What happened in Part 2:
The trip to their new home went smoothly until they encountered a large Black Snake, who tried to attack them. Digger and Shagpoat use the Rooter Roadster to punch a hole in the snake's nose, driving it away. Digger runs into an old, wooden box while showing the moles how to travel through the cemetery without bashing into coffins underground. Shag leans on the box, which splinters, sending a stream of precious jewels and gold coins pouring out, burying all but Shag's head.

PART THREE

Beneath the peaceful grounds of the old Golden Glen Cemetery excitment reached a peak nearing hysteria. The mole colony gathered around the pile of gold coins, precious stones, necklaces, rings and bracelets that buried all but the head of Sergeant Shagpoat Shrewman.

"Step aside! Step aside!" Detective Digger McDirt ordered the colony. He came through the crowd of nervous, worried moles to gaze upon his assistant and companion, Shag, surrounded by brilliant jewels and coins.

"Shag, are you alright?" Digger asked. "We will have you free from this pile of valuables immediately."

"I'm okay, Detective," Shag replied, squirming uncomfortably. "I'm much better than your nose. It's very red and swollen from when you crashed into this old box of treasure."

Digger's nose throbbed with pain, but his main concern was for Shag, and the mystery of the buried treasure.

Working quickly, Digger and the colony pulled Shag from the treasure. Once free, he tested his legs and except for a few bruises, he was not injured.

"We're rich, Detective! Just look at all this wealth," Shag said.

"No, Shag," Digger replied. "The treasure does not belong to us. We simply discovered it. We don't need any of this wealth. We only need a continuous, healthy food supply to satisfy our needs. But, we do need to solve the mystery of who actually owns this treasure, and return it to them."

Digger's cousin, Spade McDirt, asked, "How can we, a colony of moles, find out who owns this treasure? How did it get here, and how can we give it back?"

"One thing at a time." Digger said. "First, we need to sort the treasure into groups. Gold coins in one room, jewelry in another, and precious stones in another. Everyone, please begin sorting. Meanwhile, Shag and I will go above ground to read what it says on the headstone that sits above the treasure. Perhaps, we can find a clue to the ownership."

Digger and Shag surfaced above ground. The sun had set and the old Golden Glen Cemetery was glowing under a full moon.

Digger looked at Shag, who was shivering violently.

"What's wrong with you, Shag?" Digger asked. "Why are you shaking?"

"Well, sir, I keep thinking of Hoppin' Robin's remark about living in a cemetery, especially when there is a full moon. I'm not anxious to find out what he meant," Shag said."

"Not to worry. I'm sure we're safe. Now, let's have a look at the headstone. My vision, as you know, is not the best. I'm hoping you can read the name by the light of the moon," Digger said.

They scurried through the grass and stood in front of the headstone. The moon shed enough light for Shag to see the name.

"Come on. What does it say? Why are you taking so long to read it?" Digger asked, impatiently.

"It says: 'HERE LIES MARVIN Y. JEMS'. Then below his name it says: 'BORN' and a date and then 'DIED' and no date. What does that mean? That he's still living?" Shag asked.

"I would believe that to be true," Digger replied. "Marvin Y. Jems is still alive, but he would be over a hundred years old, if his birth date is correct. This is a very old looking headstone. The name and the date have almost worn away."

"I agree," Shag said. "I could barely read them."

"Let's get back to the colony," Digger said. "We must have a meeting with my cousin Spade and Tom Tellitall. I want to see what they think about the name on the headstone."

Digger and Shag rushed through the long grass toward their tunnel.

Suddenly there was a great whooshing sound, and Shag was lifted off the ground by his orange hat.

Squeeling and twisting, he was in the air for only a moment, when his hat came off his head, and he tumbled to the ground. His hat came to rest in the grass a few yards away.

"Shag, Shag." Digger cried, shaking him gently. "Speak to me."

Shag groaned. He opened one eye and then the other.

"What happened?" he asked. "I was lifted right off the ground by my hat. I'm so scared I can't move."

"It was a bird, Shag." Digger whispered. "It had big, wide wings, but a short body. I caught a glimpse of it just before you fell out of your hat. It had your hat in its claws."

