“Well, I’m glad it was one of the Corner House girls who actually solved the mystery,” said Ruth.
And the mystery was solved.
The wealth did not amount to as much as perhaps Neale and Agnes in their wild dreams had dared to hope, but it was a substantial sum. It would have been a small fortune to the two tramps had they been able to secure it for themselves.
“What shall we do with it?” asked Tess, as they saw the piles of gold and paper money.
“Buy a new auto the first thing!” cried Agnes.
“No, we must give it to whoever owns it,” said Ruth. “Put it all back, Luke. We must take it to Mr. Howbridge.”
“Yes,” he agreed, “that’s the only thing to do.”
The girls’ guardian was greatly surprised.
“I never imagined there was anything to that queer story,” he said. “It wasn’t at all like Mr. Stower to do something he didn’t tell me. But I suppose he had his reasons. Well, now to find out whose money it is, and if there are no heirs—well, it goes to the Corner House girls, of course.”
“And boys!” added Ruth. “For they helped us find it.”