" cried the old hermit, excitedly. "I
said they had taken the cup, either to sell it, or in a spirit of
boyish mischief. And now you'll believe me, because here we find it
hidden under the floor of their cabin. The young rascals--to add to
their offense by trying to deceive us so! Do your duty, Mr. Jeems; I
will prosecute them to the limit of the law!"

Frank began to feel anxious. He could see that Mr. Dennison meant what
he was saying. Even the recovery of his property had apparently not
softened his heart as might have been expected.

All then depended on the constable. If he showed a disposition to
assert his authority there would be an untold volume of trouble, and
their vacation plans would be "all messed up," as Jerry would say.

"Mr. Dennison," said Frank, trying to keep his voice steady, "I am
glad that you have found your lost golden cup; but I want to tell you,
sir, none of us knows the least thing about it, nor how it happened to
be in that hole."

"A likely story, boy," sneered the other, "which may and may not be
believed by the justice of the peace when you are brought before him.
Evidence no stronger than this has hung men before now."

"Whew!" gasped Bluff, startled more than he would have cared to admit
upon hearing the vindictive old hermit talk in that strain.

Jerry and Will were both indignant.

"When we first came here," said the former, "we tripped so many times
over that loose plank that we raised it up to settle the earth
underneath. There was certainly no gold cup lying there then where
you just now found it, I give you my word on that, sir!"

"Certainly not," agreed Mr. Dennison, "because at that time it was
safe under my roof. But I want you to notice, Mr. Jeems, that they
admit knowing of this hole under the loose plank. It made a very good
hiding-place for valuable property, as you can see."

"Yes, sir," suddenly spoke up Frank, "and apparently this is not the
first time it has been used for that same purpose. When we looked we
found this silver coin there, a part of an old yellow envelope, and
this fragment of what seems to have once been a baby's shoe."

He picked the several things up as he mentioned them, for they had
been lying on a little shelf, where Frank himself had placed them days
before. Watching Mr. Dennison's face, Frank saw it turn white as the
eyes of the old man were focussed on that poor little remnant of what
had once been a baby's shoe.

Involuntarily the o