"
"I can unlock it," he cried. "I can unlock it. Give it to me.
Give it to me."
He staggered forward and seized the box in his hands. For several
seconds he fumbled with it, turning it first upon one side and
then upon another, and at last raised the lid. He thrust in his
hand and then stopped as one stupefied.
"Empty! Empty!" he gasped in an almost audible whisper. "The plan
of Montezuma's mine is gone! Gone!!"
A moment he stood and gazed around upon the faces of those in the
room and then collapsed upon the floor.
Quickly the boys picked him up and carried him to his bed and the
attending physician was summoned.
Billie picked up the box and examined it curiously.
"I wonder how he opened it?" he mused. "There must be some sort
of a spring somewhere."
He felt the box all over, but could find nothing. Then he closed
it and set it upon the table. A moment later Donald picked it up
and tried to open it, but it was locked fast.
"Nothing but mysteries," he said. "I'm getting tired of them. But
before anything else happens, I'm going around and notify Don
Esteban that the box is here."
"I'll go with you," said Adrian.
"No, you'd better stay here. I'll take a mozo with me."
He ran hastily down the stairs and a minute later the boys heard
the gate close behind him.
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