Lighted only by candles, Florence began prodding and thumping with a chisel until at last she brought forth a hollow sound. A section of the trunk’s false bottom was pried up, and then they started back. For, in that dim light, small eyes appeared to gleam up at them.
The spell lasted for but a moment. Then Florence’s hand went down and came out full of gems.
“A regular treasure chest!” There was awe in the lady cop’s voice.
The next instant she had taken something from beneath her coat and was pinning it on Florence’s breast. It was her detective badge.
“Now,” she exclaimed, “that is where it belongs!”
“No! No!” The girl removed the badge and returned it to its place. “I had all the luck. It will be quite different in the future.”
“Who knows?” said the lady cop quite soberly.
The trunk proved to be the hiding place for a noteworthy collection of gems. The police had taken it in a raid and, quite ignorant of its value, had sold it. Some of the jewels were returned to their rightful owners. Several remained unclaimed. So Florence, Petite Jeanne, Tillie, and the lady cop are all richer by a jewel or two; while the “poor little rich girl” regained her standing in her family by returning the much prized bauble to its place in the collection.
The gypsy drama, with Petite Jeanne playing a leading role, enjoyed a long run. In the meantime, Florence was not idle. Fresh adventures came to her. Was the lady cop one of her companions? Was Petite Jeanne? Was Tillie? Did Betty come back? You will find the answer to all these questions in our next book, to be entitled The Golden Circle.