rick tore the leather and the
two coins that Vladimir and Elisabeth found slipped out and fell just
inside the plank covering of the chimney and below it out on to the
floor."

"So did the two that fell out when we were working," added Roger.

"Let's open it and count the money. This may be some other bag,"
suggested Helen, who had brought back no farther information from the
Russian. "If it's Algernon's it ought to have--how many guineas was
it?"

"Five hundred and seventy-three, and a ring and a miniature," continued
Ethel Brown who had heard his story.

"In a box," concluded Ethel Blue. "I can't wait for Roger to undo it!"

They gathered around the table on which Roger had placed the stained
bag, the gold coins gleaming through a gash in its side. Moya cleaned
the outside as well as she could with a damp cloth.

"See, here are some crumbs of sealing-wax still clinging to the cord,"
and Grandfather Emerson cut the string that still tied the mouth.
Before their amazed eyes there rolled first a small box and then
guineas as bright as when they were tied up in their prison.

"We shan't have to count the guineas; if the ring and the miniature are
in the box that will prove that it's Algernon's bag," said Helen.

"Here, young woman; hands off," cried her grandfather as Helen was
preparing to open the box. "Algernon and Patience were no direct
ancestors of yours. Miss Merriam is the suitable person to perform
this ceremony."

Helen, smiling, pushed the basket toward Miss Gertrude who slipped off
the string with trembling fingers.

"I'm almost afraid to take off the cover," she whispered.

"O, do hurry up, Miss Gertrude," implored Ethel Brown. "I think I
shall burst if I don't know all about it soon!"

With misty eyes Gertrude slowly lifted the cover from the box. Wrapped
in a twist of cotton was a ring set with several large diamonds.

"Is it marked 'Gertrude'?" asked Dorothy breathlessly.

Miss Merriam nodded.

Below the ring lay a miniature, the portrait of a fair woman with deep
blue eyes. It was set round with brilliants and on the gold back was
engraved, "Gertrude Merriam."

Miss Merriam stared at it and then handed it to Mr. Emerson.

"What a marvellous likeness!" he exclaimed. "You must be able to see
it yourself."

Gertrude nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.

"There's no question that she's your ancestor. Now, I'd like to see if
the correct number of coins is here if you'