“Okay, so do we have it all figured out?” Tom asked, rubbing his eyes and yawning. It was nearly ten o’clock now.
Jack Ford had been gone for about two hours. Before he left, he wished them all good luck. He had shown no interest in finding the treasure.
Henry nodded. “I think so. We all get up before sunrise. You and I go to the shed in the backyard and get the shovels. Then we load them into Grandfather’s station wagon, which is parked around the corner.”
“Right” Tom said.
“While we’re doing that, everyone else can gather up some food and something to drink,” Henry said. “And then we all sneak out to the car and head for the nature trail.”
“Now, what happens if we don’t—” Jessie began, then was abruptly cut off.
“Well, isn’t this nice?” said a deep, powerful voice. All heads jerked up, and there in the doorway stood Winston Walker.
“How did you—” Tom began.
“The front door was open, so I let myself in,” Walker replied.
“What do you want?” asked Grandfather.
Walker folded his arms and smiled. “I think you all know why I’m here. You have something that I want.”
“The last piece of the map,” Henry said.
“Exactly right. I’m guessing the reason you didn’t take my latest offer was because it was too low. I should’ve known. Two thousand dollars doesn’t buy much these days. So, I’m prepared to make it three thousand.”
Walker let his offer linger for a moment.
“No? Then how about four? I’m afraid that’s my final offer.”
“What do you think, Benny?” Grandfather asked. “You found the bottle, so it’s your decision. Whatever you want to do is fine with us. Right, kids?” They all agreed that it was.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Walker, but I don’t think I’d like to do that,” said Benny. After all that had happened, he wanted to find the treasure for himself.
Walker began tapping his right foot, and his hands went into his pockets. Suddenly his smile seemed forced. “May I ask why, Benny?”
“I . . . I just don’t want to,” Benny answered.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Walker,” Tom said, “but since Benny obviously isn’t interested in making a deal with you, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to—”
“I don’t understand!” Winston Walker said forcefully, his face turning red. “I’m offering you four thousand dollars! In cash! No kid has that kind of money! All you have to do is give me that lousy little piece of paper that you found on the beach!”
“But he doesn’t want to,” Jessie said angrily
“Mr. Walker—” Tom started saying, but the millionaire didn’t seem to hear him.
“I’ve been looking for that treasure longer than anyone! I have a right to it! I’ve spent thousands of dollars and half my life trying to find it! It belongs to me! ME!”
No one said anything. They just stared. Walker looked as though he were about to explode.
Then Grandfather stood up, walked to Tom’s desk, opened the top drawer, and took out the piece of the map that Benny had found. Winston Walker’s entire manner changed instantly. His eyes widened and his smile returned.
“Is that it?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes, it is,” Grandfather answered. “This is the fourth and final piece to Captain John Finney’s treasure map.”
“Can . . . can I have it?” Walker asked, reaching toward it from the other side of the room.
Grandfather shook his head. “No, you can’t. My grandson found it, which means it belongs to him, and he already said you can’t have it.”
“Now, look here,” Walker began sternly, taking a quick step toward Grandfather Alden.
Grandfather grabbed the telephone off its cradle and held it up. “Mr. Walker, my good friend Tom, who I might remind you is the owner of this house, has already asked you once to leave. I’m now asking you a second time. If you don’t do so at once, I will have no choice but to call the local police. They are as aware of all this treasure business as you are, and I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate a wealthy and important gentleman like yourself giving a group of innocent youngsters a hard time.” Grandfather’s face was serious.
A heavy silence hung in the room. All eyes shifted to Winston Walker, but no one moved. Walker seemed to be thinking over Grandfather’s statement.
Walker’s expression was transformed from one of helplessness back to thinly contained rage. “All right, Mr. Alden. You win. I can see I’m not going to get anywhere with you people.”
“Maybe if you had been a little kinder, things would be different,” Grandfather Alden told him.
For just a brief moment, Walker seemed confused again, as if the idea of being kind were the most bizarre thing in the world. Then he smiled and said, “It doesn’t really matter what might have been, Mr. Alden, because I’ll find another way. I didn’t become such a wealthy and successful man by giving up a fight this easily.” He stormed across the room toward the door. “This isn’t over yet, not by a long shot!” he growled. He seemed to be talking to himself. “You’ll hear from me again!” he called out just before he slammed the front door shut. And then he was gone.
“We’re going to have to keep our eyes and ears open,” Tom said. “One thing he said was absolutely true—he’s not the kind of man who gives up easily. I have a feeling we’ll hear from him again.”
“Probably” Grandfather said.
“So what do we do now?” Henry asked.
Grandfather replied, “We stick to our plan for tomorrow.”
“Really?” Benny said with great enthusiasm.
“Really Winston Walker’s not the only one who doesn’t give up, right?”
“Right!” Benny cheered.
“Okay, then, let’s go over the plan one more time,” Grandfather told them. |