terious rumors of a cave in which a robber band
had hidden booty did not lessen it.

Will Spencer while pleased at the renewed activity was by no means sure
that it would help his search.

"Think we'll have to push on back to our cornfield and do some exploring
from the old bed of the lake back to its source, Glen," said he. "Gold
is nothing to us. What we want is water."

"Supposing some of these scouts should find all that bullion, you'd
think differently," said Glen.

Spencer laughed.

"You're having a good vacation about it," he said. "We'll stay this week
out since we're both having such a good time. Next week you push your
Uncle Bill and his billy cart back to Ryder's farmhouse and we begin
over again."

"Any time you say," agreed Glen. "Here's Goosey looking as if he was
excited about something."

"Found the treasure, son?" asked Will.

"Not yet," admitted Goosey. "But I've got an idea."

"When you're looking for treasure look for signs of old water-courses.
If you find one, follow it along and see if it leads to a spring."

"What good'll that do?" asked Goosey.

"Twenty dollars' worth," replied Jolly Bill. "Twenty dollars in coin of
the realm. This old buried treasure may be in such shape that you can't
cash it. My money will be straight goods."

"Guess I'll find the gold the Indians stole," said Goosey. "I've got a
scheme, leastways Matty's got one, and he's letting me in on it."

It was not until next day that Goosey, under pressure from Chick-chick,
disclosed more of Matty's wonderful scheme.

"You know, Matty's read a lot about detecting things and he knows all
about how to do it."

"Yes, we ought to know about that, Goosey. See how he found the bread
box."

"Well, he admits he slipped up there. But this time it's different. He
says he ain't soft enough to suppose Brick Mason is giving out
information to help people find the treasure when--"

"Hold on, Goosey. Thought Matt didn't believe there was any treasure. He
believes whole thing fake--Matt does."

"Well, after he talked to the deputy sheriff and found out there was a
big reward offered he changed his mind. He says it ain't reasonable the
Bankers' Association would offer a reward just for nothing. So then he
says, of course Brick Mason's chart is a blind. Brick wants everybody to
be wasting their time on a wrong scent while he goes after the real
thing."

"Real clever; Matty is. Wish he was as white as Brick."

"Well, Matt's c