"Can you
open it? I claim a third share of the diamonds!"
"Give me the box," said Dick, also a bit excited. When he got it in his
hands he, too, ran his finger nail over the engraved brass. Several tiny
clicks followed.
"There must be some opening beneath the brass lining," he said.
"Take it to the window, and perhaps you'll be able to see something
more," suggested Sam.
Dick did as advised, and, with his brothers gathered close beside him,
worked over the money casket for fully quarter of an hour.
"It seems to click, and that's all," he said disappointedly. "If I could
only----Oh!"
Dick stopped short. His finger had run across the lining in a certain
way. There were three clicks in rapid succession, and on the instant one
of the brass plates of the box flew back, revealing a tiny compartment
behind it, not over a quarter of an inch in depth.
"No diamonds there," said Tom, his face falling. "Full of emptiness."
"No, here is a sheet of parchment," returned Dick, pulling it forth. "A
map!" he added, as he unfolded it.
Pages:
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