At that moment Mr. Button appeared in the doorway of the kitchen and said, “Come into the house, boys.”
“Wait a minute, Mr. Button,” called John. “Come out here a minute.”
The man glanced hastily behind him and then turned quickly around the corner of the house. John at once joined him and in a low voice said, “We got the box.”
“Where is it?” whispered Mr. Button.
“Under my sweater.”
“Let me see it.”
Standing directly in the way so that no one coming from the house could see him, Mr. Button glanced quickly at the box and then said, “Keep it, John, and don’t let any one see it and guard it as if your life depended upon it.”
“Is that the box you were looking for?” whispered John.
“Yes. Now we’ll go into the house, or at least I shall. Perhaps you had better stay here with Fred until I call you or come out.”
George and Grant now had arrived, and laughingly the former said, “What’s the matter with you fellows? You’re all covered with dust and dirt.”