Phil and Jimmy were all set to go back and examine the well to see if it was still in good working condition, and if they could find the water source and perhaps get the well into good order. When they saw Penny looking her fresh, well-groomed self again, they went back, accompanied by Pat and Mal.
“It beats me,” Pat said. “I never knew there was a well of any kind on this property.”
“I’ve heard rumors,” Mal said. “There’s always been a lot of talk in the village about buried treasure in the bottom of an old dried-up well around here.”
“I know,” Pat said, “and from time to time when the house was empty, people who had no business trespassing, came here and tried to find that well. Had a lot of trouble with prowlers,” he told Phil. “Your Uncle John did. But nobody ever found a well.” He stopped and stared at the hole. “Well, now, here it is. And now I wouldn’t be surprised at anything. I’ve lived around here all my life and never believed there was a well here. I think we should caution everybody to try and keep this a secret so we won’t have any prowlers coming around, and we should get busy and try to dig up that old well to see if there really is any treasure there.”
“My gosh!” said Jimmy. “Do you really think there’s treasure there? What kind of treasure is it supposed to be, Pat? Were there ever pirates around here? Won’t Alf and Brook nearly die with excitement when they hear about this!”
Phil smiled. “I’m afraid we can’t let you say anything to them, or anybody else, until we investigate this thoroughly and see if there is any foundation to the rumor. I agree with Pat, since we don’t need the well for water, I think we should dig it up at once and solve this mystery of buried treasure.”
Jimmy was all for going right back for picks and shovels, so Phil let him go. Phil’s curiosity was aroused and he could understand Jimmy’s enthusiasm. But Phil felt quite sure that they were not on the trail of buried treasure.
“The Lodge was supposed to be haunted,” he said to Mal, “and we proved it wasn’t. Now we’re about to prove that there’s nothing of any value at the bottom of this old well.”
Jimmy came running back then with both hands full of an assortment of picks, shovels and garden spades. They found that it was exceedingly slow work since they first had to move the pile of old lumber and debris that surrounded the old well. When they finally started digging they found the stones that formed the well were impossible to move. Pat guessed that the old well had been there a hundred years or longer. Jimmy suggested that they use dynamite.
After two hours of concentrated labor Phil commented, “I don’t think even buried treasure is worth all this effort.”