He pulled the section of wall closed again. Better to wait a few minutes until he was sure the man would not see him climbing from the building.
“Ronnie! Oh, hey, Ronnie!” he heard Bill’s voice. It seemed to be coming from the direction of their office. The suddenness of his friend’s voice made Ronnie jump. He had seemed so far away from his normal, everyday life during the past twenty minutes.
He found Bill wandering slowly up the cobbled road while he called Ronnie’s name every few minutes. “Where in tarnation have you been?” he demanded when Ronnie reached him. “I got through working, so I thought I’d come join you.”
“Come on down to our office and I’ll tell you all about it!” Ronnie exclaimed. “And, boy, will your eyes pop when you hear about it.”
Bill’s eyes didn’t pop when he had heard Ronnie’s story, but he certainly was as excited about the find as his friend. “Golly, maybe we’ve got something real important at last. Let’s see it, Ronnie.”
They sat down together at the desk, and Ronnie placed the old book before them. It was old—very old. Its leather-bound cover was warped from water and age. Heavy rains down through the years had found their way to the book’s resting place, and drop by drop had soaked through its pages.
Carefully Ronnie opened the book. The long columns of figures, page after page of them, were still legible despite the water damage. “Doesn’t look very exciting,” Bill said. “There’s nothing but numbers and entries like a bank book.”
“But then why would it be hidden in the chimney?” Ronnie asked as he continued to turn the pages. “That old office is full of papers just like this.” His voice showed his disappointment.
He had almost reached the last page when he exclaimed, “Look! Writing! It looks like a diary!”
“Oh, boy!” Bill exclaimed in excitement. “Now maybe we’re getting somewhere.” He pulled the volume closer so he could see it better. Ronnie began to read aloud while Bill followed the words with his eyes.