“Rother and Meggs!” fairly hissed Neale, giving a fair imitation of a stage villain.
They laughed at him, but it might be noticed that before Luke and Neale left that night, Ruth went about looking well to the fastenings of all doors and casements.
“We’ll be over early and have a look for the white star as the guiding mark to the gold,” promised Luke, as he and Neale left.
Had Tess and Dot a remote suspicion that a treasure-hunt was in progress that day they never would have gone on the little picnic that Ruth and Agnes arranged for them with Sammy and Linda. But, as it was, the little girls departed in blissful ignorance.
Then a search of the cellar was made, a systematic search by six young people who carried lanterns and flashlights.
“We might as well look for the star first of all,” declared Agnes, as they started in.
“And where would you suggest it might be found?” asked Neale.
“Somewhere around the walls,” Agnes answered.
“The box of gold is probably buried in the cellar floor—it’s mostly of dirt and could have been easily dug up,” Ruth said. “Then, to make sure the location would not be lost, a white star was painted on the side wall—somewhere. We must look for the white star! Otherwise we’ll have to excavate the entire cellar bottom.”
Accordingly a search for the white star was made. It was no easy search, as the cellar was large and rambling. But six pairs of eyes divided the task and the side walls were thoroughly gone over.