plundered several haciendas before coming up from the Border, so
people say."

"Why don't you ranch folks go and dig up his loot?" demanded Bess,
wide-eyed.

"Well," laughed Rhoda, "we don't know where it is cached. It sounds
rather preposterous, too--a wagon-load of gold and silver plate,
altar ornaments, candlesticks, jeweled cloths, and all that. It
does sound sort of romantic, doesn't it?"

"I should say it did!" the girls chorused.

Nan did not say another word in comment at the time. She was
enormously curious about what she had overheard the Mexican girl
say in the shop at Adminster. And how strangely she had stared at
Rhoda Hammond!




CHAPTER IX

NOT ALWAYS "BUTTERFINGERS"


Following that afternoon tea matters changed for Rhoda Hammond at
Lakeview Hall. Nor did she overlook Nan's part in bringing her into
the social life of the girls whom she met in classes and at the
table.