"Ya...ya...ya see, ya see," Shag stuttered. "There are 'things' on a moonlight night out to get us. M... M...Maybe I'll m...m...move back to the golf course. No flying golf balls at night."

"Now, now," Digger said patting him. "Get your hat and we'll head underground where it's safe. Thank goodness you're not hurt.

From a perch high on a limb near the top of a tree, an Owl looked down on Digger and Shag.

"Missed you this time," he said to himself. "But I'm not through yet. Whoo, Whoo, I've got my eyes on youuu."

Spade McDirt, Tom Tellitall, Shag and Digger had a meeting in front of the empty treasure box. The colony had neatly separated the treasure into rooms, just as Digger had asked them to do.

Shag was still shaking so badly, that Digger had to explain what had happened to him.

Spade was very upset, and said, "We need to inform the colony about the dangers of going above ground at night, especially if there is a full moon."

"And especially if they wear an orange hat." Shag said examining the hole in his hat.

Tom suggested Digger and Shag wear black hats if they go above ground at night. Then he asked, "What was the name on the headstone? Did you read it?"

Digger told them the name...Marvin Y. Jems. He told them there was a birth date, but no date of death.

"This would mean that M.Y. Jems would be over a hundred years old, if he is still living,." Digger said.

Tom asked, "Did you say M.Y. Jems? Well, just think about this...that could mean 'my gems'. Maybe there is no one buried here except the treasure. Someone may have used the name M.Y. Jems on the headstone as a marker for his buried treasure. What about that?

"Very clever, Tom," Digger said. "That might mean the treasure has been buried here for a long time. We may never find the rightful owner."

Shag offered another idea. "Maybe it was stolen from someone. Maybe there is even more treasure buried here. What should we do with it?"

The four friends sat quietly thinking. Then Digger said, "It would be nice if we could find someone who needs help, and give them a ring or some coins. Here we are, with a treasure worth a fortune, and all we need is a good supply of food."

"Too bad we can't eat it," Spade said. "Speaking of eating. Let's go find us some grubs."

On that suggestion the meeting ended.

Time passed, and the mole colony settled into their new home. They found a bountiful food supply. They dug many tunnels, and made the old wooden treasure box into a speakers platform in the meeting hall.

Meanwhile, Digger had not forgotten about the treasure. He had explained to the colonly about M.Y. Jems and the fact that the treasure was undoubtedly old. It would be almost impossible to find the owner. They all decided to use the treasure to help someone who was in need.

One day, Tom Tellitall came to Digger. He was very excited. Tom was a nosy mole. He always listened to what people said and watched what they did.

Tom said, "I may have found someone who seems to need help, Digger."

"Good! Tell me about them," Digger said.

Tom told him about the young girl that often came to visit the grave beside M.Y. Jems' headstone.

"She is dressed poorly, and is very thin," Tom said. "She gathers the wild flowers that grow along the fence, and lays them on the grave. Then she sits there looking very sad. She needs something to cheer her up. I think she needs help."

Digger thought for a moment, then said, "Perhaps, if we made a selection of a pretty necklace, or ring from the jewlery collection, it would make her happy. What do you think?"

"I think a few gold coins would be more practical. She could buy some better clothes and some food." Tom replied.

"Let's talk to Shag and Spade. We should include Rake McDirt, Spade's wife. She should know what a young girl would like to have," Digger said.
"This girl usually visits on a sunny day, like today. We could all go and watch for her. Then, you can see for yourselves how sad she seems," Tom replied.

Digger, Shag, Tom, Spade and his wife, Rake, hid in the tall grass near the headstone the young girl visited.

Digger looked at Shag. "Where's your sergeant's hat?" he asked. "We always wear our hats when we're on duty. You know that, Shag."

"I know that, sir. But, I'm not about to be air-lifted by that claw-footed, winged phantom again. My orange hat is too bright for even wearing in the daylight," Shag said with a shiver.

"I'm wearing my blue hat, and I'm not letting a bird scare me," Digger said in a no nonsense tone.

"Shh...shh...stop arguing," Tom said. "Here she comes."

