Excerpts

     "What's she doing here?"

     "She was with me when we saw Zack burying the box.  Half of my money is hers."

     "Whatever - just as long as I get my half," said Wes.

     Cassie reminded Wes of his spending spree.  "Your half is five thousand minus the five hundred you spent on those fancy duds."

     "Rub it in why don’t you.  I thought we were over that?" asked Wes.

     "Let's get the money and get out of here.  This place is spooky at night," said Cassie.

     Wes, Cassie and Velda crawled through a small opening under the schoolhouse.  The lanterns provided just enough light to see the many cobwebs and trash underneath the building.  Velda whispered, "Are there snakes under here?"

     Wes replied in his heroic tone, "Of course, but I'll protect you."

     Cassie moaned, "That's what we're afraid of."

     "Whatcha mean by that?" asked Wes.

     "Never mind.  Where is the box buried?" asked Cassie.

     "Right here."  Wes pointed to a spot where the dirt appeared to have been recently disturbed.  He pulled a portable shovel out of a bag.  "Look at this.  I bought it at the Army Surplus store.  It's a foxhole shovel."  It only took a few minutes for Wes to retrieve the box.  When he opened it, Cassie and Velda gasped at the sight of so much money.   Most of it was in fifties and hundreds.  Velda said as she retrieved a one hundred-dollar bill from the box, "I've never seen one of these before."

     "Me neither," exclaimed Cassie as she also took one from the box.  "Where are we going to count it out?  Let's not divide it under here with these spiders and who knows what else.  Let's go in the schoolhouse.  I know where Miss Carnes keeps the key."

     The three of them crawled from beneath the school building and dusted off their clothes.  Cassie found the key on top of the iron strap that held the school bell.  She opened the door and they went in just like it was time for school.  Wes set the box and the lanterns on Miss Carnes' desk.  "Who's going to count it out?" asked Wes.

     "I'll count it," said Cassie.  "I'm good at Arithmetic."  Cassie opened the box and laid three one hundred-dollar bills on the desk.  She continued to place additional one hundred-dollar bill on each pile. 

     "Wait a minute!" said Wes as he grabbed Cassie's hand.  "This don't seem right."

     "What's wrong Wes?" asked Cassie.

     "We're supposed to split this money fifty-fifty but you got three stacks there.  I ain't good in Arithmetic but I can see you ain't givin' me half."

     "Oh…you're right," replied Cassie as she scooped all the bills together and started again with two piles of money.  Wes looked at her with suspicion wondering if she did make an honest mistake or was she trying to cheat him.

     Within a few minutes, the two piles of money were so tall they fell over.  "I'll start new ones," said Cassie.  Suddenly the school clock sounded its familiar chime eleven times.

     Wes said nervously, "The Sheriff makes a patrol down this road every night at eleven o'clock."

     "How do you know that?" asked Velda.  "What are you doing out on this road at this time of night - stealing?"

     "No! I don't steal.  I have to go look for my older brother Dan.  He gets in trouble an awful lot these days."

     Cassie placed the last bill on the pile.  "There it's done.  Let's get out of here before the Sheriff catches us.  We'd have a hard time explaining all this…"

     As she spoke, Wes interrupted her.  "Shh…I hear a car outside.  Turn out the lanterns and hide under the teacher's desk."

     They heard feet on the front steps.  Then the doorknob turned.  The door opened with an eerie creaking.  "Anybody here?" the Sheriff called out.  "I could have sworn I saw a light in here.  It must have been my headlights reflecting on the window glass.  I'll have to warn Miss Carnes tomorrow about leaving this door unlocked."  When the door closed, they all three exhaled as if they had been holding their breath the whole time.

     "That was too close," whispered Cassie.  "Let's wait for a few minutes before we leave.  We don't want to meet the Sheriff on the road."

THE TREASURE ON ORCHARD HILL

 

     As they approached the front steps, Cassie whispered, "Wes!  Wes!  Are you there?'

     "Yep, I'm here.  Is that you Cassie?  Who's that with you?"

     “It's Velda."