CHAPTER 16 Treasure
The Cubs were reluctant to tell Mr. Kain their secret, lest he feel thatthey had overstepped themselves in investigating the Castle.
"Robin Hood's Strong Box is just a name for a hiding place," Danexplained vaguely.
"Then one of you boys shot this arrow."
The Cubs looked from one to another. Each boy shook his head.
"A mysterious archer has been annoying us a bit by shooting arrows duringour rehearsals," Mr. Hatfield explained. "This shaft looks as if it mayhave come from his bow."
"But how did he know about Robin Hood's Strong Box?" Midge muttered. "Theguy must be psychic. Either that, or he sneaks around listening to ourconversation."
"I am quite certain this arrow was not lying near my car when I droveinto the grounds today," Mr. Kain said. "It has been shot in the lasthour or so."
"It's probably a joke," Chips commented. He wished fervently that thebank employee would leave and be done with his prying questions. Once hewas out of the way, the Cubs could organize an intensive search!
"You boys seem to know what is meant by Robin Hood's Strong Box. I ratherthink you're trying to keep something from me."
"There's nothing mysterious about it," Brad said, reluctantly deciding toreveal the hiding place. "Robin Hood's Strong Box is merely a name wegave to a niche in the fireplace."
"Inside the Castle?"
"Well, yes."
"Then you have been roving around inside again?"
"No, we haven't," Brad replied indignantly. "We found the hiding placelong ago."
"Show it to me," the bank employee requested.
The Cubs would have preferred to do their investigating in his absence.But there was no escape.
Unwillingly, they walked with him back to the Castle. Dan noticed thatthe broken window had not yet been repaired and remarked about it.
"I've ordered new panes put in," Mr. Kain said. "Workmen have been veryslow. Rest assured though, the work will be done no later than tomorrow.I am quite annoyed to find so much activity hereabouts."
The Cubs would have entered through the window, but the bank officialwould not permit it.
Instead, he unlocked the front door. A faint odor of smoke still lingeredin the cool empty rooms, but this Mr. Kain did not notice.
"Now show me Robin Hood's Strong Box," he directed. "I can't believe thismessage is anything but a joke. Nevertheless, I want to see the hidingplace that is meant."
As the Cubs led him toward the massive fireplace, Dan brought up therear. Glancing from one Cub to another, he noticed that Ross was missingfrom the group.
"What became of Ross?" the boy whispered to Midge.
"Why, he was with us when we started for the Castle."
"I thought so. He's wandered off somewhere."
Curious to learn what had become of the boy, Dan went to one of the grimywindows and looked out.
Ross was not to be seen anywhere on the grounds.
"Queer," he reflected. "I'd have thought ordinary curiosity would havemade him come with the other Cubs."
"No one can tell what Ross will do, or where he'll go," Midge said with ashrug. "That lad is unpredictable."
The Cubs gathered in a half circle about the fireplace. Brad explained toMr. Kain how the chimney hiding place had been found.
Before he could search the niche, the bank employee crouched down andsquinted up the dark hole.
"Nothing here," he announced.
"You can't see the niche," Brad told him. "But if you run your hand upagainst the wall, you can feel it."
Mr. Kain obeyed instructions.
"Still nothing here," he declared. He withdrew his arm and brushedcobwebs from his coat sleeve. "Well, it's no more than I expected."
One and all, the Cubs were disappointed. They had hoped--indeed, had beenconfident that a surprise awaited them.
"Our Castle ghost has an unpleasant sense of humor," Midge complained."First he shoots arrows into the target just to show us how much betterhe is at archery than we are. And now this!"
Mr. Kain asked the boys several questions concerning the strange personwho had appeared from time to time.
"We think he may have been the one who started the fire," Brad said. "Sofar, we have no proof."
"That might be somewhat difficult to obtain at this late date," the bankemployee replied.
Smiling in a more friendly way, he turned to leave.
"Come along, boys," he said as they would have loitered. "I want to lockup the house."
Mr. Holloway, Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs followed the bank man to thedoor.
Without being noticed, Dan and Brad held back. Both were unwilling toleave the Castle without investigating the chimney niche themselves.
Dan ran his hand up the wall, groping carefully about.
"Nothing there?" Brad demanded impatiently.
"Not a thing," the younger boy replied in disgust. "Mr. Kain was right.Say--wait!"
As Dan spoke, his hand brushed against a tiny object far back in theniche.
In an attempt to grasp it, he succeeded in pushing it farther back,almost beyond reach.
"What have you found?" Brad asked eagerly.
"Don't know yet," Dan grunted. "My fingers touched something. Thenwhatever it was slipped away from me."
At the outside door, Mr. Kain and the Cubs were waiting.
"Come on, Dan!" Midge called.
Paying no heed, the boy groped again in the chimney niche.
This time he was able to fasten his fingers about the object.
He could feel its soft covering, and something hard inside.
Aware that Dan had made a discovery, the other Cubs quickly returned tothe living room.
As they gathered about the hearth, the boy brought the object to light.
Held tightly in his hand was a small leather pouch with a drawstring.
"It seems Robin Hood's Strong Box does have something for us after all!"he declared triumphantly.
The leather bag evidently had not been long in the niche for it was onlyslightly soiled.
On either side were stamped strange red and black symbols.
"Gosh! What do you suppose it contains?" Fred demanded. "Treasure, I bet!Open it quick, Dan, and pour out the gold."
Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle Page 16
