A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Guess Laurie got lost, grumbled Ned, kicking one foot against the step and looking across the yard.
George laughed. Guess you could find him if you went as far as the Widows, Nid.
Well, he ought to be back. Its nearly time for the tree, isnt it? Characteristically, Ned saved himself the trouble of determining the matter for himself, and it was George who looked at his watch.
Theres most an hour yet. Lets go and have a look for him. He and Bob are probably at Pollys.
But they didnt get as far as Pollys just then, for when they reached the corner they descried Laurie tearing along the side yard of the Coventry place. At sight of them he moderated his speed slightly and began to shout, waving both hands in a quite demented manner.
Whats he saying? asked George. Whats wrong?
Wants us to hurry, grumbled Ned. We are hurrying, you idiot! he continued, raising his voice. But he hurried faster, George at his heels, and met Laurie at the front gate.
Whats your trouble? he demanded. House on fire? Bob got the croup? What is it? Cant you talk?
Cant tell you, panted Laurie. Youve got to seefor yourself! Come on!
He seized Ned by one arm, and pulled him away and around the house and down the bulkhead steps, George loping after them. In the cellar stood Bob, disreputable in his old clothes and adorned with dust and cobwebs, a lighted lantern in one hand.
Has he told you? he cried, as the others piled down the stairs.
Told me? He hasnt told anything, gasped Ned, shaking himself free at last. What is it?
Bob laughed loudly and gleefully. Then come on! he shouted. He dashed into the preserve closet, Ned, George, and Laurie at his heels, passed from sight for an instant, and was seen again crawling through a hole in the wall. Ned and George showered questions as they pattered along the tunnel, but all they received in reply was insane laughter and a meaningless, breathless jumble of words. And then they were at the farther portal, and Bob led the way through, and they followed.
They found themselves in a small cellar-like compartment scarcely four paces square. It was windowless, although, close to the raftered ceiling in the rear wall, two oblongs of brick set in the stone showed where at some time small windows had been. The floor was paved with flat stones. In one corner, the only objects there, were a small iron chest, its lid swung open and back, and a crowbar. The newcomers stared in amazement, the truth slowly dawning on them. It was Laurie who spoke first.
Go and look! he said excitedly.
Ned and George obeyed. Within the chest lay four fat, heavy brownish envelopes, bound and tied with pink tape.
Take one out and open it, said Bob over Neds shoulder.
Ned picked up one. Across one end was written in scrawly characters the inscription Govt.
Government, explained Laurie, softly. Its full of United States bonds. Nearly a dozen of them. Have a look.
Geewhillikins! breathed Ned, in awe, as he drew the folded contents into the light. Old Coventrys, do you mean?
Of course! Whose else? And there are three more lots. We havent figured them up yet, but there must be fifty thousand dollars worth!
Maybe theyre no good, offered George.
How do you mean, no good? asked Ned indignantly. United States bonds are always good!
Well, the others
Theyre railroad bonds, all of them, three different lots, said Bob. I guess theyre all right, too, dont you, Ned?
Right as rain! Why, the old codgerWhats that? he asked suddenly, looking ceiling-ward. Laurie laughed.
Thats what we wondered, he answered. We jumped when we heard it first. Dont you know where you are?
Ned looked around him and shook his head.
Under the Widow Deanes house!
Wha-at! But Polly said there wasnt any cellar!
She doesnt know any better. Look above you. See where the stairway went? The old chap must have torn it away and boarded the hole up; and bricked up the windows, too. It must have cost him a pretty penny to do all this!
Whatwhat are you going to do with it? asked George, pointing to the chest.
Why, hand it over to the lawyers, whoever they are, I suppose, answered Bob. But first of all were going to take those bonds and dump them into the Widows lap. I always said Id hand it all over to her, when I found it. I never thought I would find it, but I haveor Laurie has, because if he hadnt noticed that the shelves were loose we never would
Besides, interrupted George, she comes in for a share of the money. Come on, fellows! Lets do it now! Gee, it will be some Christmas present!
Wont it? Lets each one take a package, said Laurie. Well leave everything just as it is for the lawyer folks. Come on!
Say, fellows, theres an awfully funny smell down here, observed George. Sort ofsort of sweet, likelike violets or something. Notice it?
Yes, I noticed it before I got in here, though, said Ned. Wonder what it is.
Oh, places like this get to smelling funny after theyve been shut up for a while, said Bob. And I guess this place hasnt been opened for two years, eh?
