cond man had leaped lightly in the window and disappeared from sight. It was evident that they feared no interruptions f

he men inside the house. Two heads appeared swiftly at the window, at the same time that a candl

cried Don, as he j

ushed forward and seized Sackett, who promptly felled him with a blow on the chin, while Abel kept on going and entered the grove several yards ahead of his pursuers. Sackett soon joined him, and before T

outed Jim, as the senorita a

big a start, and I want to fin

e between themselves and the ranch party. The senorita, recognizing Ned in the moonl

lled, and the boys were attract

iding by at a distance, senorita, and we paused to look down at your ranch. While we were

te taken with her beauty and charm, her fine olive skin and her flashing black eyes. She drew their admir

ed. "But why do you think they should want to

nglish, with only a slight

y we inspect your library an

me," she replied, and led the way into

there, and two comfortable chairs. Upon examination the boys found that a few books, in a s

teal some of your valuable manuscripts, senorita,

ut I wonder how those men

on, who had been considering deeply. And Jim nodded, for his i

ean, Don?" ask

contained your ideas about the treasure and that ancient book which came from this library. Those men are taking that matter seriously

ita Mercedes sharply.

rn his hand to anything that promises profit, and he has done as you say, taken that letter seriously. I wish it had never fallen into his hands. However, with

our guard from now on. There is no doubt that

it because I have seen the manuscript, but they are placing their faith in

that?"

te the book was going to raise a party to go back and recover the treasure, but whether he did or

ita. "Senorita Mercedes, you do not know how th

te always been here. But I can say this, which will perhaps aid you: bef

priest may at one time have lodged at

even died the

easure was never recovered. Well, there are two part

He had been examining the double windows, whi

dows locked at night,

nty, senor,"

owly. "Because these two fellows just

u may see that there is a much

they simply reached up and pushed the window open, and tha

Alaroze, your overseer? How is it that he has not appeared during all of the excit

shall call him at once." She stepped to t

. He was small and chunky, with a brown face and shifty eyes. He

h, which the boys understood slightly. They had studied the language i

was awakened by the noise and hastene

he senorita, curtly. "Tell me, when you cl

arry out faithfully the tasks intrusted to

e and have searched this library. But the strange part is that they did not even have to break in. They simply reached up

indow before I retired, senor," replied the oversee

e house. You and the ranchmen sleep in the bunkhouse. You do not think for a m

e overseer, quietly enough. The other boys watched him closely, puzzle

spoke there was a trace of gloom in his voice, especially when he addressed the overseer. "Be more c

, senor," retorted the ov

to be worried. I don't think you will have any more trouble, senorita. If

to their mounts. The three ranchmen, seeing that all was well, went back to the bunkhouse,

held onto Ned's hand for a moment longer than seemed actually necessary. They rode away, looki

d I don't trust that

od in the management of the ranch. I wonder i

thought of the senorita living alone with th

he goes armed all the time and is very determined to be a success at raising cattle and caring for herself. Pride, yo

at they knew what he had in mind. They arrived at the

ype="