"What's the matter?" inquired the scientist.
"Nothing," Hatch assured him, but again he laughed.
The heavy stone which had been pulled out of place was lifted up and forced back into position, and together they returned to the village, with the long-lost jewelry loose in their pockets.
"How did you do it?" asked Hatch.
"Two and two always make four," was the enigmatic reply. "It was merely a sum in addition." There was a pause as they walked on, then: "Don't say anything about finding this, or even hint at it in any way, until you have my permission to do so."
Hatch had no intention of doing so. In his mind's eye he saw a story, a great, vivid, startling story spread all over his newspaper about flaming phantoms and treasure trove--$100,000 in jewels. It staggered him. Of course he would say nothing about it--even hint at it, yet. But when he did say something about it----!
In the village The Thinking Machine found the constable.
"I understand some blood was thrown on you at the Weston place the other night?"
"Yes. Blood--warm blood."
"You wiped it off with your handkerchief?"