e the proceeds of some
robbery, all right. I'm sure of that. Smugglers don't work the game that
way--bury the stuff in the sand. It's a robbery!"

"Well, perhaps you're right," assented Allen, as he bent over the
cipher.

"I'll have another go at that with you," said Will, as he looked over
his copy.

But the further efforts of the boys, and the girls, too, to decipher the
code, were unavailing. The queer paper held fast to its mystery, if
indeed mystery it concealed. It did not give it up as had the box with
the secret bottom.

The day when the diamonds were discovered was an exciting one, and the
excitement had not calmed down when evening came. Mr. Nelson had taken
charge of the precious stones, and it had been decided not to say
anything about them, even to the servants in the house.

"And I don't believe I'd take one to the village jeweler," was the
opinion of Betty's father. "As a matter of fact, I don't believe he
would be any better judge of the stones than I am, and he certainly
would talk about them."

"That's right," Mollie agreed. "The folks here want to know what you had
for breakfast and what you're going to eat for luncheon and dinner. I
suppose they can't help it."

"No, the natives haven't much to do," affirmed Betty, "except to talk
about the summer cottagers. But we'll keep quiet about the diamonds, at
least down here."

"If the natives only knew what we know!" exclaimed Grace. "Think of
having dug up buried treasure from the sand!"

"Poor Old Tin-Back would be heartbroken if he ever heard of it," said
Amy, gently. "All his life he has dreamed of finding treasure, or
ambergris or something, and here we come along and take it right from
under his eyes."

"Poor old man," sighed Betty. "He is a dear, and so honest. He brought
some crabs to-day, hard ones, for the shedders aren't around yet. And he
was so careful to have every one alive. He held them up for me to see
them wiggle."

"I can't bear them!" exclaimed Grace, making a wry face.

"You mean uncooked," observed Mollie. "I notice you take your share
when the salad is passed."

"Oh, well, that's different," Grace returned.

"What are you going to do with the diamonds?" asked Betty of her father,
when they were gathered around the sitting room table, after supper.

"I haven't fully decided," he said. "I want to make some inquiries in
Boston, first, as to whether or not there has been a robbery."

"That's what I'll do, too," said