hundred dollars."
"Well, of all the cheap tricks!" Penny exclaimed, her indignation
mounting. "He bought that rock for two dollars, pretending he meant to
give it to the museum. Just wait until Mrs. Marborough hears about it!"
"Suppose you tell me the facts," Mr. Parker invited.
Penny obligingly revealed how she had found the rock by stumbling against
it in descending a steep path to the river. Upon learning of the
transaction which Jay Franklin had concluded with Mrs. Marborough, Mr.
Parker smiled ruefully.
"Franklin always did have a special talent for making money the easy
way," he declared. "I'll be sorry to see him cheat the museum."
"Dad, you don't think Mr. Kaleman will be foolish enough to pay money for
that rock?" Penny asked in dismay.
"I am afraid he may. He seems convinced that the Gleason stone is a
genuine specimen."
"You still believe the writing to be faked?"
"I do," Mr. Parker responded. "I'll stake my reputation upon it! I said
as much to Jay Franklin today and he rather pointedly hinted that he
would appreciate having me keep my theories entirely to myself."
"I guess he doesn't understand you very well," Penny smiled. "Now you'll
be more determined than ever to expose the hoax--if hoax it is."
Mr. Franklin's action thoroughly annoyed her for she felt that he had
deliberately deceived Mrs. Marborough. Wishing to tell Louise Sidell what
he had done, she immediately telephoned her chum.
"I've learned something you'll want to hear," she disclosed. "No, I can't
tell you over the 'phone. Meet me directly after dinner. We might go for
a sail on the river."
The previous summer Mr. Parker had purchased a small sailboat which he
kept at a summer camp on the river. Occasionally he enjoyed an outing,
but work occupied so much of his time that his daughter and her friends
derived far more enjoyment from the craft than he did.
Louise accepted the invitation with alacrity, and later that evening,
driving to the river with Penny, listened indignantly to a colored
account of how Jay Franklin would profit at the widow's expense. She
agreed with her chum that he had acted dishonestly in trying to sell the
stone.
"Perhaps Mrs. Marborough can claim ownership even now," she suggested
thoughtfully.
"Not without a lawsuit," Penny offered as her opinion. "She sold the rock
to Mr. Franklin for two dollars. Remember his final words: 'Now I am the
owner of the stone.' Oh, he intended to trick her even then!"
The car turned into a private dirt road and soon halted beside a cabin of
logs. A cool breeze came from the river, but the girls were prepared for
it, having worn warm slack suits.
"It's a grand night to sail," Penny declared, leading the way to the
boathouse. "We should get as far as the Marborough place if the breeze
holds."
Launching the dinghy, Louise raised the sail while her chum took charge
of the tiller. As the canvas filled, the boat heeled slightly and began
to pick up speed.
"Now use discretion," Louise warned as the dinghy tilted farther and
farther sideways. "It's all very well to sail on the bias, but I prefer
not to get a ducking!"
During the trip up the river the girls were kept too busy to enjoy the
beauty of the night. However, as the boat approached Truman Crocker's
shack, the breeze suddenly died, barely providing steerage way. Holding
the tiller by the pressure of her knee, Penny slumped into a
half-reclining position.
"Want me to steer for awhile?" Louise inquired.
"Not until we turn and start for home. We'll have the current with us
then, which will help, even if the breeze has died."
Curiously, Penny gazed toward Truman Crocker's cabin which was entirely
dark. High on the hillside stood the old Marborough mansion and there,
too, no lights showed.
"Everyone seems to have gone to bed," she remarked. "It must be late."
Louise held her watch so that she could read the figures in the bright
moonlight and observed that it was only a quarter past ten.
"Anyway, we should be starting for home," Penny said. "Coming about!"
Louise prepared to lower her head as the boom swung over, but to her
surprise the maneuver was not carried through. Instead of turning, the
dinghy kept steadily on its course.
"What's the idea?" she demanded. "Isn't there enough breeze to carry us
around?"
"I was watching that light up on the hill," Penny explained.
Louise twisted in the seat to look over her shoulder.
"What light, Penny?"
"It's gone now, but I saw it an instant ago. There it is again!"
Unmistakably, both girls saw the moving light far up the hill. As they
watched, it seemed to approach the dark Marborough house, and then
receded.
"Probably someone with a lantern," Louise remarked indifferently.
"But why should anyone be prowling about Mrs. Marborough's place at this
hour?"
"It does seem strange."
