So, it's beginning to look like THE BUTTON was just a plot device. The true McGuffin has arrived from poor ol' Uncle Feathers. The question is: what is it and how many hoards of raving lunatics, cultists, demons and aliens will be trying to kill Art & Company this time to take it from them?
You can see that I'm getting used to this strip's style, can't you?
FWIW, I think Art is wrong. Throwing the puzzle box to break it open is the sort of out-of-the-box thinking that only the truely smart and wiley can manage.