Part 28 (1/2)

No one stopped to question the probability of Barbara's deductions. Bob summoned a man who worked for him, sent a boy to get two more from Treasureholme, and, taking picks, shovels, and a coil of rope, drove off with the girls in Mr. A. Bubble as fast as they could go to the Indian burying ground. It was nearly dark when they reached there and sprang from the car, neither Bab nor Bob waiting for it to come to a full stop.

”William, bring me something I can drive in here for a marker,” Bob called to his man who was hurrying toward them from the direction of the woods.

”There's a fellow over there in the woods,” announced William. ”He was kind of hiding.”

”Never mind that. Let's get to work here.”

The two hands from Treasureholme arrived, and, the measurements having been taken, the men set to digging. Lanterns had been brought and when dark fell these were lighted and held by the girls.

In an hour's time the men had opened a hole six feet deep, as broad at the top, narrowing toward the bottom.

”It begins to look dubious,” said Bob. ”Say, Barbara, we'll try another way!”

Following Bob's directions, Bab placed one end of the steel tape in the middle of the big mound and again the exact distance was measured. Bob took the stake that William had brought up to measure with and drove it with the back of his shovel little by little down in the exact center of the hole he had dug. He had forced the stake down about three feet when he uttered an exclamation.

”What is it?” cried the girls in chorus.

”Maybe a stone. I hardly think it is,” and he began to dig frantically.

In a few moments came the shout: ”I've struck metal! There is something here!”

The girls danced with impatience, but a half hour went by before the men unearthed an iron box with bands of the same material about it and the cover soldered to the box to make it air tight.

Bab put her arms about Ruth and whispered:

”It will be all right now, Ruth. Oh, I'm so glad!” while the other girls laughed and shouted in their excitement.

It was the work of another half hour before the four men got a rope around the heavy box and, by the aid of the automobile, drew it out of the deep hole, after which, with great labor, it was got into the car.

Once at the house, it was left to Mrs. Presby, as the representative of the family, to say what should be done with the chest.

”Open it,” was the command.

This was not easily done, but when the work was finally accomplished, what a sight met their eyes!

There was at least a bushel of gold coins. There was valuable family plate. In a sealed receptacle they found a quant.i.ty of jewels and a bundle of papers. The papers Mrs. Presby put away until her husband should have an opportunity to go over them.

”There's a fortune here. I think Treasureholme need not be lost now,”

said Stevens.

”It comes too late,” said Mrs. Presby bitterly. ”Mr. Presby telephoned me after the close of the market that to-morrow would end all, as he and Robert could not meet their obligations when it opened in the morning.”