They watched closely as a pretty, dark-haired girl laid her handful of wild flowers on the headstone. She sat down and leaned against the stone. The sun shone on her thin face. She closed her eyes and began whispering something.

"What's she saying?" Tom asked. "Can you hear her?"

"Ahhh...the poor dear," Rake said, a tear coming to her eye. "I belive she's praying. She must love and miss whoever is buried beneath that stone. Please, I can't watch her. It makes me too sad."

"Yes, this is very sad." Digger said, sniffing. Let's return to the meeting room where we can discuss this further."

The five of them hurried to the tunnel entrance. Out of nowhere, there was a loud whooshing sound. They all turned to see Digger flying through the air. A large bird had his blue hat in its claws, just like it had snagged Shag.

Twisting and squirming, Digger dropped out of his hat, and plopped to the ground. His blue detective's hat landed in the weeds not far away.

The Owl landed in its tree and looked down upon the frightened moles hovering around Digger.

"Whoo...whoo...did I give them another scare! Silly critters! Why do they wear those ridiculous hats? They're like bright targets for me to grab. Watch out for next time, my succulent, little tidbits," the Owl hooted.

Digger got to his feet saying, "I'm alright. Don't fuss. Just hurry and get below ground."

"But your hat...it's in the grass over there," Spade cried.

"Let it go. I'll get it later. Everyone...underground!" Digger yelled.

Later, in the meeting room, after everyone had calmed down, they talked about the young girl.

"I think if we left a necklace for her, it would be lovely," Rake suggested. "She needs something to cheer her up."

"I think some gold coins would be better," Spade said. "They would be more practical than a necklace."

"You just don't understand young girls, Spade," Rake said. "She needs something pretty."

Digger listened to the argument and at last said, "Why don't we give her some gold coins and a necklace? Then she will have something pretty and practical. We certainly have enough treasure to do that much."

"Fine idea," Tom said. "We should plan to do that the next time she visits."

Rake McDirt and some of her friends selected a beautiful gold chain with a gold locket on it. Digger, Shag, Tom and Spade gathered eight gold coins. With the help of the younger, stronger moles, they planned to carry them to the headstone when the girl next visited.

Tom Tellitall watched for the girl every sunny day by the gate to the old Golden Glen Cemetery. One day he saw her picking wild flowers along the fence. He rushed through the tunnels, calling, "She's coming... she's coming!"

Digger promptly took charge. "Get ready to transport the gifts," he hollored to the colony.

The colony carried the eight gold coins above ground followed by more moles with the gold necklace and locket.

They scuttled through the grass with the gifts and carefully laid them in front of the headstone.

The colony rushed to hide in the grass to see what would happen when she found the gifts.

The girl stopped many times to pick more wild flowers for her bouquet. She only selected the prettiest flowers and it took a long time.

Hoppin' Robin and his flock, also watched from the trees above.

Then, the stillness of the Golden Glen Cemetery was broken by the harsh cries of a flock of black Crows. They had recently made their home in one of the big trees.

They circled directly above the headstone, looking down. One of the largest Crows landed near the headstone. He hopped over to the gold coins and necklace lying in the grass. Another Crow landed beside him.

"Well, well," he cawed. "This is a glittering, shiny group of lovelies."

"Haw...haw..." his friend replied. "These things would be a nice addition to our collection. Let's grab and go, my friend."

One Crow picked up three gold coins in his black beak and the other grabbed the necklace. In an instant, they were up and away with their loot.

The flock of Robins screamed and cried as they took off in pursuit of the Crows. They followed the Crows to their home in the top of the trees. Quickly, the whole flock of Crows turned and chased the Robins away cawing and pecking at them in mid-air.

Helplessly, the mole colony watched in awe, as the necklace and coins were stolen.

"There are more than just 'things' in the night, here at Golden Glen," said Shag, shivering. "Danger also lurks in the daylight."

"What now? What now?" Digger groaned. "Whatever will we do now?"

END OF PART THREE

What will happen next in the old Golden Glen Cemetery, where only a few are really able to rest in peace?
Read the next exciting episode of DIGGER McDIRT..

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