Part 26 (1/2)

'I--I--I didn't know,' stammered poor Tricksy

'What is it?' cried the others, pressing round to look

'It's one of the orders that were stolen,' said Allan

'Tell them where you found it, Tricksy,' said Hamish

'It was in the box-roo baskets are kept,' said Tricksy 'I went to see if Reggie's knife was in the pocket of his old great-coat, and when I pulled it off the shelf this fluttered down'

'Well,' said Allan, while the others were duether It wasn't _ere the thieves!'

Every one looked at the order, and turned it round, and examined the back of it, but there was no clue to the h search of the box-rooht'

'Take ie considerately 'Those who haven't ponies will have to walk Don't begin the search until we are all there!'

When the walkers reached Ardnavoir they found the others standing guard at the door of the box-roo open the door; and they all burst in

All the garments were taken down fro was to be found Every pocket was turned out; but the contents were only pebbles, and bits of string, and pieces of dried seaweed

All the fishi+ng baskets were opened and peeped into, and turned upside down and shaken, but without result

Afterwards they pulled out the boxes that were ranged against the wall, and looked behind them, but no postal orders were found

'This box is unfastened,' cried Tricksy; 'let's look inside it'

'Do you think we should do that,' deht object'

'Can't stop to think of that in a case of necessity,' replied Reggie, and Marjorie's hands were soon in the trunk

Furs sly of camphor, some old chair covers, then a quantity of frocks and boys' suits grown too s there,' said Marjorie, craain

'These other trunks are all locked,' said Reggie, trying them one after the other

'They'll have to be opened when the police come,' observed Hamish

Marjorie and Allan looked at each other

'Do you think we ought to bring the police back at this time?' asked Marjorie in an undertone

Allan sat down on a box, and the others all followed his exaot to consider what's to be done about this discovery,' began Allan 'The first question is, have you showed the order to Pater or Mother already, Hamish?'