understood what she was writing, nevertheless it
said a great deal:

"DEAR MRS. BURTON:

"You will never be able to forgive me and I know I do not
deserve that you should. Only pray I may be happy, because now
the wedding ceremony is over and Felipe Morris and I are
married, I am dreadfully frightened.

"Yours with all love,

"GERRY."

The rest of the late afternoon was even more like a strange dream.

At the border between Mexico and the United States Felipe managed
successfully to deceive the guard. He had changed his costume and wore a
Mexican one, he spoke Spanish and gave a name which was not his own.
Gerry, who was wearing a veil tied closely about her head, the guard
scarcely noticed.

Felipe explained that he and his wife had driven over into California
earlier in the day and were now on their way back to their home in
Mexico. By a stroke of good fortune the guard had only been on duty a
few hours, having changed places with another soldier. Therefore he had
no way of disproving Felipe's story; moreover, he happened to be new to
his work.

Never so long as she lived was Gerry to forget her first sight of the
strange desert land of Mexico, which she saw when dusk was falling.

The earth was a sea of sand with funny little hut-like houses sprinkled
here and there, hung with gay signs written in a language Gerry did not
comprehend. Beyond them was a fringe of high bare hills, now purple in
the evening shadows.

Suddenly she realized her own and Felipe's exile. They were without home
or country; worse, they were deserters.

For fear he was suffering an even deeper regret and remorse than had
laid hold upon her, Gerry dared not look or speak to Felipe as their car
carried them further and further away from their friends.

CHAPTER XVII

Folly and Courage

Before information of any kind concerning her mysterious disappearance
was received from Gerry Williams, every member of the Sunrise Camp Fire
had become alarmed. But it must be confessed that the girls were more
annoyed than they were agitated.

Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Webster were necessarily anxious, yet as Mrs.
Webster had never felt an especial interest or affection for Gerry, she
was less so than her sister.

The Camp Fire girls had returned from their walk in time for a late
afternoon tea. They were just finishing when Marta Clark inquired what
had become of Gerry, and why she was not having tea wi