Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/226

214 Both Chester and Joan were looking intently at him. Some instinct seemed to tell him that everything was not as it should be.

"What's wrong?" he asked quickly.

"Let me tell him, Chester," said the girl. "Mr. Keith, someone has taken them away."

"Stolen them?" Keith ejaculated.

"They've disappeared, anyway," put in Chester.

Keith rose to his feet with a puzzled expression.

"Why—let me see—" he began.

He swung round, and entering the bungalow, made for the planter's room, striding straight to the beam where the cache had been. Chester was at his heels.

"I took them, Trent," said Keith bluntly. "I remember now. It seems weeks ago—anyhow I only remember it in a hazy kind of way."

"I know you did," replied Chester. "When was it?"

"The day the officers came from the Petrel."

"How did you know I took them?"

"You and I put a little wedge in the beam, and inked it on one side, you remember, so that it would not show; I found that wedge on your bedroom floor."

Keith nodded.

"I must have dropped it there," he said.

"Besides that, while you were delirious you spoke