HOME AGAIN――CONCLUSION
“Gee, suppose the boxes are empty!” murmured Andy while on the way to
the yacht.
“If they were they wouldn’t be so heavy,” answered Jack.
“And it isn’t likely they’d be locked,” added Fred.
They were soon aboard the _Firefly_ and then Captain Corning had one
of the men bring a cold chisel and a hammer, and with these implements
the rusty and worn padlocks on the six chests were knocked off without
great trouble.
A cry of amazement and delight burst from the boys when the covers of
the various boxes were pried open and thrown back. There before their
gaze was revealed a confused mass of gold and silver coins, jewelry,
and many golden medals, and also eighteen small cases which when opened
in their turn revealed articles set with diamonds and other precious
stones. One case contained two strings of beautiful pearls and another
a cross set in the finest kind of diamonds.
“This sure is a treasure, and no mistake!” was Captain Corning’s remark
as he gazed from one precious object to another.
“Worth real money, I’ll say!” cried Fred, his eyes glistening.
“Worth thousands of dollars!” murmured Randy.
“I suppose those jewels and pearls are worth a small fortune in
themselves,” was Jack’s comment. He picked up one of the strings only
to have it fall apart, the pearls bouncing in all directions. And then
all four of the lads lost no time in getting on their hands and knees
to gather the precious objects together again.
It was a happy time and it was shared in by every man on board, even
including the two Norwegian sailors who had been friendly with Olesen
and Amend, for all of the men had been promised double wages and more
by the captain should the quest for the treasure prove successful.
“Do you think we ought to land in Yucatan and telegraph to the folks
about this?” asked Fred.
“I don’t think I’d do that,” returned Jack promptly. “If we went
ashore, the Mexican authorities might put in some claim for this
treasure, and we might have all sorts of difficulties in proving our
rights to it.”
“That’s just the way I look at it,” came from Captain Corning. “We’re
the finders of this, and nobody else, and it’s ours by right of
discovery. The ship was abandoned on the high sea, so to speak, and
even Olesen and Amend had no idea where it drifted to. I think the best
thing we can do is to set sail for Texas and place the stuff where the
Mexicans can’t get their hands on it.”
“Have you any idea what this stuff is worth?” asked Andy.
“No, my lad. But it’s worth a good many thousands of dollars. Why,
those pearls alone would foot up to a good many thousands, and so would
that diamond cross and the other jewelry.”
Much of the stuff recovered was tarnished and dirty, and while the
_Firefly_ was on the way to Galveston the boys spent many hours in
sorting out the various things and cleaning them. After this the money,
jewelry, and pearls were placed in two trunks and the silver- and
goldware wrapped in paper and placed in pillow cases.
“Gosh all gingersnaps!” exclaimed Randy, after this task had been
finished. “I’ll say we’re the lucky fellows! First we capture those two
bandits and then we discover this treasure!”
“It’s going to mean a lot to our folks, Randy,” answered Jack. “If we
get a fair amount from this discovery and also get the rewards for
capturing Ditini and Ronombo, we’ll be able to help our folks very
much.”
As soon as the yacht arrived at Galveston the boys and the captain
had the treasure properly boxed and then shipped to New York City in
care of The Rover Company. This done, the diver was paid off and the
_Firefly_ was placed in charge of Nat Brooks, who had orders to take
the vessel back to Brooklyn. In the meanwhile the boys sent a telegram
home, telling briefly of what had been accomplished.
Then another surprise awaited the youths. Less than two hours later
came a reply from Tom Rover who had just gone back to New York from the
mines in the West, where he had fixed up all the difficulties to his
satisfaction.
“Telegram received. Congratulations. Richard Rover at Old
Plantation Hotel Galveston. Great News.”
“Why, my dad is at the Old Plantation Hotel!” exclaimed Jack. “And
Uncle Tom says there is great news! Come on, we’ll go to the hotel at
once!”
At the old hostelry they ran into Dick Rover as he was about to go out.
Jack’s father was more than astonished to see them and delighted when
told of their success in locating the _Margarita_.
“I’ve heard already about the capture of Ditini and Ronombo,” said
Dick Rover. “And we’ve been able to make Ronombo confess that he and
Ditini got half of the loot while Brown and Martell got the other half
which they were to divide between themselves, Greene, Koswell, Pelter,
Japson, and several others.”
“I suppose the others included Crabtree,” remarked Fred.
“No, the old man was to be left out in the cold, along with another man
who has also been rounded up. Those fellows are going to turn state’s
evidence if it becomes necessary to use them. But there is still more
to tell,” went on Dick Rover, with a smile.
“What’s that, Dad?” questioned Jack quickly.
“The detectives followed Ken Greene to Galveston after you found out
where he was bound, and later they learned that the Martells and the
Browns had left Buffalo for this same city. They came down here, and as
soon as I heard of what was going on I left the oil fields in the upper
part of the state and came down also. After some difficulty we located
Greene and then found out where the whole gang were to assemble. We
notified the authorities and they set a guard, and as a consequence the
whole crowd are now in custody in this city. As soon as we can get the
necessary extradition papers we’ll have them taken to New York.”
