The Case of the Missing Coin – Part 4

Oliver thought fast.

“Use the coin!” he said.

“The gold one!”

The tiny people rolled the coin into the tunnel like a wheel.

It fit perfectly into a broken wooden gear that had stopped turning.

The gear began to spin again.

The tunnel walls stopped shaking.

Dust settled.

Everything became quiet.

The tiny people cheered.

The little leader looked up at Oliver.

“You saved our home,” he said.

Then he handed Oliver the golden coin.

“But it belongs to you.”

Oliver smiled.

“You can borrow it if you need it,” he said.

“But next time…”

The tiny man nodded quickly.

“We ask first.”

From that day on, Oliver sometimes heard tiny footsteps in the walls.

And once in a while…

A small shiny coin would appear on his desk.

A thank-you from the Wall Keepers.