“Shall I help you?” questioned Hiram, anxiously.
“No, it’s out now,” was the answer.
“Good.”
Bruce was covered with dust and cobwebs. He scrambled to his feet breathless, but his eyes were fairly snapping from some intense excitement.
“Where’s your cap?” asked Hiram, noticing that his friend was bareheaded.
“Oh, that’s all safe,—and everything else!” cried Bruce, and he unbuttoned his coat and revealed his cap all wadded up. “Just look at that!” he shouted and he opened the cap. Within it rested a great heap of jewelry, blazing with crystal sparks of radiance.
“The diamonds!” gasped the astounded Hiram.
“I guess so!” answered Bruce. “The bargain with the jeweler was five thousand dollars’ reward. As my partner, Hiram Dobbs, I shall have the pleasure of handing you over just half of it,—two thousand five hundred dollars!”