“And what of the securities?” put in Randy.
“The securities apportioned to Slogwell Brown and Nelson Martell were
found in a room at their hotel and are now in my possession. We have
also recovered eight thousand dollars’ worth of the ten thousand
dollars that Ditini had and about three-quarters of the stuff with
which Black Ronombo made off. He had sold some of the bonds, and these
we are now trying to trace.”
It may be added here that the search for the missing securities was
prosecuted with vigor, and as a result of this all of the valuables
taken from the offices in Wall Street were recovered with the single
exception of one one-thousand-dollar Liberty Bond. And let us also add
that before the year came to a close every one of those concerned in
the hold-up but Josiah Crabtree was tried for the crime and sent to
prison. Crabtree, old and broken, was allowed to go his way, the Rovers
giving him a small amount of money to keep him from starving.
There was some dispute regarding the rewards offered for the capture
of Ditini and Ronombo, but the claim of the Rover boys was prosecuted
with vigor and in the end they received forty thousand dollars, which
amount they divided equally.
Experts had to be called in to inspect the treasure from the
_Margarita_, and then the various articles were disposed of, some in a
purely commercial way and others as art treasures. The total value of
the collection footed up to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, of
which the boys received eighty thousand dollars.
“Gee, we’ll be millionaires before we know it!” cried Andy, dancing
around when he heard of this. “I’ll be getting twenty thousand dollars
out of this and ten thousand dollars for capturing those bandits. That
will give me thirty thousand dollars. Why, I won’t know what to do with
so much money!”
“I’m going to invest my money in The Rover Company,” said Jack promptly.
“And so am I,” added Fred.
“Well, I guess we can do that too, even if we aren’t going into the
business,” came from Randy, and his twin nodded assent.
In addition to the money received as a reward for the capture of the
bandits and the sum received from the treasure the four lads also got
back nearly nine thousand dollars of the money advanced to finance the
hunt for the _Margarita_.
There was one thing that pleased Jack even more than the finding
of the treasure. This was a letter he received from Ruth. In that
communication the girl told how her mother had recovered from the
illness caused by the hold-up and how sorry her parent was over what
she had said concerning the loss. Then Ruth told of how her father,
after fixing up his troubles with the contractors who were building his
new home, had changed his mind and gone to Sam Rover while Dick and
Tom were away on business and offered to assist the Company in every
way possible. She added that her father was evidently ashamed of the
attitude he had first taken and hoped that Jack would forget it.
A little later in the communication Ruth mentioned some social affairs
and said that Joe Sedley had called upon her twice and had wanted her
and her mother to go on an extended automobile tour with him, but that
she had declined.
“On an auto tour with Sedley!” grumbled Jack. “I like that! I’ll make
that fellow keep off the grass!” Thereupon he wrote an eight-page
letter to Ruth, telling her of the many things that had occurred and of
how he now intended to settle down and go into business with his father
and of some things that he hoped would happen afterwards. Then he said
he was coming to see Ruth as soon as he could get away.
While Jack was writing this letter to Ruth Fred was equally busy on a
communication addressed to May Powell. Andy caught the youngest Rover
writing this letter and did not hesitate to poke fun at him.
“Sour grapes, Andy!” returned Fred shamelessly. “You’d fall for a girl
like May in a minute if you could only find one.”
“No girls in mine――at least, not yet,” returned the fun-loving Rover.
“I’m going to be a happy bachelor, and Randy says he’s going to be the
same.”
It must be confessed that Jack’s heart beat as it had never beat before
when he took the train to call on Ruth. How would she receive him after
all that had passed and after the letter he had written?
But if he had any fears, they were all groundless, for when the train
arrived at the town where Ruth lived he found her waiting for him at
the railroad station and when she came up she not only shook hands but
showed that she expected far more, and after one searching look into
her clear and steady eyes, he kissed her.
“Is it all right, Ruth?” he whispered. “Tell me, is it?”
“Why, of course it is, Jack,” she answered softly. “It always was.”
“Then Joe Sedley――――”
“Oh, Jack, please don’t mention that fellow! I’d rather forget him!”
“Then we can announce our engagement?”
“Any time you want to,” and thereupon Ruth led the happiest fellow in
the world to the automobile she had waiting.
* * * * *
And now let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this
story of the Rover boys.
As he had said he would do, Jack that winter invested his money in The
Rover Company and Fred did likewise. At the same time Ruth’s engagement
to the oldest of the Rover boys was announced, and this was followed
shortly by the announcement of May Powell’s engagement to Fred. Then
the two girls were tendered a reception at the homes on Riverside Drive
and the three houses there were thrown wide open to the Stevensons,
the Powells, and the many friends and relatives of all the interested
families.
“I’m going to buckle down to business first,” said Jack, in answer to a
question from his old chum, Gif. “Mrs. Stevenson thinks that Ruth might
wait a little bit before we have the knot tied.” And as Fred and May
were even younger, it was decided that they should wait also.