Of course not; not since old Coventry died. Just the same, its a mighty funny odor. And George sniffed again perplexedly. Laurie, who had withdrawn to the door, unconsciously placed a hand in one jacket pocket, where, within a crushed cardboard box, some fragments of glass were all that remained of Pollys present! In prying open the lid of the chest he had brought the end of the crowbar against that pocket, and now the purchase was only a memory, albeit a fragrant one.
Some three minutes later four flushed-faced and very joyous youths burst into the Widow Deanes shop. To the jangling of the little bell in the back room Polly appeared, a very pretty, bright-eyed Polly this morning in a new Christmas dress.
Merry Christmas! she cried. Merry Christmas, Nid! Merry Christmas, Bob! Merry Christmas, George! Merry Christmas, Nod!
Perhaps Laurie should have felt hurt that his own greeting had come last; but he wasnt, for a glance went with it that hadnt accompanied the others. But, although the boys answered the greetings in chorus, it was apparent to Polly that they were there for another purpose than to wish her a Merry Christmas.
Wheres your mother! demanded Bob.
In there. Polly pointed to the back room, and without ceremony the four filed past and into the little living-room. Mrs. Deane was seated in a rocker, her spectacles pushed down on her nose, a paper across her knees, and her eyes fixed in smiling inquiry on the doorway.
Bob led the way. On the outspread paper he laid a brown envelop. Wish you a Merry Christmas, maam, he said.
Laurie followed, deposited his envelop beside Bobs, repeated the greeting, and drew aside to make way for Nod and George. The Widow looked inquiringly from the stout envelops to the boys, smiling tolerantly the while. Boys were always up to pranks, and she liked them, boys and pranks both!
What are these? she asked, finally, when the fourth envelop lay in her lap.
Polly, looking over her shoulder, gasped as she read the writing on one of the packets, and her eyes, as round as round, looked across at Laurie.
Nod! They arentYou havent
Yes, they are! cried Laurie. Look and see for yourself! Open them, Mrs. Deane!
Ten minutes later, when the first excitement had somewhat subsided, Polly clapped her hands.
Why, she cried, now we know what those sounds were we used to hear, Mama! They were Uncle Peter down there in the cellar! They were his footsteps! And only a little while ago I thought I heard sounds sort of like them! And that must have been you boys!
Of course, agreed Bob. And we could hear you folks up here quite plainly. There goes my last hope of catching a ghost!
How many are there to share in the money, Mrs. Deane? asked George.
Dear me, Im not quite sure. She looked inquiringly over her spectacles at Polly. Werent there seven, dear?
Eight, Mama.
Well, even then it isnt so bad said George. One eighth of sixty-two-thousand
Seven thousand seven hundred and fifty, announced Laurie, promptly. And the bonds may be worth more than we figured, maam!
Well, Im sure, answered Mrs. Deane, seven thousand dollars is seven times more money than I ever expected to see! I shant know what to do with it. She looked quite alarmed and helpless for a moment, but Polly patted her shoulder reassuringly.
You must invest it, dearest, and then you wont have to keep this place any longer, because when I go to work
But, instead of vanishing, the Widow Deanes alarm increased. Oh, I couldnt give up the store, Polly! she gasped. Whywhy, what would I do with myself all day?
Yesm thats so! declared Ned, heartily. Gee, you couldnt do that! Why, we wouldnt have any place to buy cream-puffs!
I guess I would keep on with the store, Mrs. Deane concluded, when the laughter had subsided. Im afraid Id never be very happy if I didnt have you boys around. Well, its certainly very wonderful, isnt it, Polly?
Itsits heavenly! declared Polly. This is just the most beautiful Christmas there ever was or ever will be! And I dont see how we can ever thank you all for finding
Gosh! exclaimed Laurie. The Doctors tree, fellows! Well have to beat it! Well leave the bonds here until to-morroweh?
But I want to see the tunnel andand everything! cried Polly.
Thats so! Well come over after dinner. Come on, fellows! Neddie, come away from those tarts!
I was only looking, sighed Ned.
Mrs. Deane and Polly went with them to the door. Down the street the deep-toned bell in the Congregational church was ringing, and, farther away, other bells were joining in a chorus of glad triumph. Mrs. Deane, listening, held a very happy look in her face. On the sidewalk, Ned and Laurie dropped behind their companions, paused, and faced the doorway. There was a quick exchange of glances between them, and then, bowing, Ned began and Laurie finished:
"A Merry Christmas and well-filled bins,"
"Is the hearty wish of the Turner Twins!"