Free Ghost Cave by Barbara Steiner Page B

a grave. We can save the work of digging it up by telling Professor Beslow to come in here and dig it up himself.” Eddie wasn’t one to work hard unless he had to.
    â€œWait a minute, Eddie. I want to see what’s in it before we tell anyone, don’t you?” Marc asked. “I want the fun of digging it up. There might be nothing but a skeleton and this arrow.…”
    Yet Marc had a feeling there was more. A person’s belongings were usually buried with him, along with things to keep him happy on the way to the other side. He’d be surprised if there weren’t any more relics.
    â€œBut then again, if there’s some good stuff, we can decide what to do about it,” Marc finished his argument.
    â€œYou just want to keep it for yourself,” Eddie said.
    â€œThat wouldn’t be fair. It doesn’t belong to me.”
    â€œYou found it,” said Hermie. “You could keep it and no one but us would know.”
    â€œYou’re right, but that’s not fair. All of us agreed on sharing the reward.” Eddie wasn’t going to forget about the money.
    â€œLook, let’s go home. It will take us a little time to get out of here. I don’t want my dad asking questions or telling me I can’t come back.”
    â€œWe can come back tomorrow with a shovel.” Hermie had forgotten he was afraid of being underground.
    â€œSmall garden spades, a toothbrush, a box, and some tissue paper.” Marc started to list the things they’d need. “We’ll have to dig carefully.”
    Bluedog started to bark again. She’d barked enough today for a whole month. But she sensed their excitement. She had walked right up to the grave this time.
    â€œI guess she wants to come again.” Hermie petted her.
    â€œShe found the cave. She found the grave. I don’t think I’d have noticed the opening behind the flowstone,” Marc admitted. “It’s fairly well hidden.”
    â€œA dog for a partner.” Eddie sighed and started out. “Holy Cow, who’d have thought it?”
    â€œDon’t let Eddie give you a bad time, Blue,” Hermie told the dog. “You’re a good finder, and we need you on our team.”
    It was three days before they got to go back into the cave. Hermie had another dental appointment, then his mother made him go shopping with her. Marc’s dad wanted to go back to the sanatorium on Sunday, and Marc could hardly say he had something more exciting to do. He felt ashamed. It was the first time he had not really wanted to go and visit Mama. He thought she’d understand, though, if he could tell her. He hoped Eddie wouldn’t go alone. It would be just like him to do that.
    Maybe he wasn’t as brave as he acted, though, because he waited for them. On Monday they got their gear together at Hermie’s place. Marc had taken the back streets, Bluedog trotting along beside him. It was getting hotter by the day, coming around to what June was supposed to be like. That cave was going to feel good.
    All the great things they might find raced through his head. But he kept remembering Mooney’s plan to let them find something, then somehow claim it for himself.
    The three of them rode their bikes in a row at a leisurely pace, as if they had no plan for the day. Only their loaded packs suggested the adventure ahead. Somehow Marc wasn’t surprised, though, when Mooney and Otis Kruger showed up in front of them at the last street crossing before the old highway. Of all the dumb luck. Marc was getting tired of Mooney’s antics.
    Marc stopped, leaned his bike over, and took hold of Bluedog’s collar. She had started to growl the minute Mooney showed his face.
    â€œI never saw a dog who was a better judge of character.” Eddie stopped beside Marc. Bluedog had lowered her head and arched her back. Marc thought she’d have pounced on Mooney if he hadn’t held onto