“Count ’em,” cried Chet.

Then began a hasty move on the part of both girls and boys to count the gold and silver.  Poor Billie’s hands trembled so she could scarcely help.

“I make it the gold and silver alone are worth at least three thousand dollars,” declared Teddy.

“And don’t forget the copper coins,” added Ferd.

“And remember too they are old coins and worth something extra from a collector’s point of view,” said Chet.

From the coins the young folks turned to the postage stamps.  Chet and Teddy had done a little stamp collecting once and knew that some of the stamps were rare.

“I think they are worth at least fifteen hundred dollars more,” said Teddy, “and maybe they are worth twice that.  Some stamps are worth a hundred dollars apiece.”

It was not until they were called below by Mrs. Gilligan that they gave up speculating about the value of the trunk.  The boys went off, leaving the girls to themselves.

“It’s too good to be true,” murmured Billie, over and over again.

Both of the other girls put their arms about her.

“You deserve it,” said Laura.

“I’m awfully glad, Billie, really I am,” beamed Violet.

“Why, I’ll be able to go to Three Towers Hall!” cried Billie, a little later, when thinking it all over.  “And I can send Chet to Boxton Military Academy.  Won’t that be fine?”

“And you can have enough left to pay for that old statue,” added Laura, with a smile.  “I knew something good would come out of this queer old house at Cherry Corners.”

“Well, you needn’t take all the credit to yourself,” said Billie, the lilt of happiness and excitement in her voice.  “Just remember, young lady, that it was little Billie Bradley who discovered the trunk.”

“You stuck up thing,” cried Violet, putting a fond arm again about her.  “Billie, dear,” she went on in the serious voice that was Violet’s very own, “I’m just exactly as glad for myself that you found the money as I am for you.  Because if Laura and I had had to go to Three Towers without you we wouldn’t have enjoyed a single thing.”

“Yes, we’ve been worrying terribly about that,” sighed Laura, and affectionately Billie patted a hand of each.

“There never was a girl had such wonderful friends,” she said, and something in her throat tightened a little.  “And it makes the trunk three times as valuable,” she added, in a lighter tone, “because it makes three people happy instead of one.  Which reminds me—­” she stopped short and put her hand over her mouth in consternation.

“Now what’s the matter?” Violet surveyed her anxiously.  “Is there a pin sticking you, or something?”

“Of course not,” denied Billie absently, adding as she rose hastily to her feet:  “It just struck me that I’ve known this wonderful thing for hours and I haven’t written home about it yet.”

“Well, you’d better read these first,” sang out a cheery voice from the door, and they turned to find Teddy coming toward them with some letters in his hand.