Our hero did not reply. Instead he hurried forward several feet, and then gave a low cry.
“Porton has been here!” he exclaimed, and held up a half-burned cigarette.
It was not much of a clue, but it was something; and working on this all three of the youths searched the vicinity diligently. They soon came upon a somewhat flat rock, and all seized hold of this to cast it to one side.
“Hurrah!” came simultaneously from Dave and Roger, as they saw a large opening under where the stone had been placed.
Ben said nothing, but plunged his hand into the opening, to draw from it an instant later one of the cases that had contained the Enos miniatures. The other cases quickly followed.
“Are the miniatures in them?” questioned the senator’s son.
“That’s what I’m going to find out,” answered Ben.
The cases were fastened by several catches, 290 but these were quickly unfastened and the lids thrown open.
“Good! Good!” exclaimed Ben, and his face showed his intense satisfaction.
There before the eyes of the youths were nearly all of the wonderful collection of miniatures which Mr. Basswood had inherited. Only two were missing––those which the thieves had sold in New York.