“One day Uncle David told me of the old house being empty and in the last stages of decay. We had visited the place with him, earlier, you see, and I knew something about the treasure room. He had always told me, though, that no money or thing of value would be found there. He said that I must work for all I got of him.
“He said, though, that I might find some good advice in the treasure room after he was dead. I did go there, with Tom, on my way to Chicago, after we left him, but discovered nothing. I had even forgotten the manner of getting into the treasure room. But when I found the two papers in Trumbull’s bag I at once drew the conclusion that the third paper must be in an old wallet Uncle had referred to as being in the old cupboard. I was pretty sure it would be found there, as you know. The only question in my mind was as to whether I should be able to get into the treasure room and make a search of it without tearing the house down. Tom did not know of this difficulty, and I never told him.”
“You’re telling me now!” laughed Tom.
“When we got to Yuma,” Don went on, “we were too busy dodging King to do much investigating at the old house. Trumbull must have told King about it, for he watched the place, as you know, and even dug there for treasure. Tom and I got separated on the way across, and King saw me while I was waiting for Tom to come up.
“When he did come, I left him there and went on down the river to connect with you. There was nothing Tom could be arrested for. Now, that’s how I got the money and the two papers, and also how I didn’t get the third paper!” the boy laughed, “and so we’ll talk about something else if you don’t mind.”
“But how are you ever to get this third paper, and how are you to get the treasure if you don’t?” asked Case.
“With your permission I’ll go on up with you to where Uncle used to live and search his old shack. The third paper may be there. Of course the bonds are what Uncle David referred to as ‘good advice’ in the treasure room. That was just like him, to call bonds ‘good advice.’ If I ever discover the third paper, I have no doubt it will tell me where to look for the bonds. He never thought of their being found in the manner Clay found them!”
“Where did you ever hear anything about a third paper?” asked Clay.
Don took the original papers holding the drawings out of the belt and held it up to the light.
“Did you see this line at the bottom?” he asked. Alex gave a start of surprise. He had studied every figure and letter on the paper and had seen no line at the bottom, yet there it was, plain to see when the paper was held up to the sun. The line read: