nished Susie, angry at Tabitha for calling the animals
coyotes, angry at her sisters for laughing, and angry at herself for
not knowing the truth of the matter without being told.

"That's so, too," agreed Mr. Catt amiably. "It beats me how you ever
managed to catch them."

"It was a job," sighed Billiard regretfully, freeing the pretty little
ball wrapped so snugly in his coat, and watching it skulk away after
its two brothers. "We had some empty sacks----"

"But they weren't much good," Susie broke in contemptuously. "If it
hadn't been for that can of meat we swiped, we'd never have caught 'em.
They bite like everything, as well as scratch."

"Yes," said Billiard mournfully, taking the reins from Tabitha's hands
and mounting his burro, "and we had all our pains for nothing."

"Not quite," whispered Tabitha sympathetically. "I understand, and I'm
glad you took such trouble for me. But hurry. It's late already, and
will be terribly hot before we reach home."

So the party said good-bye to the canyon and set out briskly on their
long ride back to Silver Bow, but Tabitha was exultant, for Billiard,
unruly, rebellious Billiard was at last completely won.

CHAPTER XII

THE BANK OF SILVER BOW IS ROBBED

"It must have rained here since we left," observed Toady, as they drew
near the town.

"Why?" asked Irene curiously.

"'Cause there's a puddle of water in that hollow rock and unless it had
rained, how would it get there?"

"By Jove, the lad is right," muttered Decker Simmons to himself.
"Queer we didn't get any at the canyon, though. Wonder what's the
trouble ahead. Town seems excited. Do you suppose the new postmaster
has embezzled his funds already?"

"Uncle Decker," Tabitha's voice interrupted his meditations.

"Yes?"

"Something must have happened in town while we were gone."

"Why?"

"Main street is full of people and the bank platform is black with
them. Do you suppose there is another run on the bank, or can it have
failed?"

"Why, so 'tis!" ejaculated the man, noting for the first time what
Tabitha's keen eyes had seen,--that the greater crowd of the people
were gathered in front of the Silver Bow Bank. "Wonder what's up."

"Hello, Simmons," called Dawley, the grocer, from his position in the
doorway of his store. "You don't look as if you'd heard the news."

"No. Let's have it." The whole party halted and waited curiously.

"Bank robbed."

"You don't say so! When?"