p. I told him not to let anybody touch it without my consent."

"I think that is the safest place for it," said Mr. Bennington. "Then it
appears that Miss Liverage was not crazy, after all."

"She was right in every respect. If she could have told me where to look
for the gold, I should have found it," replied Leopold.

"But how happened you to find it?" asked Mr. Hamilton.

"I didn't happen to find it, sir. I went right to the place where it
was, and dug it up, after I had read the directions in Harvey Barth's
diary."

"But where did you get the diary, Leopold?" inquired the landlord.

"I found it in the chimney, when the old house was pulled down."

"You didn't say anything about it," added Mr. Bennington, rather
reproachfully.

"You laughed at me, father, after Miss Liverage had gone, and I thought
I wouldn't say anything more until I found out whether Miss Liverage was
crazy or not. Then, when I read the diary, I didn't know but Harvey
Barth might have been crazy when he wrote it, for I couldn't find any
such rock as he mentioned till I went down to High Rock in a
thunder-storm. I am willing to tell all I know about it; but it's rather
a long story."

"And dinner is nearly ready," added the landlord, glancing at the clock.

"What is it? We want to know about it," said Belle Peterson, rushing
into the office, followed by Rosabel.

The story had been carried to the parlor by Mr. Redmond, junior, who had
so little confidence in the future intentions of Leopold, that he had
revealed the secret from motives of revenge.

"We will hear the story after dinner," said Mr. Hamilton.

"We want to hear it, too," interposed Miss Belle.

"Yes father," added Rosabel; "and all the ladies in the parlor want to
hear it."

"Then Leopold shall tell it in the parlor, if he is willing."

"I'm willing, sir," replied Leopold. "All I have to say about the money
now is, that I believe it belongs to somebody--to the heirs of the man
who buried it in the sand; and, as I told Stumpy and Mr. Redmond, I
intend to find those heirs, if I can."

"That's right, Leopold," exclaimed Mr. Hamilton, patting the boatman's
shoulder. "Be honest before you are generous."

Leopold and his father went to the dining-room, to prepare for their
duties there. The landlord did not think as much as usual at this time
about his chowder, chicken, and roast beef. The time was rapidly
approaching when the interest on the mortgage note would be due. Hi