in his hand.

"Catch hold here, fellows, and pull!" he gasped.

Chet and Lance obeyed. With a strong heave they brought the weight
ashore. It certainly _was_ a lard can; but the cover was soldered on.

"How we going to cut it open?" demanded Lance, eagerly, as Billy crawled
out on shore again.

"We're not going to open it," declared Chet, decisively. "This can is
going directly to police headquarters. And all of us want to keep our
mouths close shut about it until the police have examined the contents."

And this he impressed rigidly upon the rest of the party when Billy had
dressed and the three boys went back to the landing. Unfortunately
Dorothy's pin was not recovered. But, as she said herself, she didn't
mind that, seeing that her loss of the pin brought about the discovery
of the buried treasure.

"It beats Captain Kidd, and 'Treasure Island,' and Poe's 'Gold Bug,' all
rolled into one!" declared Bobby, as a final comment upon the whole
adventure.

The party was eager to get across to the city again and deliver the
sealed can to the authorities. So the picnic was considerably shortened.
Nevertheless, the Central High Treasure Hunting Company, Limited, was
pronounced an overpowering success!

CHAPTER XXIV

THE BIG DAY

But the boys and girls of Central High learned nothing that day about
the contents of the sealed lard can. Whatever was discovered inside it
the police kept very close about.

Chet had a private interview with the Chief of the Centerport Bureau of
Detectives, and so did Billy Long. Short and Long wished that he could
get through with police interference in his affairs, and grumbled some;
but the detectives treated him pretty nicely this time, and the two boys
went home wondering what would be the outcome of the "treasure hunting
expedition."

"Just the same, we found something!" ejaculated Chet. "And it is
important, I feel sure."

"Wish it was the money stolen from Stresch & Potter. The firm has
offered five hundred dollars reward for the recovery of the money and
the apprehension of the burglars," said Short and Long.

"Say! that would be great for you," his friend said. "Wouldn't it?"

"We'd take Alice out of that factory and let her finish High," said
Billy, quickly. "That's what we'd do at the Long domicile."

"I hope it _is_ the stolen money, then," said Chet.

"Hot chance of that," scoffed Billy. "Those fellows that 'burgled' the
store got away weeks ago and have