“All hands on deck bright and early in the morning!” commanded Agnes gayly. “Wear your old clothes!”
As Nalbro’s visit was drawing to an end it was planned to have a little gathering of friends at the Corner House that evening, and soon after supper the young people began to arrive.
The jolly little affair passed off successfully. By a mighty effort only, Agnes restrained herself from telling of the treasure she had fully persuaded herself was buried in the cellar.
When all had departed save Luke and Neale and while they were taking their leave of Ruth and Agnes, Ruth suddenly exclaimed:
“Hark! I hear something!”
“Where?” asked her sister.
“In the cellar! Listen!”
They all listened amid tense silence.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE CAPTURE
There was no mistake about it—a noise was audible in the cellar of the Corner House. It was not an insistent noise, rather it was a subdued one, as though the cause of it, whether man or beast, was desirous of concealing something.