“What’s in it?” came Scoop’s natural inquiry.
“Bonds.”
“Liberty Bonds?”
“Twenty of them,” the girl said quietly, “worth a thousand dollars apiece.”
We stared at the speaker in sudden amazement. For we realized that twenty thousand dollars was a fortune.
“Grandfather and I have been to Oak Island a great many times. Once we camped there a week. And when it became necessary to-night to hide the bonds, to keep them from being stolen, the island was the only place he would consider.” [[116]]She took a long look into the darkness, in the direction of the left wooded shore. Evidently she recognized her surroundings, for she added in confidence: “We’ll soon be there. And I’m supposed to stay there, in hiding, until he comes for me.”
Scoop found his voice.
“Twenty thousand dollars!” he cried, staring at the box. He looked up quickly, his eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion. “You aren’t stringing us?”
The girl wearily shook her head.
“I’ve told you the truth, even to the amount of the bonds.”