Deliberately, Penny steered the sailboat toward the beach.
"I think we should investigate," she declared firmly. "Everyone knows
Mrs. Marborough lives alone. Someone may be attempting to break into the
house!"
CHAPTER
9
_MYSTERIOUS PROWLERS_
"Oh, Penny, there must be a perfectly good reason for that moving light,"
Louise protested as the boat grated on the sand. "You only want an excuse
for going to the Marborough place!"
"Perhaps," her chum acknowledged with a grin. "Jump out and pull us in,
will you please?"
"My ankles are nice and dry and I like them that way," Louise retorted.
"If it's all the same, you do the jumping."
"All right, I don't mind--much." With a laugh, Penny gingerly stepped
from the dinghy into shallow water. She pulled the boat farther up onto
the shore so that her chum was able to climb out without wetting her
feet. Together they furled the sail and removed the steering apparatus
which they hid in the nearby bushes.
"I don't see a light now," Louise protested after their various tasks had
been completed. "Must we climb that steep hill?"
"We must," Penny declared firmly, taking her by the hand. "Something may
be wrong at Mrs. Marborough's and we ought to find out about it."
"You just love to investigate things," Louise accused. "You know as well
as I do that there's not likely to be anything amiss."
"Someone may be prowling about the grounds! At any rate, my feet are
cramped from sitting so long in the boat. We need exercise."
Finding a trail, the girls climbed it until they were within a hundred
yards of the Marborough mansion. Emerging from behind a clump of lilac
bushes they suddenly obtained an unobstructed view of the yard.
"There's the light!" Penny whispered. "See! By the wishing well!"
To their knowledge the girls had made no unusual sound. Yet, apparently
the person who prowled in the yard was aware of their approach. As they
watched, the lantern was extinguished. Simultaneously, the moon, which
had been so bright, moved under a dark cloud.
For several seconds the girls could not see the shadowy figure by the
well. When the moon again emerged from behind its shield no one was
visible in the yard.
"Whoever was there has hidden!" Penny whispered excitedly. "Louise, after
we leave he may attempt to break into the house!"
"What ought we to do?"
"I think we should warn Mrs. Marborough."
"The house is dark," Louise said dubiously. "She's probably in bed."
"Wouldn't you want to know about it if someone were prowling about your
premises?"
"Yes, of course--but--"
"Then come on," Penny urged, starting through the tangle of tall grass.
"Mrs. Marborough should be very grateful for the warning. It may prevent
a burglary."
In crossing the yard, the girls kept an alert watch of the bushes but
could see no one hiding behind them. Nevertheless, they felt certain that
the prowler could not have left the grounds.
Penny pounded on the rear door of the Marborough house.
"Not so loud," Louise warned nervously.
"Mrs. Marborough probably is asleep. I want to awaken her."
"You will, don't worry!"
Penny repeated the knock many times, and then was rewarded by the
approach of footsteps. The door opened, and Mrs. Marborough, in lace
night cap and flannel robe, peered suspiciously at the girls.
"What do you want?" she asked crossly. "Why do you awaken me at such an
hour?"
"Don't you remember us?" Penny said, stepping into the light. "We didn't
mean to startle you."
"Startle me, fiddlesticks! I am merely annoyed at being awakened from a
sound slumber."
"I'm terribly sorry," Penny apologized. "We wouldn't bother you, but we
saw someone with a lantern moving about in the yard. We were afraid a
burglar might try to break into the house."
Mrs. Marborough gazed carefully about the yard. "I see no light," she
said stiffly.
"It's gone now," Louise admitted. "As we came up from the river, we
distinctly saw it near the old wishing well. Penny and I thought that
whoever it was hid behind the bushes!"
"You both imagined you saw a light," the old lady said with biting
emphasis. "In any case, I am not afraid of prowlers. My doors have good
bolts and I'll be more than a match for anyone who tries to get inside.
Thank you for your interest in my behalf, but really, I am able to look
after myself."
"I'm sorry," Penny apologized meekly.
"There, your intentions were good," Mrs. Marborough said in a more kindly
tone. "Better go home now and forget it. Young girls shouldn't be abroad
at such a late hour."
After the door had closed, Penny and Louise slowly retraced their way to
the river's edge.
"Someday I'll learn never to pay attention to your crazy ideas, Penny
Parker," Louise said, breaking a lengthy silence.
"You saw the light, didn't you?"
