The children looked at Professor Meyer and then looked at one another. Was she after the treasure?
“I thought about that second letter all night,” Professor Meyer said. “When I woke up this morning, I realized that the shadow of the tower would point to the treasure! I came here as quickly as I could.”
“Are you here for the treasure?” Benny asked boldly. “Is this what you meant by your ‘special project’?”
“Indeed it is,” the professor said with a mysterious smile. “But not the way you think. We need to talk. Please come up to the top of the clock tower with me. Bring the box.”
The children weren’t sure what to do. For a moment, they just stood there. Was Professor Meyer trying to steal the treasure?
At last Henry spoke up. “Come on. Let’s go see what Professor Meyer has to tell us.”
First Violet ran over to return the shovels to the grounds crew. Then Henry and Jessie each picked up a side of the treasure box and carried it along with them. When they reached the bottom of the tower, they put the box down to rest their arms.
The children climbed the winding stairs very slowly because of the treasure box. They stopped a couple of times so that Henry and Jessie could put the box down and rest.
At last they reached the top of the tower. As Professor Meyer pushed the door open, they were surprised to see their grandfather, Joel, and Don all waiting inside. Ezra was there, too, having just finished the morning concert.
“Hello, children!” Grandfather said. “What have you got there?” The adults all crowded around the heavy metal box, which still had clumps of dirt clinging to it.
“Grandfather! Wait until you see!” Benny cried.
“What are you doing here?” Jessie asked.
“I got a phone call from Professor Meyer this morning asking me to meet her here,” he explained. “Joel and Don were over having coffee, so they came along.”
Grandfather looked at the box. “Is this the treasure you were hunting for?”
“It is!” cried Benny. “It really is!”
“What? You found the treasure? Where?” Don exclaimed. He was walking slowly around the large box, looking at it curiously.
“In the Quad,” Jessie said. “The groundskeeper lent us shovels and we dug it up!”
“Let’s open it!” Don said.
Slowly Henry lifted the lid of the box, revealing the cloth-wrapped bundles. One by one, he unwrapped the bundles for everyone to see. Don bent over and picked each piece up, turning it over in his hands, but saying nothing.
“Look at that beautiful pocket watch!” Ezra said.
“That silver goblet is stunning,” said the professor.
“But how did you know the children were going to find this treasure?” Grandfather asked.
“Remember they showed me the letters last night?” Professor Meyer began. “I didn’t figure out everything that second letter meant until this morning. I looked out at the sunrise and suddenly everything fell into place! I realized that the tower’s shadow would point the way! When I called, I was planning to tell them, but they’d already figured it out. They’re your grandchildren, Jimmy, so I should have known they’d be smart. I asked you to join me here so that I could tell you about my project.”
“Yes, please, tell us,” Jessie said.
“I have been treasure hunting myself,” she began.
“We thought so!” Benny cried.
Jessie explained. “We found this letter up here in the tower, and we saw lights in the middle of the night. So we figured out that someone was up here looking for the treasure. And when we found your glasses …”
“But I was not searching for the sort of treasure you see before you,” Professor Meyer went on. “I have been searching for information about the past.”
“Why are you looking for that?” Benny asked.
“I am writing a book,” the professor said. “A history of Goldwin University.”
“Is that how you’re going to make money?” asked Jessie.
“Yes, a little bit, if I can sell a few copies,” Professor Meyer said. “I have done a great deal of research. Some of my research has been up here, looking at these old photos.”
“So that’s when you left your glasses up here!” Henry said.
“Indeed I did,” Professor Meyer said. “But I haven’t been up here late at night. I’ve only come during the day. Much of my research has been speaking with people connected with Goldwin. One such person is Laurence Chambers, the great-great-grandnephew of the university’s first president, Joshua Chambers.” The professor paused and looked around. “He told me an interesting tale. He said that all of the family’s valuables were mysteriously missing after the Civil War. There was a story in the family that his great-great-granduncle, Joshua Chambers, had hidden them to keep them safe from the army. But no one ever knew for sure what had happened to them. So when I read that letter last night, it answered a lot of questions—but raised many more.”
“Is that why you said, ‘So that’s what happened to it,’ when we showed you the letters?” Violet said.
“Yes,” the professor said. “I had been wondering where the family wealth had gone.”
“But if you weren’t the one who had the letter in the first place,” Henry said, “then who did?”
“And who was up here in the middle of the night?” asked Jessie.
Just then the door burst open and Andi came rushing in. She seemed surprised by the crowd of people in the tower. She looked even more surprised when she saw the silver and gold objects laid out on the desk.
“Look at the treasure we found!” Benny said.
“You found this?” Andi asked. “Where? How?”
“We found two letters with clues in them—” Benny began, but before he could explain, Andi burst out crying. She dropped her bag and sank down in a chair, her face in her hands.
“Miss Barton!” Ezra said. “What is the matter?”
Andi took a deep breath and tried to collect herself. She looked around at all the faces staring at her.
“I’m sorry, it’s nothing …” she began.
Jessie whispered to Henry, “Do you think she’s upset because she was the one looking for the treasure?”
Henry shrugged his shoulders.
“Oh, Ezra,” Andi was saying. “I’m upset because I came here to quit. I can’t be your assistant anymore.”
“But whyever not?” Ezra asked.
“Because I’m no good,” Andi said. “I keep losing things, like the new music I bought. And I don’t play well enough. I’ve been sneaking in here for extra practice, but I didn’t want you to know.”
“Don’t play well enough?” Ezra said. “You’re great! In fact, you’re so good, I’m afraid they’re going to give you my job when you graduate! I’m getting old, and you’re bringing in that exciting newfangled music.”
“I thought you didn’t like the new music,” Andi said.
Ezra looked at her sheepishly. “I admit it took me a little while to get used to the idea. But now I really enjoy it.” He paused. “In fact, the reason you couldn’t find your music is because I borrowed it.” He looked at the Aldens. “I may be the one you’ve seen up here at night. I came up here once to try out Miss Barton’s new music, but I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Andi beamed. “I’m so relieved. I thought you were disappointed with me.”
“Well, you could try to be a little more organized,” Ezra said. “But you’re an excellent carillon player.”
“I’ll try harder,” Andi said. “And I’ll help you with the new music. I’m just so honored to be working with a gifted carillon player like you.”
“Now we know who was up in the tower those nights,” Henry said.
“Actually, I only came up here one night,” Ezra said.
The children looked at one another, confused. “But we saw a light up here on two different nights.”
At that moment Don came forward and cleared his throat. “I think I have some explaining to do,” he said. “I was the one you saw up here in the tower the other night.” |