amp last night," he told her after they had
headed off to the east for the Springs, which was to be their first
objective point.

"Yes; so uncle told me. I'm sorry. Did you lose any stock?"

"I believe not, unless it was some of the new ponies. I did not think to
ask."

"At what time did the trouble occur?" she asked absently.

"I think it was shortly after you left us at dinner, last night,"
answered Tad, in a matter-of-fact tone. "It was, perhaps, half an hour
after that when your uncle told us."

Miss Brayton flushed painfully, and quickly changed the subject. Tad
noticed her confusion and marveled at it.

Arriving at the Springs, which proved to be a group of rocks rising out
of the plain, and from which several springs of pure sparkling water
bubbled, all dismounted and drank of the refreshing fluid. After a few
moments spent in chatting, they remounted their ponies and set off for
the adobe church, the real object of the day's journey.

Reaching the historic place, they tethered their ponies among the
mesquite bushes in the rear of it, after which all entered through a
crumbling doorway. The interior, they found, was in an excellent state
of preservation.

Many surprising little alcoves and odd, cell-like rooms were distributed
all through the church. It was dark and cool in there. Chunky shivered,
and said he didn't wonder people said there were spooks there.

"Is there any cellar beneath the church?" asked Tad.

"It has been said that there were once underground passages," answered
Miss Brayton. "No one in our time has ever discovered them."

"That sounds interesting. I think I should like to find the way into
them."

"So should I," added Stacy Brown.

"Look out that you don't fall in," cautioned Ned. "Remember that's your
failing."

"Not much chance of that," laughed Margaret. "These stone floors are too
thick for anyone to fall through."

"Does anyone ever come here?" asked Tad.

"Not that I know of," answered Miss Brayton.

"But I saw a path when I came in. Somebody has been hitching a pony out
there in the bushes, too," said the boy.

"Perhaps some of the cowmen may come in here out of the heat, now and
then," replied the young woman carelessly.

"Why Ruth, you could not induce one of papa's men to enter the door of
the old place. You know they are half scared to death of it," said
Margaret.

Chunky's eyes were growing large.

"Wow!" he said. "Let's go out doors and eat."

"The