Jo Ann could see that the man and Carlitos were still crouched around the fire.

THE MYSTERY OF
CARLITOS

---

HELEN RANDOLPH

---

---

THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Akron, Ohio New York

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Mysterious Blue-Eyed Boy 7

II. Neighbors in the Cave 19

III. An Unwelcome Visitor 33

IV. The Cave Family Disappears 44

V. Footprints 55

VI. A Mysterious Light 69

VII. The Charcoal Maker 86

VIII. Friends at Last 100

IX. “I’m Going to Solve the Mystery” 111

X. A Soiled Yellowed Envelope 122

XI. The Bear Returns 135

XII. Jo Ann’s Trophy 149

XIII. José’s Strange Story 161

XIV. The Piñata 171

XV. “Carlitos—Gone!” 181

XVI. On a Dangerous Trail 196

XVII. A Startling Cry 206

XVIII. Prisoners 218

XIX. A Daring Plan 229

XX. The New Hope Mine 239

CHAPTER I
THE MYSTERIOUS BLUE-EYED BOY

Jo Ann jerked the crude, hand-made chair off the oxcart and set it down in the shade of the thatched roof of the house.

“Your throne’s ready, Your Majesty,” she called over gaily to the pale, worn-looking Mrs. Blackwell whose daughter Florence was helping her off the burro.

“Whoever heard of a throne looking like that?” laughed the slender, hazel-eyed girl beside Jo Ann. “Wait a minute.” She spread a bright rainbow-hued Mexican blanket over the chair. “Now that looks more like a throne.”

Jo Ann nodded her dark curly bob. “You’re right, Peg—as usual.” She turned to Mrs. Blackwell. “I know you’re dead tired. That long automobile trip over the rough roads was bad enough, but the ride up the mountain on that poky donkey was worse yet.”

“Poky’s the word,” put in Florence, her blue eyes twinkling. “That burro, or donkey as you call it, is all Mexican—slow but sure.”

Just as she had finished speaking, the burro flapped his ears, threw back his head, and brayed such a knowing “heehaw” that the girls laughed merrily and even Mrs. Blackwell smiled broadly.

As Mrs. Blackwell dropped down in the chair, Jo Ann remarked to her, “No queen ever had a more beautiful kingdom to look upon from her throne than you have.”

“It’s marvelous!” exclaimed Peggy as all four gazed over the far-flung view stretching out before them: rugged, cloud-tipped mountain peaks, the deep valley covered with tropical growth, and a gleaming, silver waterfall to their right.

“Gracious!” broke in Florence finally. “We’ll never get the house straightened at this rate. And will you look at that driver! I believe he’s sound asleep. He hasn’t taken a single thing off the cart yet.”

As Jo Ann reluctantly turned away, she called over to Peggy, “We’ll have