bserved the Southern lad.

"The luckiest chap ever, take that from me," declared Lil Artha, and
then adding hastily: "but then, he always deserves his luck, because he
works for it."

Although he did not exactly mean to do so, the one who said that
expressed one of the greatest truths known. Deserve good luck, and it
will many times knock at your door. Do things worth while, and obtain
pleasing results.

Of course they hastened into the kitchen. Here they found Elmer bending
over and examining the floor.

"It's a trapdoor, all right," declared Lil Artha, as he noted the
dimensions of the cracks that formed an almost perfect square.

"But how to get it up's the question," said Elmer; "for there seems to
be no ring in sight. All the same, boys, I reckon this same trap has
been used more than a few times lately, from the looks of things."

"Whew! do you really mean it, Elmer?" remarked Chatz, deeply interested.

"Why, you can see for yourself right here that some sort of tool has
been used to pry up the thing," Elmer went on.

"Say, I had a glimpse of an old broken kitchen knife lying over there by
the sink. Wonder if that would do the trick? Shall I get it?" remarked
Lil Artha.

"If you will," replied Elmer.

The article in question was speedily placed in the hands of the scout
master.

"Just the very thing to lift this trap with," he declared, as he started
to insert the stout remnant of the blade in the crack.

"Reckon it's been used to do the trick many a time," advanced Chatz.

"I wouldn't wonder," Elmer added.

Using the broken blade as a lever he soon pried the trap up far enough
to allow the others a chance to insert their ready fingers. After that
it was easily completed, and the square of wooden flooring removed.

"Dark as Egypt," remarked Lil Artha, as he tried to pierce the gloom
with his gaze.

Elmer made a move, and Chatz, thinking he intended descending the ladder
that led down into the unknown depths, caught his arm.

"I wouldn't do it, Elmer," he said.

"Do what?" asked the other.

"Go down there," continued Chatz. "No telling how deep it may be or what
lies there, either. If anybody must go, send me."

"Well," laughed Elmer, "I like your nerve, Chatz. You think something
might hurt _me_, but you don't care so much for yourself. That's like
you Southern fellows, though. But make your mind easy, my boy, because
just at present I don't think any of us need drop into this hole."

"I