Even over the telephone the girl realized that her father was more startled than she expected him to be, His voice did not sound at all natural as he asked:
"Do you mean to tell me that everything that was in that box is lost, Janice? Everything?"
"Oh, Daddy!" choked the girl, "I put everything back before I closed the box—mamma's picture, and her diary, and all."
"There were other things—"
"Oh, yes! The jewelry and the photographs," said Janice.
"More than those," her father's hoarse voice said quickly. "I cannot explain to you now, my child. Didn't you know there was a false bottom in that box?"
"A false bottom to the treasure-box, Daddy?" she cried wonderingly. "A secret compartment."
"Oh! I didn't know—"
"No, of course not. I blame myself, my dear," he added, and she knew that he was striving to control his voice. "Do not cry any more. I will explain when come home."
"Oh, Daddy!"