The Rushton Boys at Treasure Cove Part 35

responded Fred affectionately.

"I'm mighty glad that I took that swim," remarked Teddy, with something of a grin. "It was worth while, wasn't it?"

"The most wonderful swim in the whole world!" declared Ross, emphatically.

"Say! I'd like to take a swim like that again and find another treasure," continued the fun-loving Rushton boy.

When the Rushtons arrived at their home they found that their parents had gone out on a short errand. Their Uncle Aaron, however, was on hand, sitting in the library reading a book.

"Well, well! Home again, eh?" said their uncle, looking at the boys.

Then he gazed questioningly at Ross.

"This is Ross Montgomery," said Fred, by way of introduction. "Ross, this is my Uncle Aaron."

"Hum!" came from Uncle Aaron. He gazed fixedly at the youth, who was smiling broadly. "You look rather happy."

"Yes, Mr. Rushton, I suppose I do, for I never felt happier in my life,"

returned Ross. "We've got good news."

"The lost treasure has been found!" burst out Teddy, unable to control himself. "Every dollar of it, Uncle Aaron! What do you think of that?"

"Found!" repeated the man. "Do you really mean it?"

"Yes, Uncle Aaron, it's true. The lost Montgomery fortune has been found," added Fred.

"And I am here to pay you all that is coming to you," announced Ross.

The picture that Uncle Aaron presented at that moment was one that his two nephews were likely never to forget. He stood as if transfixed to the spot, while his eyes grew larger and larger. He clutched the back of his chair as if to support himself.

"What is that I hear?" he demanded, in a strangely unnatural voice. "You have come to pay me back all that money?"

"Yes, Mr. Rushton, every cent of it."

"And he's going to pay it to you in gold, too," added Teddy eagerly.

"Well! Well! Well!" murmured the man. "I--I can scarcely believe it.

Why, boys, this is wonderful news!" he continued, warming up. "Got every bit of the money, have you? Well now, isn't that wonderful!" His face began to beam. "And so you've come to pay me what is due me, have you?

Very fine of you, young man! Very fine, indeed!"

Thereupon Uncle Aaron sunk back in his chair and demanded that the three youths give him all the particulars of the finding of the treasure. They were in the midst of a graphic recital of these happenings when Mr. and Mrs. Rushton arrived.

"Hullo!" cried the boys' father. "I hardly expected to see you yet."

"Oh, we've found the treasure! We've found the treasure!" burst out Teddy, rus.h.i.+ng up to shake hands with his father and then to hug his mother.

"Teddy, Teddy, don't crush me to death!" panted Mrs. Rushton, as the youth drew her closer and closer. "Why, I declare, I can't breathe!"

"But isn't it grand news?" cried the elated boy.

"Indeed it is!"

"This is Ross Montgomery, father," said Fred. "He, you know, is the owner of the treasure."

"And so you actually found it?" returned the father, with a smile of satisfaction. "I didn't think you'd be able to do it."

"Wonderful boys! Wonderful boys!" murmured Uncle Aaron. "When they first came in and told me, I thought they were putting up some sort of job on me. Say! It isn't a joke, is it?" he queried quickly and with sudden suspicion.

"You don't think we'd play a joke like that, do you?" demanded Teddy.

"Well, I've known you to play some pretty hard jokes," said their uncle dryly. "But never mind that now, my boy," he continued, almost affectionately. "I'll forgive you for all of 'em, now that this money has come to light. I had about made up my mind that I'd never see a cent of it."

"You'll have to tell us all the particulars," said Mr. Rushton.

"That is just what we had started to do when you came in," answered Ross.

"Teddy is the hero of this story," broke in Fred. "He's the one who found the box that contained the gold pieces."

"Oh, come now! Don't put it that way," returned Teddy modestly. "We all had a hand in finding that box. Didn't we all search for it day in and day out?"

"Never mind, you are the one who really found it, and you ought to have the credit," said his brother firmly.

"That's right!" broke in Ross. "If Teddy hadn't made that wonderful dive and come up into the cave, that box might still be where it was."

"It is queer to me that some one else didn't find it in all these years," was Fred's comment.

"Well, I'm mighty glad somebody else didn't find the money box!" cried Uncle Aaron. "But go ahead and tell the story. I want to hear every word of it."

"All right, then," answered Ross. And sitting down with the others he told his tale in full, aided by Fred and Teddy.

It goes without saying that the older Rushtons were tremendously interested in the recital. When Mrs. Rushton heard how Teddy had made his wonderful dive she shuddered.

"Oh, my son, what a risk to take!" she murmured. "What if you had never come up to the surface again!"

"Oh, don't worry, Momsey," he answered affectionately. "I know how to take care of myself."

"I'll wager that the folks at Bartanet Shoals were surprised to hear the news," was Mr. Rushton's comment.

"Yes, indeed," answered Fred.

"But you should have seen my mother when she heard the great tidings,"

came from Ross, and his voice choked a little when he spoke. "Why she was the happiest woman in the whole world!"

"I have no doubt of it," answered Mrs. Rushton, "and she had good cause for her happiness."

That their parents were proud of the part that Fred and Teddy had played in the finding, goes without saying. Their Uncle Aaron was so delighted that he gladly wiped off the slate all his past grievances against his nephews. He even went so far as to claim some share in what they had done.

"Wasn't it through me they went to Rally Hall?" he demanded. "If they hadn't gone there, they wouldn't have met Lester or gone to Bartanet Shoals, and I'd have been twelve thousand dollars to the bad."

Ross had insisted on a share of the recovered money going to the Rushton boys and Lester. The friends.h.i.+p between the boys had grown very strong and they were delighted when in answer to their urging, Ross agreed to go with them to Rally Hall. They little knew at the time that they were destined to take part in fresh and stirring adventures before the fall term was over.