Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch; Or, The Old Mexican's Treasure

an-least of all Rhoda herself. There was no time to speak of the incident wh

ase. Nan Sherwood saw a queer smile on Rhoda Hammond's face as she noted some of the trinkets the other girls purchased.

Rhoda Hammond altogether. They did not even spe

who had purchased Rhoda's clothes, as her mother's affl

ere 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 enormous

w. The Mexican girl had looked at the unnoticing Rhoda

the Ranchio Rose

he least. What was "the treasure of Rose Ranch?" Nan

an wondered if that would be a wise thing to do. Rhoda had not appeared to notice the st

ertain articles and to the questions and observations of the other girls. She and Bess purchased several things for their room; b

out with their

ian immigrants being taken by a padrone into the woods. O

hich the car for Freeling started, and lo! there was Rh

us wherever we go?" Bess

She has a perfect rig

er, of

say she has," Lillie

ing to her fathe

ugh the rear door. The old man who acted as motorman was well known to some of the girls, and they hailed him, as

arting, and dropped the latch on the double doors so that the girls should not distur

day. But it's as much as my life's worth to ask him how he feels. He's

did from her situation up front. The rest of them only noticed him

t jerk the car so," c

almost swallow

ng alarmed, "if you really have any gum you ha

merely chuckle

car," Miss March said finally to the conductor. "Te

ey swung around turns that were somewhat sharp. John stormed

ward and tapped on the glass of the front door. But the motorman only ga

exclaimed Lillie Nevins, who

hed another girl. "

me back to Miss March. "But I'll report him to th

y was almost continuous. But near the bottom was a sharp curve. Here was a low stone wall along the edge of the road, beyond which was a sheer dro

od much, for she was not nervous. Miss March, however, began to stare ahead apprehensively, and the way in which she twisted her

an to rock threateningly. A small obstruction on the tr

would have a care,

d Lillie began to betray fear and more of the girls were anxious. Nan stumbled forward

rest when the car was out of town. The rules of the company did not force him to stand all the time. His head

on that his body swayed so? Th

urning to the Western girl, "

firmly compressed. She clung to the handle of the door. Nan

e matter with that man

lbu

e they could not open the door, nor d

rake and from the controller. The car seemed to leap ahead, gaining additional spee

or on the rear platform did not know what had happ

e cannot get to him. And

of her stomach. She did not weep or lose contro

car reeling down the slope at a speed that promised disaster at the curve, if not before

andle and stared through the pane at the crumpled figure of the

led into the nearest seat. Hanging by her left hand to the door handle, Rhoda

dy screamed. The conductor burst open the rear door and start

o halves of the door together. She flung them apart and leaped down the si

Her right hand wound up the brake as though she had practiced the work. Fast as the car was speeding, the pressure on the wheel

the conductor. "My goodness!" he a

not halt at once. It ran down almost to the tu

arch. The others crowded forward. Nan was holding Rhoda

rl, Rhoda!" Nan cried.

u showed any white fe

rl

e gone off the track and pitched over that wall probably, if it h