"I thought so, but I'm not sure of anything now. It may have come from
the main road."
"Sorry, but I disagree," replied Penny. "Oh, well, if Mrs. Marborough
wishes to be robbed, I suppose it's her own affair."
Launching the dinghy, the girls spread their canvas, and sailing before
what wind there was, presently reached the Parker camp. Penny's father
awaited them by the boathouse and helped to haul in the craft.
The girls did not tell Mr. Parker of their little adventure, but the next
day at school they discussed it at considerable length. During the night
no attempt had been made by anyone to break into the Marborough house.
Nevertheless, Penny was unwilling to dismiss the affair as one of her
many "mistakes."
She was still thinking about the affair as she wandered into the library
a few minutes before class time. Rhoda Wiegand sat at one of the tables
and appeared troubled.
"Hello, Rhoda," Penny greeted as she searched for a book on the shelf.
"You must have an examination coming up from the way you are frowning!"
"Am I?" the older girl asked, smiling. "I was thinking hard. The truth
is, I am rather puzzled."
"I like puzzles, Rhoda. If you have a knotty problem, why not test it on
me?"
"I doubt if you can help me with this one, Penny. Do you remember those
two Texas men I told you about?"
"Yes, of course."
"I don't trust them," Rhoda said briefly. "Mr. Coaten has offered to
adopt Ted and me."
"Adopt you!" Penny exclaimed. "Is that why they came here?"
"Seemingly, it is. Mr. Coaten wants to become our legal guardian. I can't
understand why he should show such interest in us."
"I thought the Breens were looking after you and Ted."
"They took us in because we had no one else. We never were adopted, and
the truth is, we're a financial burden."
"Is Mr. Coaten an old friend?"
"I never met him until he came to Riverview. He and his friend, Carl
Addison, claim they were closely associated with my father. Neither Ted
nor I ever heard Papa speak of them when he was alive."
"It does seem strange they should show such sudden interest in you,"
Penny commented thoughtfully. "You have no property they might wish to
control?"
"Ted and I haven't a penny to our names. Papa never owned land, and what
cash he had was absorbed by his last sickness."
"Then perhaps Mr. Coaten really is a friend."
"I wish I could think so, but I can't. Penny, I just feel that he has a
selfish purpose behind his apparent kindness. It worries me because I
can't figure it out."
"Then of course you'll not agree to the adoption?"
"I don't want to, Penny. Ted favors it, and so does Mrs. Breen. You see,
Mr. Coaten has been very generous with his money." Rhoda indicated a new
dress which she wore. "He gave me this. He made Mrs. Breen accept money,
and he's giving Ted things too."
"If he's really a friend of the family--"
"I'll never believe that he is," Rhoda interrupted. "Never!"
The ringing of the school bell brought the conversation to an end, but
all during the morning Penny thought of what the trailer-camp girl had
told her. Knowing nothing concerning the characters of the two strangers,
she could not judge their motives.
Another matter caused Penny considerable annoyance. The morning paper had
carried a brief item about the record stone found at the Marborough
mansion. From her father she had learned that instead of delivering the
rock to the museum, Jay Franklin had hauled it to his own home, offering
it for sale to the highest bidder. Penny felt that Mrs. Marborough should
be told what had occurred, yet neither she nor Louise were eager to visit
Rose Acres again.
"After last night I've had enough of that place," Louise declared as they
discussed the matter. "Mrs. Marborough was very rude to us."
"Even so, we should tell her what Jay Franklin has done," Penny insisted.
"Let's go right after school."
"I can't," Louise declined. "I've planned a shopping tour."
"Then, immediately after dinner," Penny persisted. "I'll stop by for you
in the car."
As it developed, various duties kept both girls so busy that it was dusk
before they actually drove toward Rose Acres. Louise protested that,
considering what had occurred the previous night, it was much too late to
call on the widow.
"Mrs. Marborough surely won't be abed before eight o'clock," Penny
answered carelessly. "If the house should be dark, we can drive away
without disturbing her." Louise made another protest, but knew that as
usual Penny would get her way.
A few minutes later the automobile swung around a bend. Directly ahead
loomed the old colonial mansion, its windows without lights.
"We may as well turn back," Louise observed.
Penny slackened speed, gazing toward the unkempt grounds.
"Louise!" she exclaimed tensely. "There it is again! The light!"
"Where?" Louise demanded in disbelief. "I don't see it."
