"Just so," agreed Harris. "He made out he was entitled to a pension from the government, for years. And he always told folks he had brought a fortune home from the war with him. Let on that he had hidden it about the house, too." Professor Spink's eyes snapped, and he leaned forward. "You don't reckon there is anything in that story; do you, Mr. Colesworth?" he asked. "Why--I don't--know," said Harris, slowly, but with a perfectly grave face. "As I make it out, when the old fellow died the widow made search for this hidden treasure he had hinted at so often; but when the lawyers found out that he was entitled to no pension--that he'd lied about _that_--and that about all he had left her was a mortgage on the place, Mrs. Harrison gave up the search for money in disgust. She said as he'd lied about the pension, and about other things, why, of course he'd lied about the hidden treasure." "And don't you think he did?" asked Spink, with so much interest that the others were amused. "Humph!" responded Harris, gravely. "I don't know. He _might_ have hidden bonds--or deeds--or even bank notes." "Pshaw!" exclaimed Mr. Bray, laughing. "That's imagination." "You need not mind, Professor," said old Mr. Colesworth, sharply. "If there is money, or treasure, hidden there in the house, or on the place, and you have bid the place in, as I understand you have, it will be 'treasure trove'--it will belong to you--if you find it." "Ha!" ejaculated Professor Spink, darting the old gentleman rather an angry glance. "I don't know whether it is altogether talk and imagination, or not," said Harris, ruminatively. "Cyrus Pritchett was with Bob Harrison when he died. And he says the old man talked of this hidden money--or treasure--or what-not--up to the very time be became unconscious. He had a shock, you know, and it stopped his speech like _that_," and Harris snapped his finger and thumb. "It sounds like a story-book," said Grandma Castle, complacently. "It doesn't sound sensible," observed Lyddy, drily. "I'm giving it to you for what it's worth," remarked Harris, good-naturedly. "Mr. Pritchett was sitting up with Harrison when the old man had his final shock. Harrison had been mumbling along to Cyrus about what he wanted done with certain of his possessions. And he says: "'There's that hid away that will be wuth money--five thousand in hard cash--some day, Cy.' "Those are the words he used," said Harris, earnestly, and watching Professor Spink from one corner of his eye. "He was sitting up, Cy said, and as he spoke he pointed at---- Well," broke off Harris, abruptly, "never mind what he pointed at. He died before he could finish what he was saying." "Is that the truth, Harris Colesworth?" demanded 'Phemie, regarding him seriously. "I got it from Lucas. Then I asked his father. That is just the way the story was told to me," declared the young fellow, warmly. "And--and they never found anything?" asked Mr. Bray.