"Now we've got you!" hissed Bulger.
At that critical moment for Dick the gardener and the footman came on the scene and sprang to the boy's assistance. The gardener seized Bulger and the footman nabbed Parker, compelling them to release Dick. The boy then assisted the gardener in securing the escaped convict, and they had their hands full doing it. The butler was able to subdue Parker alone. Bulger was bound with the rope, and he was furious at his capture, not to speak of the loss of the money he believed he had come into. The young New Yorker then called the attention of the butler and the gardener to the bags of money lying on the ground.
"They came out of the roots of that tree, and as this property is mine, the money is mine, too, unless somebody can establish a mighty strong claim to it. It has evidently been hidden there for a great many years. The person who put it there is doubtless dead, else he would have reclaimed it long ago. I shall take charge of it by right of ownership in the property," said Dick, who at once set about gathering together the six bags Bulger had brought to light, while the ruffian hurled imprecations at him as he watched him. Dick then hunted for more, and found six additional bags. The weight of the whole was more than even the three of them could carry, had they not been embarrassed by the two prisoners, so Dick told the men to take the rascals to the house and lock them up while he would remain in charge of the money.
Then came a fresh difficulty. Bulger refused to walk.
"Return to the house, William, and get Mr. Mason to telephone to the village for the constables," said Dick. "I'll see that Parker doesn't get away."
So the butler departed on his errand. He was back in twenty minutes, accompanied by Mr. Mason and a neighboring farmer, who had called at the house. The prisoners were taken to the road where the automobile stood. Then the twelve bags of money were carried and put in the vehicle. Leaving the two servants to walk, the rest of the party proceeded to the house in the vehicle. Bulger and Parker were locked up in an outhouse to await the arrival of the constable, while the money was taken into the house and displayed before the astonished eyes of the ladies.
The money-bags were then opened and found to contain gold eagles of a date about the time of the War of the Rebellion, and being counted footed up $120,000.
"What a lucky boy you are!" Madge said to him, after supper.
"I hope I am," he replied.
"Hope!" she exclaimed, in surprise. "Why, you are, with all that money."