CHAPTER IX.
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Never in their life had the boys seen so much money at one time.
They could scarcely believe the evidence of their eyes.
But it was certainly money--genuine wealth--heaps of it, and, for all the outside world might know, it was theirs.
Nick Collins sat staring at it blankly, as if dazed. Frank looked frightened.
“Nick, it’s money!”
“Of course it is, Frank.”
“What shall we do with it?”
Nick began to pick up the scattered bills. As he piled them one upon another he counted them.
He restored them to their original package, tied them up with trembling fingers, and said:
“Frank, it’s strange!”
“Nick, I should say so.”
“Do you know how much there is in that package?”
“About one million dollars.”
“Not quite as much as that,” said Nick, smiling.
“Half a million?”
“No, five thousand dollars.”
“And we’ve got it?”
Nick looked around cautiously.
“Yes, Frank, and we want to be careful that no one sees us with it.”
“They’ll rob us of it, you mean?”
“Yes, or think that we have stolen it.”
“Well, of all strange things!”
“It’s strange, all right; but I begin to see the light.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“It’s only an idea I have.”
“It may be the right one.”
“Possibly.”
“Tell me about it, Nick.”
“Well, the first man that passed by here had the yellow package.”
“Yes.”
“He seemed to hold it so that any one expecting to meet him would see it.”
“It looked so.”
“He finally got tired of waiting.”
“Why?”
“Probably he thought that the person he expected wouldn’t come to-night.”
“On account of the rain?”
“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Nick.
“Then what happened?”
“He went away.”
“Losing the package as he went?”
“Without knowing it--yes.”
“What about the second man?”
“He appeared a few minutes later.”
“Yes, Nick.”
“He looked around as if expecting to find some one here.”
“I noticed that.”
“He discovered me.”
“Yes; and then?”
“Well, I was not the person he expected to see, probably, but he eyed me closely. The minute that he saw the package he seemed to be satisfied that he had found out what he had come for. It was not me or any one else he was after, but a package.”
“What did he do next?”
“Just picked up the package and scooted.”
“Leaving the money in its place?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Well, I think that the yellow package probably contained valuable papers or something of that sort, found or stolen by the first man. The other was anxious to recover them and pay for them, and he came ready to do so. He supposed that I must be authorized to receive the money, as I had the yellow package, and would not listen to any explanations, but thrust the money upon me.”
“Nick, I believe you are right,” cried Frank.
“Anyway, here is the money. It isn’t ours. It is a large amount, and it will be sought for.”
“What shall we do with it?”
“Keep it for a while. One of the men may return here to-night or to-morrow night. It is our duty to watch for him.”
“And if he does not?”
“Then I will take the money to some bank or public officer and have him advertise for the owner by explaining how it came into our possession.”
This plan was adopted. Nick stowed the money safely away in an inner pocket of his coat, and then they went out again on the veranda.
It was agreed that they would say nothing to Will of the money that night, and they did not disturb him from his slumbers.
Nick and Frank took turns at remaining awake, but the alternate watch until daylight resulted in no return of either of the men of the mysterious packages.
From his last doze Nick awoke as much mystified about the money as ever.
He had dreamed of murder, fire, and thieves. The possession of the money was a burden of care and responsibility to him.
“Five thousand dollars! Why, that is the price the notary paid Admiral Semmes for this house,” he heard the dozing Frank murmur half consciously.
But he noted the coincidence carelessly.
Clever boys sometimes fail to appreciate the importance of trifles.