As she spoke, the car passed beyond a tall clump of azalea bushes
bordering the property. Through its branches both girls saw a light which
appeared to be motionless.
"It's a lantern covered with a cloth to prevent a bright glow!" Louise
discerned.
"And it's close to the wishing well!" Penny added in a thrilled voice.
"Lou, there's something queer going on at this place. Let's find out
about it!"
"How?" Louise asked, forgetting that she had decided to have nothing more
to do with her chum's "ideas."
"Let's drive past the house and park up the road," Penny proposed with a
delighted chuckle. "Then we'll steal back afoot and see what we can see!"
CHAPTER
10
_BENEATH THE FLAGSTONES_
Louise offered no serious objection to Penny's proposal, for she too was
curious to learn who might be prowling about the Marborough yard. Driving
on down the road for a considerable distance, they parked the car just
off the pavement and walked back to the estate. A high hedge bounded the
front side of the Marborough property, but they were able to peer through
the scanty foliage into the yard.
"It will be just our luck that the light has disappeared," Penny
muttered. "I don't see it anywhere."
"I do!" Louise whispered excitedly. "Look over there by the wishing
well."
In the darkness, both girls could see the faint glow of a covered lantern
which had been deposited on the ground. A shadowy figure was bending
over, examining some object on the ground.
"Can you tell who it is?" Penny murmured.
"Not from here. Dare we move closer?"
"Let's risk it," Penny said, and led the way through the open gateway.
Taking the precaution to keep tall bushes between themselves and the
wishing well, the girls quietly stole closer. Soon they were near enough
to distinguish that someone in dark clothing was kneeling on the ground,
face turned away from them. Apparently the person was trying to lift one
of the flagstones which formed a circular base about the covered well.
"Who can he be?" Penny whispered, pausing. "And what is he doing?"
At that moment the figure straightened, and the lantern was lifted from
the ground.
"It's a _she_, not a he!" Louise observed in an undertone.
"Mrs. Marborough!"
"It looks like her from here," Louise nodded. "But what can she be doing
at the well?"
Completely mystified, the girls remained motionless, watching. Mrs.
Marborough raised one of the flagstones and peered beneath it.
"She's searching for something," Penny whispered. "Probably she works
after dark so she won't be observed."
It was evident to both girls that the moving light which had attracted
their attention the previous night had, undoubtedly, been Mrs.
Marborough's lantern.
Although they now could understand the old lady's irritation at their
intrusion, her actions mystified them. As they continued to watch, she
pried up one stone after another, frequently resting from her labors.
"We might offer to help her," Louise proposed half-seriously.
"If we show ourselves now she'll order us never to return," Penny
replied. "We want to find out what this is all about."
During the next ten minutes the girls huddled behind the friendly bush.
At the end of that period, Mrs. Marborough gathered together her tools,
and went wearily into the house.
"Obviously she didn't find what she was after," Penny said, coming from
behind the shelter. "What do you suppose it can be?"
"Buried treasure, perhaps."
"Or possibly the family silverware hidden during the Civil War," Penny
chuckled. "I'm afraid not. Mrs. Marborough lived at Rose Acres all her
early years. If there had been anything valuable buried, wouldn't she
have done her searching long ago?"
"If that's a question, I can't answer it," sighed Louise. "What's our
next move? Home?"
"I should say not! Let's inspect the wishing well."
Penny started forward, taking pains to avoid a patch of light which came
from the lower windows of the Marborough house. Even in the semi-darkness
the girls were able to see that many flagstones about the well had been
removed and fitted again into place.
"Just for luck I shall make a wish!" Penny announced unexpectedly,
lowering the bucket into the pit.
"What will it be this time?" Louise inquired, slightly amused.
Penny drank deeply of the cool, sweet water, and tossed a token into the
well.
"I wish that Rose Acres would give us a whopping big mystery!" she said
gaily. "Lou, why did Mrs. Marborough return to Riverview after being away
so many years?"
"This is her ancestral home."
"True, but didn't she tell us that whether or not she remains here
depends upon certain conditions? Lou, she must have had a very special
reason for coming, and it may be connected with this wishing well! We
ought to find out about it!"
"Why?"
"Why?" Penny fairly wailed. "Oh, Lou, at times you're the most
exasperating person. Here we are face to face with something baffling,
and you wonder why we should interest ourselves in it!"
"I like mystery as well as you, but you know Mrs. Marborough won't care
to have us interfere in her private affairs."
