pretty slim chance, now that all our clues seemed to have failed."
"That's what I thought. So I guess I'll confess and brave grandmother's wrath. But, oh! I know she'll never leave me her lovely pearls! "
"Maybe someone else will," suggested Tom. "Will you come down to the store and have some soda water? He's got in a fresh lot, I believe."
"I will, Tom, for I'm thirsty enough to drink even the lemon-pop Mr. Richards sells. Come on," and the two walked on, the little cloud that had come between them having blown away. But Ruth said nothing about Boswell's promise to show her his mother's old-fashioned brooch. Perhaps she thought he had forgotten the matter; and, she reasoned, there was no need of awakening Tom's jealousy.
It was after Tom had parted from Ruth, with a promise to call that evening with the other boys, that, walking along the island shore, taking a short cut to the camp, he heard voices coming from the direction of the water. He looked through the screen of bushes, and saw Boswell and the Mexican caretaker, sitting in a boat not far from shore. The college lad was handing Mendez something, and by the sun's rays Tom caught the glitter of gold. At the same time a puff of wind brought their voices plainly to him, the water aiding in carrying the tones.
