Station Wagon in Spain — Frances Parkinson Keyes

THE DESERTED SIDEWALKS, the scanty lighting and the strangeness of this unfamiliar region of the city made Allan feel uneasy. He began to doubt the wisdom of going alone to the mysterious meetingplace his caller had designated. In fact, he had begun to resent the entire situation in which he had become involved. Yet, had he not invited it...had he not come to Spain knowing full well that the letter was fraudulent?

He was driving along slowly, absorbed in his thoughts, when an isolated pedestrian, who had been strolling quietly along, suddenly swung about and darted in front of the station wagon. With a terrible sense of shock, Allan shouted a warning, which her feared would come too late, and slammed on the brakes. As the station wagon jerked to a stop, he flung open the door and jumped out.

The jaywalker had leaped swiftly to safety and was now voicing his threatening rage. Too late, Allan realized that the man whom he had thought was his victim was now his assailant. Then came quick horrible pain and the merciful release of unconsciousness...