"Probably not," Penny conceded. "Oh, well, we can forget all about it if
that's the way you feel."
"How could we learn anything without provoking Mrs. Marborough?"
"I know of no way," Penny admitted. "In fact, she'll probably be
irritated when I rap on her door again."
Louise followed her chum down the path toward the house.
"Ought we bother Mrs. Marborough now?" she asked in mild protest. "She
may think we have been spying on her."
"Which of course we never would consider doing," Penny chuckled.
Paying no heed to Louise, she boldly clomped across the veranda and
knocked on the door. The girls did not have long to wait. In a moment
Mrs. Marborough appeared, looking decidedly flustered and nervous.
"Who is it?" she asked sharply, and then recognized the girls. "Oh, I
see!"
"Mrs. Marborough, do excuse us," Penny began hastily. "I've learned
something which I feel sure you'll wish to hear."
"You've seen another light in the yard perhaps?" the old lady inquired,
her voice slightly mocking.
Penny glanced at Louise, uncertain what to say in reply.
"There has been no one in my yard either last night or this evening,"
Mrs. Marborough resumed tartly. "I appreciate your interest in my
welfare, but I can only repeat that I am quite capable of looking after
myself."
"We came to tell you about that big rock which we discovered on the
hillside," Penny interposed. "Do you care to hear what Jay Franklin did?"
Despite herself, Mrs. Marborough was interested. She hesitated, and then
came outside, carefully closing the door behind her. The peculiar action
was not lost upon the girls.
"It's quite chilly out tonight," Penny said significantly. "Perhaps it
would be better to step inside."
"I don't mind a little fresh air," Mrs. Marborough replied. "Now what is
it that you wish to tell me?"
Feeling far from comfortable, Penny explained how Jay Franklin had kept
the big rock as his own property and was endeavoring to sell it to the
museum at a handsome profit.
"But he told me he would give the stone to the institution!" Mrs.
Marborough exclaimed indignantly. "Will you see Mr. Franklin tomorrow?"
"I can," Penny nodded.
"Then if you do, ask him to come here and see me."
As if the matter were completely settled, Mrs. Marborough started to
reenter the house. She did not invite the girls to accompany her.
However, sensing that they were puzzled by her lack of hospitality she
said apologetically:
"I would invite you in only the house isn't fixed up yet. After
everything is cleaned and straightened, you both must come to tea."
Without giving the girls an opportunity to say that they shouldn't mind a
disorderly house, she gently closed the door.
"Well, at least Mrs. Marborough didn't slam it in our faces this time,"
Penny remarked cheerfully. "Lou, we're making progress!"
"Progress toward what?" Louise demanded.
"I'm not sure yet," Penny laughed as they started for their car. "All the
same, I have a feeling that we're on our way!"
CHAPTER
11
_JAY FRANKLIN'S TRICKERY_
"Morning, Dad," Penny greeted her father as she slid into a vacant chair
at the breakfast table. "What's news and why?"
"No news." Mr. Parker lowered his paper, and folding it, devoted himself
to a plate of bacon and eggs.
"Just fourteen pages of well-set type, I suppose. Isn't there anything
about that big stone Lou and I found at the Marborough place?"
"Not a line. I told you the _Star_ would play that yarn down."
"Why are you so convinced it's all a hoax?" Penny demanded, reaching
across the table for the coffee percolator.
"Must I give you a diagram?" the publisher asked wearily. "After you've
been in the newspaper business as long as I have, you don't need reasons.
You sense things."
"Just like a bloodhound!" Penny teased. "How about the other papers?
Aren't they carrying the story either?"
"They are," Mr. Parker admitted a bit grimly. "The _News_ used a half
page of pictures today and went for the story in a big way."
"I may subscribe to a rival paper just to keep posted on the latest
developments," Penny teased.
"Nothing really new has come out. Jay Franklin is trying to sell the
Marborough stone to the museum at a fancy price, and the institution
officials are seriously considering his proposition."
"Then, in their opinion the stone is an authentic one?"
"Experts have been known to be wrong," Mr. Parker insisted. "I claim no
knowledge of ancient writing, but I do have common sense. For the time
being, at least, I shall continue to play down the story."
Penny finished breakfast, and before starting to school, telephoned Jay
Franklin. Relaying Mrs. Marborough's message, she requested him to visit
the old lady as soon as it was convenient. Somewhat to her surprise he
promised that he would call at Rose Acres that afternoon.