Then it suddenly developed that all the young folks “wanted,” even Aurora. Now that they were to part company with the simians the curious creatures became at once more interesting than ever before. So they gathered about the wooden cage, some helping, some suggesting, and Dorothy seconding Elsa in the statement:
“If they’re to belong to this lovely child not a speck of dirt must be left. I’ve not taken out that sliding bottom of the cage but once, it fits too tight, and you’d have laughed to see how the dear pets watched me. Ugh! It does stick—dreadfully!” said Elsa, wrestling with the wooden slide.
“Here, girlie! Let me! You just keep the wretched beasts out of reach of me. I ought to help in this and you’ll hurt your hands. Let me, Elsa!”
As Gerald spoke he gave a strong pull on the false bottom and it yielded with a suddenness that sent him sprawling. But it wasn’t his mishap that caused that surprised cry from Elsa, nor the angry, answering one of the now excited monkeys. It was all she could do to prevent their springing upon Gerald who had so interfered with their belongings. For between the false and real bottoms of their cage was a considerable space; and in some ingenious fashion they had stored there all their cherished possessions—as well as those of their human neighbors. Missing thimbles, a plume from Chloe’s hat, Metty’s pen knife, thread, nails, buttons—anything and everything that had been missed and had captivated their apish fancy.
Elsa and Dorothy made a thorough search, compelling by their ridicule the “timid boys” to keep the animals off while they did so; and it was then that one more “mystery” was solved, one more miserable anxiety and suspicion laid to rest.
“Our money! Our money! It was they who ‘stole’ it, and gave us all our trouble! Oh! Mrs. Bruce, this is the most wonderful day ever was! I’m so excited I can hardly breathe—the money’s found—the money’s found!”
“My! But I’m glad! Does seem as if some wonderful things has happened this day, just as you say. So many ’t I’m getting real nervous. I hope nothing more will till I get over this. We said ’twas to be a ‘rest,’ this trip, and I haven’t never had so many upsets in the same length o’ time before. Land of love! What next? There’s wheels coming down the road and nobody’s been to get in provision, if it happens to be company to dinner. Mrs. Calvert hasn’t much sense that way. Seems sometimes as if she’d like to ask all creation to meals without regard to victuals. Peek under that tree. Can you see? Don’t it appear like the doctor’s rig? It is! And there’s a man with him—two men! As sure as preaching I’ll warrant you your Aunt Betty’ll ask these folks to dinner!”
Dorothy obediently “peeked.” Then stood up and rubbed her eyes. Then peeked once more and with a wild cry of delight bounded over the gang-plank to the bank beyond, straight into the arms of a gray, vigorous old man, whose coming was the most wonderful event of all that day’s strange happenings.