Suddenly the Mexican girl turned to see Nan Sherwood
staring at her in wonder. She flushed darkly
and was at first inclined to turn away. Then
her excitement overpowered her natural caution.
She seized Nan by the wrist with a pressure of her
fingers that actually hurt.
“You know all dhese yoong ladies—yes?”
she demanded. “Dhey all coom wit’
you? Huh?”
“Why, yes. We all come from the same school,”
admitted the astonished Nan.
“You know dhat girl?” asked the Mexican,
pointing quickly at Rhoda.
“Yes.”
“She do go to school wit’ you all—yes?
Her name?” demanded the other.
“Why—”
“Eet ees Ham-mon’—no?”
hissed the strangely acting girl. “Senorita
Ham-mon’?”
“Her name is Hammond. Yes. Rhoda Hammond,”
admitted Nan, scarcely knowing whether it was right
to tell the girl this fact or not.
“Ah, eet ees so! Senorita Ham-mon’,
of dhe Ranchio Rose. Huh?”
“Why—why—” gasped
Nan. “Yes, her home is at Rose Ranch.
That is what she calls it.”
“Ah!” hissed the Mexican girl, her eyes
still glittering angrily. “See! See
how reech she is dress’. Huh! The treasure
of Ranchio Rose buy dhose dress’. Huh!
Ah!”
She flung herself about and walked hastily to the
back of the store. Nan was speechless. She
stood utterly amazed by the Mexican girl’s words
and actions.
DOWN THE SLOPE
Nobody seemed to have noticed the strange actions
of the Mexican girl save Nan—least of all
Rhoda herself. There was no time to speak of
the incident while they remained in the shop, even
had Nan decided that it was best to do so.
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.
