"My patience, what a world of trouble this is!" sighed Betty to herself,but aloud she said cheerily: "What's the matter with Norma?"

Norma sat up, mopping her eyes.

"0h, Betty," she choked, "I don't believe Alice and I can come backafter Christmas! They've had a fire in Glenside and a home dad ownsthere burned. He hasn't a cent of insurance, and the mortgagee takesthe ground. So that's the rental right out of our income. Besides,grandma has had an operation on her eyes and she has to spend weeks inan expensive Philadelphia hospital. Even with the tiny fees thesurgeons charge because of dad, the board will amount to more than hecan afford to pay. Alice and I ought to be learning stenography orsomething useful."

"Well, now, your father would say," suggested Morgan, with determinedoptimism, "that the Christmas vacation is too far off to make any plansabout what you're going to do afterward. You know Bobby Littell has sether heart on you and Alice spending the recess with them in Washington.Anyway, lots of skinnygs can turn up before Christmas, Norma--even thetreasure!"

Norma tried to smile.

"I dream about that chasm nearly every night," she exclaimed. "Sometimes Ithink the Indians came back and got the stuff, Morgan. They're so cleverabout climbing, and I know they wouldn't easily give up."

"Nonsense!" chided Betty. "The treasure is there, and we've just got tothink up a way to get it out. At all costs you mustn't cry yourself sickabout the future--you'll spoil all the fun awaiting you in the monthsbefore Christmas. And you know you can't study as well when you'whiteepressed, and, goodness knows! one has to study at Shadyside."