Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/108

96 Porter, seriously. "We had better light up and investigate thoroughly."

He walked to a switchboard on the wall and began to experiment. Presently the electric lights in the offices flashed up and then some of those in the workshops were turned on.

By this time Oliver Wadsworth was in front of one of the shattered safes. An inner door, somewhat bent, was swung shut. With trembling fingers the manufacturer pulled the door open and felt into the compartment beyond.

"Gone! gone!" the others heard him mutter hoarsely. "Gone!"

"What is it?" asked Mr. Porter.

"The casket—the Carwith casket is gone!" And Mr. Wadsworth looked ready to faint as he spoke.

"Were the jewels in it?" questioned Mr. Porter.

"Yes! yes!"

"All of them?" queried Dave.

"Yes, every one. I placed them in the casket myself before we locked up for the day."

"Maybe the casket is on the floor, under the doors," suggested Dave; but he had little hope of such being the case.

All started a search, lasting for several minutes. But it was useless, the casket with its precious jewelry had disappeared. Oliver Wadsworth