“Well, Randy and I haven’t got to wait for anybody!” said Andy gayly.
“So we’ll just continue to roam around and have good times.”
And roam he and his brother did for many years, having all sorts of
adventures in which Jack and Fred often joined.
“I’ll tell you this is a pretty good old world after all,” declared
Jack one day, when talking over their various adventures with his
cousins.
“I’ll say it is!” answered Fred.
“I wouldn’t want it any better!” came from Randy.
“It’s all to the merry!” chimed in Andy.
And here, wishing all of the Rover boys the best of luck, we will say
good-bye.
THE END
_This Isn’t All!_
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you
will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same
store where you got this book.
_Don’t throw away the Wrapper_
_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have.
But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
catalog._
THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(EDWARD STRATEMEYER)
=Beautiful Wrappers in Full Color=
[Illustration]
No stories for boys ever published have attained the tremendous
popularity of this famous series. Since the publication of the first
volume, The Rover Boys at School, some years ago, over three million
copies of these books have been sold. They are well written stories
dealing with the Rover boys in a great many different kinds of
activities and adventures. Each volume holds something of interest to
every adventure loving boy.
A complete list of titles is printed on the opposite page.
FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
(Edward Stratemeyer)
OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES.
=Uniform Style of Binding. Colored Wrappers.=
=Every Volume Complete in Itself.=
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR
THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA
THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL
THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND
THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS
THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK
THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH
THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE
THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED
THE ROVER BOYS ON SUNSET TRAIL
THE ROVER BOYS WINNING A FORTUNE
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES
By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
=Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.=
No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as
aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the
air, and is dedicated to Lindberg, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of
the skies.
OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;
_or, Ted Scott’s Daring Long Distance Flight_.
RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;
_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air_.
OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;
_or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness_.
FIRST STOP HONOLULU;
_or, Ted Scott, Over the Pacific_.
THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;
_or, Ted Scott, Over the West Indies_.
SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;
_or, Ted Scott, On a Secret Mission_.
ACROSS THE PACIFIC;
_or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia_.
THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;
_or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers_.
FLYING AGAINST TIME;
_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record_.
OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;
_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers_.
LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;
_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land_.
THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;
_or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley_.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS
By JAMES CODY FERRIS
=Individual Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by=
=WALTER S. ROGERS=
=Each Volume Complete in Itself.=
Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which
will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and adventures in
the great open spaces.
The Manly Boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of an old ranchman, the
owner of many thousands of heads of cattle. The lads know how to ride,
how to shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any and all
circumstances.
The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when
required but full of fun and daring――a bunch any reader will be
delighted to know.
THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON
THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER
THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL
THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS
THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE HARDY BOY’S SERIES
By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
=Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=
The Hardy Boys are sons of a celebrated American detective, and during
vacations and their off time from school they help their father by
hunting down clues themselves.
THE TOWER TREASURE
A dying criminal confessed that his loot had been secreted “in the
tower.” It remained for the Hardy Boys to make an astonishing discovery
that cleared up the mystery.
THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF
The house had been vacant and was supposed to be haunted. Mr. Hardy
started to investigate――and disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of
excitement.
THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL
Counterfeit money was in circulation, and the limit was reached when
Mrs. Hardy took some from a stranger. A tale full of thrills.
THE MISSING CHUMS
Two of the Hardy Boys’ chums take a motor trip down the coast. They
disappear and are almost rescued by their friends when all are
captured. A thrilling story of adventure.
HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD
Mr. Hardy is injured in tracing some stolen gold. A hunt by the boys
leads to an abandoned mine, and there things start to happen. A western
story all boys will enjoy.
THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY
Automobiles were disappearing most mysteriously from the Shore Road. It
remained for the Hardy Boys to solve the mystery.
THE SECRET OF THE CAVES
When the boys reached the caves they came unexpectedly upon a queer old
hermit.
THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND
A story of queer adventures on a rockbound island.
THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY
The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the disappearance of some valuable
mail.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
=Uniform Style of Binding, Individual Colored Wrappers.=
=Every Volume Complete in Itself.=
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a
bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most
interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS TALKING PICTURES
TOM SWIFT AND HIS HOUSE ON WHEELS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG DIRIGIBLE
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
THE DON STURDY SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Author of “The Tom Swift Series”
Every red-blooded boy will enjoy the thrilling adventures of Don
Sturdy. In company with his uncles, one a big game hunter, the other
a noted scientist, he travels far and wide――into the jungles of South
America, across the Sahara, deep into the African jungle, up where the
Alaskan volcanoes spout, down among the head hunters of Borneo and many
other places where there is danger and excitement. Every boy who has
known Tom Swift will at once become the boon companion of daring Don
Sturdy.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES
DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS
DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS
DON STURDY CAPTURED BY HEAD HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN LION LAND
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF GIANTS
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
Transcriber’s Notes:
――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
bold by “equal” signs (=bold=).
――Printer’s, punctuation, and spelling inaccuracies were silently
corrected.
――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.