enridge told me about him one day when we were
comparing him with Smiley Jim, my own dear dog. I get lonesome for
Smiley some days. I do hope Auntie Gibbs is looking after him all
right." Bet patted the head of the collie.

"What's his name?" Enid stooped to examine the brass plate on his
collar. "It's Rex. That's a nice name for a dog."

Rex showed his friendship by waving his tail around and going from one
to the other of the girls. But a moment later he growled menacingly
when Kie Wicks and his wife appeared.

"Evidently he doesn't like that pair any more than we do," smiled Bet.

And the dog continued to growl until the couple had gone.

"There's a man we want to steer clear of." Bet was in deadly earnest.
"Rex has warned us."

At that moment Tommy Sharpe appeared. "Come on over and see my home,"
he called.

Bidding good-bye to Mrs. Patten and the professor who were just leaving
and after promising that Kit would be allowed to go home soon, the
girls hurried out to see Tommy Sharpe.

The boy was as proud of his own little corner of the ranch as if he had
an estate. It was the first home the poor fellow had ever known.

Enid took the boy by the arm as they walked across the court toward the
rear wall. Billy Patten was dancing ahead of him eager to show off
Tommy's house. The boy, although a few years younger than Tommy, had
become great friends and Billy was often to be found in Tommy's home.

As they reached the door, the boy took off his sombrero and made a
sweeping bow.

"The Merriweather Girls are welcome in the castle of Tommy Sharpe!" he
said.

"The Merriweather Girls are proud to enter," she answered with a laugh.
"We are honored!"

CHAPTER VII

_THE MAP OF MYSTERY_

Tommy Sharpe had been given an old shed on the edge of the cliff from
which he could look straight down into the canyon behind the ranch
house. He had made it over into a home. There were two rooms; one he
used as a bedroom and the other was his den into which he put all the
treasures he had collected.

Outside, a narrow veranda had been built out over the cliff and it was
here that the boy loved to sit and watch the sky grow bright with the
morning sun and again at evening see the rosy glow of sunset.

Tommy Sharpe's cabin met the approval of the girls.

"You make me very proud of you, Tommy," laughed Enid. "You do credit
to my teaching."

"You were a good teacher," and Tommy put on such a doleful exp