hing now to change it. I've been downright sorry
at the way we treated your mother, but she effaced herself pretty well.
We never got a trace of her whereabouts, though years afterwards we
heard that she was dead. We never knew there was a child, but never
mind, you shall not want again as long as I live. Being a rover and
unmarried, I have no home to offer, as I said before; so I am glad to
find you settled with such good friends. But I've got all kinds of
money, and insist upon paying for your education from now on. Here's a
check for pin money."

Drawing a check-book from his pocket, he rapidly scribbled a few lines,
tore out the slip and handed it to Gloriana. Mechanically she took it,
and her gray eyes grew round with wonder as she read. "One hundred
dollars! Oh, you must have made a mistake, Mr.----"

"Uncle Jerry," he corrected her.

"Uncle Jerry," she dutifully repeated.

"Not a bit of it! And what's more, there will be one of those ready
for you every quarter."

"Oh, that's too much!" she protested. "Whatever would a girl do with
four hundred dollars a year spending money?" The sum appalled her, and
well it might, for never before had she possessed more than five
dollars at one time.

He laughed at her dismay. "Why, I often spend that much in a day. You
can lay in a stock of jimcracks like the other girls have. You'll find
plenty of ways to dispose of every cent, I know."

"Maybe," she half whispered. "You see, I never had so much as a dollar
all my own that I can remember until I came to live with Tabitha, but
perhaps when I get used to knowing it's really mine and--genuine, I'll
find ways to spend it. I--I thank you. It's nice to have an Uncle
Jerry."

"It's nice to have a Niece Gloriana, too," he answered gruffly,
clearing his throat with much gusto; and as there seemed to be nothing
further to say, the trio turned from the lonely pesthouse, and silently
climbed the hill toward town.

CHAPTER XIII

THE ROBBERS AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE

"Billiard, did you ever see a ghost?"

It was almost a week since the bank robbery had occurred, and still no
clue as to the identity of the robbers had been found, although posses
were still searching the country, determined to catch them if such a
thing were possible. But the excitement of the event had already died
down in the youthful minds of Silver Bow, and other topics of
conversation absorbed their attention.

"Naw," answered Bill