But there was something else on the table besides the lantern. This
was a large tin box, the sort that valuable papers are usually kept
in, and at the sight of it, as Sandy gazed down into the secret room,
through the hole in the roof, the young farmer cried:
"There it is! There's Uncle Isaac's money box! The lost is found, and
now, if there's only the money and papers in it we'll not lose our
farm after all! The Lord be praised! If only the money is there!"
"You can soon tell!" remarked Russ. "Drop down in there and take a
look."
"What is it? What have you found?" called Mr. Pertell from the
ground. "We want to get the pictures."
"Wait a minute!" Sandy begged. "We've found----"
"Wait, don't tell them yet," suggested Russ. "It won't do to raise
the hopes of the old people, and then disappoint them. The box may be
empty."
"That's right," agreed Sandy. "I'll soon know, though." He hung by
his hands to the edge of the opening, and then dropped down into the
secret room, so strangely revealed.
"The box is locked!" he cried.
"Here's my hatchet--break it open," suggested the carpenter.
"Guess I might as well--no telling where the key would be," said
Sandy. With the hatchet he soon had lifted the cover of the box. Then
he gave a joyful cry.
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