortez--and Lieutenant Perona."
"Yes. I was studying Spanish because the seminary is going to give courses in it. They never did before, because it wasn't refined enough. But now, with all the horrible things that are happening in Europe--"
"Lots of people are rediscovering America," Doan commented. "Including our flypaper queen up ahead. She never got closer to the United States than the south of France or Bali until Hitler and Hirohito started on the prowl. Now she's suddenly discovered she's wild about democracy. But go on--you were studying Spanish."
"It's such a beautiful language! And then I got interested in the countries where it is spoken, and their histories. I read just thousands of books. Even dusty old manuscripts that had never been printed. The seminary has a marvelous historical library that no one ever uses. I read all about Cortez and his men, and then I came across the diary of a man called Gil De Lico. He was a scribe--a sort of a secretary and historian for Cortez. He kept all the official records, and he wrote this diary just for his family back in Spain. He traveled around with Lieutenant Perona, and he wrote lots about him. They were good friends. I--I feel as though I knew them both--personally, I mean."
"I understand," said Doan.
"And then I started reading about modern Mexico--the way the country they traveled through looks and is now. It--it's perfectly fascinating!"
"I know," said Doan.
Janet's eyes were shining. "I had to come and see it! I had to! I've never had a real vacation in all my life, and I saved and saved, and I came. I'm here! I'm really and truly here in Mexico!"
"That's right," Doan told her.
"Oh, you don't know how I've dreamed about it. All the glamour, and color and--and romance! I ached for it until I could hardly stand it, and there I was teaching horrid, stupid, rich girls how to parse French verbs!"
"Hunting for romance is much more fun," Doan said.
Janet nodded seriously. "It is, and that's just what I'm doing. I know it's foolish and crazy, but I've done sensible things all my life. I was getting--getting moldy! A girl has a right to romance and glamour and--and other things, hasn't she? There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"Not a thing," Doan said. "I hope you find romance by the carload. If I see any, I'll run it down and hogtie it for you."
Janet sighed again. "I feel better now that I've told somebody." She said suddenly and seriously, "What are you looking for?"
"A cop."
"A policeman?" Janet inquired blankly.
"Yeah. From the United States."
"Well, what's he doing in Mexico?"
"Hiding."
"Why? Did he commit some crime?"
"Oh, I suppose so," Doan said indifferently.
"Well, are you going to find him and bring him back to justice?"
"What?" said Doan, startled. "Me? No! I'm going to persuade him to keep on hiding."
"But why?"
"Because I'm hired to," Doan answered patiently.
"I don't understand," said Janet. "Why were you hired to persuade him to keep hiding?"
"He's not like you. He doesn't like Mexico. He can't speak Spanish, and the food gives him indigestion, and he doesn't think the people are friendly. He says he would rather be in the United States--even if he's in jail--than to have to stay here any longer."
"You mean he wants to come back and give himself up and answer for his crimes?"
"Yeah."
"And you're going to try to persuade him not to?"
"Not try," Doan corrected. "I am going to persuade him."
"But that's wrong! That's against the law!"
"It probably will be before I'm through," Doan admitted casually.
Janet stared at him. "Well then, you shouldn't do it, Mr. Doan. Why don't you let this man surrender like he wants to?"
Doan sighed. "The guy--Eldridge is his name--was a police captain in Bay City. They had a big graft scandal and a grand jury investigation there. Everybody in the city administration was involved. So the rest of them persuaded Eldridge to beat it to Mexico. Then they said he was to blame for everything that had happened since the city was founded. If he came back, he would pop off about some of his old pals. They're still holding their jobs, and they want to keep them. They won't if Eldridge starts telling secrets."
Janet studied