“Boys, while I keep them covered, you take the ropes and tie them. Slip the handcuffs on those two big fellows, and tie the one with the lantern. Hang the lantern where we can have light.” The chief was in full control of the situation.
“Chief,” whispered Frank while the men performed their duties. “Let us four go up there and get the box of jewels. I know where they are buried—in the grape arbor!”
“Sure,” the chief acquiesced in the scheme. “Take the boys and go along. Here is a box of matches and here is a flashlight,” and he slipped a long cylinder out of his pocket, handing it to Frank.
Immediately the four boys started along the trail leading to the barn, through the barnyard, and thence up toward the grape arbor by the dilapidated old farmhouse. The flashlight helped them on the way.
Not a word passed between the boys as they filed, Indian fashion, through the long weeds. It was only when they reached the grape arbor that anything was said. It was Frank who spoke:
“I wonder why Marmette tried to pull such a stunt as that? Yet, of course he didn’t know we were standing there listening to all of it.”
“Just the same, Frank,” Lanky argued the matter, “if we had not been there his story would not have gotten him anywhere. That fellow didn’t believe it—wasn’t he going to drown Jed?”
At this moment they were at the entrance to the grape arbor. Frank flashed the light under the dark place and saw that the stone was still in place!
Frank started the work post haste.
“Paul, you and Ralph pull that flagstone aside. There is a new hole right there and the box is in there.”