“That box, of course,” he announced. “What’s the matter with you fellows? I guess you’ve been asleep while people have been stealing from you!”
Frank advanced to the table, curiosity dawning in his expression as he recognized the box.
“I don’t quite understand,” he remarked.
“Don’t?” resented Pep. “Well, you ought to. Look at that,” and he exhibited the bump on his head, received when one of the robbers had knocked him across the room and against the wall. “And that, too,” and Pep held up his chin so the red marks on his throat showed. “Then, too,” he continued, “half an hour ducking and diving in the cold waters of a creek at midnight is no grand fun, I can tell you!”
“Why, it looks as if our Pep has been up to something,” observed Jolly, coming to the table.
“I’ve been down in front of the seat of an automobile and half choked to death,” replied Pep tartly. “I say, Frank, it was a good thing that I didn’t run off and leave the place unprotected, as you fellows did when that fire broke out. Open the box and see if everything is all right.”
The appearance of the box and Pep’s story made Frank and the others grasp that he was discussing something of importance not yet fully explained.
“You had better commence at the beginning all over again, Pep,” Frank advised, “and let us know the whole story.”
It did not take Pep long to recite his recent adventures. He had an interested audience. Frank drew the key of the tin box from his pocket when Pep had concluded his story. He applied it to the lock.
“Oh, the mischief!” fairly shouted Pep, glancing into it to find that all it contained was a collection of pennies, nickels and dimes. “I’ve been fooled, after all. These fellows rifled the box in some way——”