“Oh, never!” squealed Grace.
“Why, lions grow in Africa,” said Bess,
doubtfully.
“More properly they are pumas, I suppose.
But the boys call ’em lions,” laughed
Rhoda. “Oh, there are a lot of things about
Rose Ranch that will surprise you.”
“Don’t say a word! I guess that is
so. Something besides the roses,” murmured
Bess.
“I shall be afraid to go out of sight of the
house,” complained Grace, who was timid in any
environment. “Don’t tell me anything
more, Rhoda.”
Nevertheless they were all—and all the
time—thinking of the trip West. It
did not interfere with their standing in classes, but
outside of study hours and the time they spent in sleep,
the three girls who had been invited by Rhoda to visit
Rose Ranch talked of little else. And, of course,
Rhoda herself was always willing to talk of her home
down near the Mexican Border.
“I am just as sorry for that Mexican girl and
her mother as I can be,” Rhoda said on one occasion.
“I’ve written daddy about it. I expect
he doesn’t remember Mrs. O’Harra’s
coming to Rose Ranch with her daughter about the treasure.
You know, that old treasure has made us a lot of trouble.”
“I suppose people keep coming up from Mexico
looking for it?” suggested Grace.
“Most of them think we have benefited by Lobarto’s
stealings,” sighed Rhoda. “You see,
there is much hard feeling on the side of the Mexicans
against the Americans. Even the Mexicans born
on our side of the Border are not really Americans.
They never learn to speak much English, and it makes
them clannish and suspicious of English speaking people.”
“And how fierce they are!” murmured Nan.
“Juanita would have struck you. Scratched
your face, maybe.”
“Well, that is only their excitable way.
Perhaps she did not really intend to strike me,”
Rhoda said. “I do wish we could help her
and her mother. Somehow, I am sorry for the poor
thing.”
“Let’s get up a searching party when we
get to Rose Ranch,” said Bess excitedly, “and
find that old treasure.”
“Wouldn’t that be great!” Nan agreed.
“But I am afraid if after six years all that
plunder hasn’t been found, we shouldn’t
be likely to find it.”
“Oh, it’s been searched for,” Rhoda
assured them. “Time and time again.
There have been as many men who believed they could
find it as ever hunted for the old Pegleg Mine—and
that is famous.”
“Never say die!” said Bess, nodding her
curly head. “I’m going to hunt for
it myself.”
This raised a laugh; yet every member of the little
party, including Walter when he heard the particulars
about Juanita, was eagerly interested in the mystery
of the treasure of Rose Ranch.
ROSE RANCH AT LAST
The closing of school came at length. Bess had
said frankly that she feared it never would come,
the time seemed to pass so slowly; but Nan only laughed
at her.
