The Mexican girl did not reappear from the rear of the shop. The
girls all bought something--perhaps not wisely in every case. Nan
Sherwood saw a queer smile on Rhoda Hammond's face as she noted
some of the trinkets the other girls purchased. Of course, the girl
from Rose Ranch could have advised them about the real value of
these articles. But who would ask her?

It really was too bad. Most of the crowd ignored Rhoda Hammond
altogether. They did not even speak to her when they brushed her
furs in passing.

Rhoda was beautifully dressed, and Bess audibly wondered who had
purchased Rhoda's clothes, as her mother's affliction made it
impossible for her to have selected them.

The Western girl left the store before the others had finished
shopping and Nan fancied Rhoda intended to catch an earlier car
back to Freeling than the one Miss March and her party were to
take. Nan said nothing to Bess or to Grace regarding the peculiar
actions of the Mexican girl who had evidently recognized Rhoda, and
knew where she came from. Nan was enormously interested in the
mystery; but she did not think it was right to make common property
of what she had seen or heard. She was the more tempted to go to
Rhoda herself and ask about it.

Perhaps it was something that Rhoda really ought to know. The
Mexican girl had looked at the unnoticing Rhoda in a very angry
way. And she had spoken very strangely.

"The treasure of the Ranchio Rose buy those dresses."