Part 35 (1/2)
”Thoughts like that just come to her. It's what you might call inspiration, or intuition,” laughed s.h.i.+rley.
”Why give it such a big name,” returned Bet. ”I simply had a hunch, and it worked out.”
”Just like that!” exclaimed Joy, as she tried to dance on the lame foot, snapping her fingers in time to the step.
”What's the next thing on the program, Bet?” asked Bob Evans. ”Have you a bulletin board with the adventures scheduled?”
”I wish you'd stop teasing me. It isn't my fault if I'm always getting into the middle of a problem.”
”Whose is it, Bet?” laughed her father.
”Yours, I think, Dad. You brought me up.” She slid an arm around her father's neck. ”And are you very much disappointed in me?”
”Fis.h.i.+ng for compliments?” Colonel Baxter pinched her rosy cheek.
”No, I only want a little appreciation,” she replied.
At that moment Billy Patten poked his head into the corridor.
”The old man at the tunnel. He says for the girls to come quick.”
”Something important has happened!” insisted Kit. ”Hurry up, let's go!”
Colonel Baxter hurried to his horse and followed after the girls. His mind was not, for the moment, on possible treasure, he was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the hills, their rugged outlines and the blazing sun that beat down upon them.
When they reached the summit, the girls spurred their horses across the flat.
What they saw was an excited little old man, waving his arms and dancing about a huge box.
As the girls approached, he cried.
”Come quickly. It's a bra.s.s-bound chest. It's the treasure!”
Tommy Sharpe pried the rusty lock, and as the cover was swung back, the girls gave a gasp of astonishment and dismay.
The chest was empty!
CHAPTER XIX
_A BRa.s.s BOUND CHEST_
At the sight of the empty chest, Professor Gillette opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. His face was white and drawn. And the girls were no less moved than he. All their hopes had been dashed to the ground.
Tears came to Bet's eyes. Angry tears! Why was it that they always had so many disappointments? Why couldn't the treasure have reposed in that chest ready for them? Why couldn't things have gone smoothly just for once?
”What a silly thing to do! To bury an empty chest!” Bet said in a protesting voice.
”But that's the trouble. Maybe it wasn't always empty. Maybe it was once full of gold and jewels,” sighed the professor wearily. He had planned on this treasure more than he realized at first. He thought of Alicia, his patient daughter, whose hope of recovery depended on his summer's work.