HKB
Fred. "Sometimes I think it wouldn't be so bad if more of us were built on your plan. Makes me think of a hickory nut stuck on two knitting needles."
"Don't stop for complimentary remarks," retorted John good-naturedly. "What we want is to find that little box. You begin on one side and I'll go on the other and we'll examine the four sides to see if there are any more sliding panels."
A hasty inspection, however, failed to reveal any concealed shelves. Next the boys inspected the floor. Several of the boards were loose, but the search was still unrewarded.
"I'm going up the ladder," suggested John.
"I've been up there," said Fred. "There isn't anything up there. I know there isn't. There isn't much hay and what there is is old and musty. I turned it all over with the pitch-fork. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," he added somewhat disconsolately.
"It doesn't make any difference," said John. "We're going ahead with our search. I think Mr. Button knew what he was talking about."
Diligently the boys continued their efforts, working rapidly and doing their utmost to discover the small box which Mr. Button had described, or find a place where it might be concealed.
All their efforts in the stalls, however, were as unavailing as had been those in the other parts of the barn.
"I tell you," said Fred, as the boys stopped for a moment, "there isn't any such thing here. It's what I tell you, like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"If you want to give up you can sit down here and wait for me," said John resolutely; "I'm going to keep this thing up until I strike oil or gold."
Both boys earnestly renewed their search, but their efforts in the rapidly passing minutes were still unrewarded.
"There isn't anything here," muttered Fred. "We've looked high and low. Mr. Button didn't know what he was talking about."
John made no response to the declaration of his discouraged companion and perhaps abashed somewhat by the zeal of John, again joined in the search.
"Have you looked in that piano-box?" inquired John at last.
"Yes, but there isn't anything but a little meal in the bottom. It isn't deep enough to cover a box of matches."
"We'll look again anyway," said John as he lifted the cover and glanced within the high box. He was about to drop the cover when once more he hesitated. Leaning over the edge he thrust his long arms down into the meal below him. In one corner of the box his fingers came in contact with an object which instantly aroused his keenest interest. A moment later he brought out a small wooden box, discolored, heavy and apparently of no value. He speedily discovered, however, that the top of the box was fastened by a small and strong pad-lock. Holding his discovery aloft John quickly turned to Fred and said, "Do you see what I've found?"
"What is it? What is it?" whispered Fred as he ran to join his friend.
"It's a box."
"So I see, but how much does that mean?"
"I don't know how much it means," retorted John, "but I do know that it is a wooden box, that it's about six inches square and that it is heavy--"
"Yes, to look at it," broke in Fred; "it's old and looks as if it had been left out in the weather. Even if it is locked I don't believe that there's anything of any value in it."
"That isn't what troubles me," said John quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"Why, I mean this box is hidden here. I don't know as we have any right to take it. I wonder too if Mr. Button is really what he says he is. Suppose we take this box away with us and then somebody arrests us for stealing? What's to hinder?"
"That's nothing to hinder," said Fred, "but we'll take the box with us just the same."
Each of the boys was confident whenever his companion became fearful or discouraged.