" asked Billie of the portero.

"None, senor; but Donna Lucia would like to see you in the
library."

"What is the matter? Is Santiago worse?"

"No, senor. He is sleeping quietly. I could not say what she
wants, but she seemed considerably disturbed."

"Better go up alone, Billie," said Donald. "If we are needed, you
can call us. We'll wait here in the patio for a few minutes
before we turn in."

Billie ran up the stairs and tapped at the library door. He was
immediately admitted by Lucia and the door was closed behind him.

"It is getting to be a good deal of a family affair," laughed
Adrian.

"Yes," replied Donald, with a grin. "I wonder where Josie and Mr.
Black are?"

Adrian colored.

"I don't know why you should have thought of them!"

"Oh," replied Donald nonchalantly, "speaking of family affairs
naturally reminded me that you----"

"Oh, Don!" came Billie's voice, breaking in upon the
conversation.

"Yes. What is it?"

"Come up here, the both of you! Quick!"

The boys ran up the stairs two steps at a time.

"In here," and Billie held the library door open. "I've something
I want to show you."

He led the way to the table, and there, under the glow of the
lamp, stood a brass-bound box about eight or nine inches cube.

CHAPTER XXV.

DONALD IS KIDNAPED.

"Great Scott!" was the spontaneous exclamation of both the
newcomers. "Where did it come from?"

"You tell," replied Billie. "Lucia says it was not here an hour
ago. Neither has any one been in the room so far as she knows."

"Has she been here all the time?" asked Adrian.

"No, she was with Josie in her room for a time; but the door into
the patio was locked."

"Some one might have come in through the window."

"A fat chance, isn't there!" laughed Billie, pointing to the only
window in the room which was protected with long and heavy iron
bars, set so closely together that a child would have had trouble
in squeezing through--much less a man.

"Does look a little difficult," replied Adrian.

"Worse than difficult. Impossible," was Donald's comment.

"Did you hear any noise?" asked Billie of Lucia.

"None whatever."

"And you have never seen the box before?"

Lucia wrinkled her brows and thought deeply.

"Do you know," she finally said, "I have a sort of a dim
recollection that, away back in my childhood somewhere, I have
seen it or one just like it."

"Away back in your childhood," laughed Donald, "couldn't have