Dick’s face changed color. He had not expected that Sandy would blurt out about that discovery.
“I should have told you,” he apologized. “I——”
“A pit in the cellar!” Scott gasped. “I don’t understand.”
“Under the floor,” explained Dick. “The planking is loose. A hole—quite a large hole there. Frazer evidently knew about it; probably had it dug. Those burlap sacks the Mekewai brothers brought up that night must have come from that hole; been hidden there.”
The factor mumbled incoherently, staring at the two young men opposite. He sank into his chair again, brought out a handkerchief and mopped his perspiring face.
“A pit, you say? Under the floor! Well, good gracious! How——”
“That isn’t all. You might as well hear the rest of it,” Dick interrupted, glaring at Sandy. “We have pretty good reasons to suspect that Frazer hired the Mekewai brothers to get those sacks. Frazer’s loot, we believe. Probably gold. Two other persons know all about the sacks, too—Wolf Brennan and Toby McCallum.”
“A conspiracy!” exploded the factor. “What else have you found out?”
“Nothing, except that we know the Mekewai brothers buried the loot somewhere.”
In great agitation, the factor filled and lit his pipe. He puffed for a moment in silence.