father's theory that the writing and symbols it bore were fakes. It
occurred to her that Truman Crocker's opinion might be interesting for
the old man had worked with rocks his entire life.
"Let's hike out to his shack this afternoon," she impulsively proposed to
Louise Sidell.
"All right," her chum agreed. "Why not invite Rhoda too? She might enjoy
accompanying us."
Upon being approached, the trailer camp girl immediately accepted the
invitation. Since the last meeting of the Palette Club nearly all of the
students had been very kind to her, but she seemed rather indifferent to
everyone save Louise and Penny.
As the three girls trudged along the dusty road en-route to the river
shack, Rhoda spoke of Mr. Coaten and his friend who still remained in
Riverview.
"They've taken a room at the Riverview Hotel," she told Penny and Louise.
"Perhaps I am too suspicious, but I don't trust them. Mr. Coaten never
would seem like a father to me."
"Is he married?" Louise questioned curiously.
"His wife remained in Dallas. The Coatens have two children of their own.
I can't understand why they should be so eager to adopt two
more--penniless at that."
"What will you do?" Louise inquired.
"I don't know. Ted and I are deadlocked. He favors the adoption, but I am
against it."
"I think you are wise to be cautious--and my advice is 'stand firm,'"
Penny declared promptly. "The Breens were kind enough to take you in when
you had no friends, so why not stay on with them?"
"That's the trouble," Rhoda confessed. "They haven't much money, you
know, and Mr. Coaten has offered to give them a hundred dollars if they
make no objection to the adoption."
"Buying them off?" Penny commented.
"In a way, yes. But why should Mr. Coaten be so interested in adopting
Ted and me? We'll certainly be a financial liability."
The problem was such a perplexing one that neither Penny nor Louise could
offer any convincing answer. Considering everything Rhoda had told them
it appeared that Mr. Coaten must be motivated entirely by generosity.
Yet, it seemed odd that if he were an old family friend he had not
interested himself in their case at the time of Mr. Wiegand's death.
Choosing a trail which led along the river, the girls soon came to Truman
Crocker's shack. It was a long, one-story frame building which served the
dual purpose of dwelling and shop. The door of the workroom stood ajar,
and the stonecutter could be seen grinding a granite block.
"Good afternoon," Penny said in a loud voice to make herself heard.
The stonecutter jumped from surprise and switched off a running motor.
"You scared me out of a year's growth," he grinned. "Well, what can I do
for you?"
"Not much of anything," Penny responded, glancing with interest about the
cluttered workshop. "We were just out for a walk and thought we would
stop in for a few minutes."
Her attention drawn to a large rock which had been covered with wet
sacking, she crossed the room to examine it. Iron filings had been
sprinkled on the covering, and she knew that they must have a special
purpose.
"What is this for?" she inquired curiously.
"Oh, I'm removing discoloration from a stone," Mr. Crocker answered.
"Don't touch the sacking. Leave it alone."
"What do you do with the rock after you finish working on it?" Louise
asked, crossing the room to stand beside Penny.
"I sell it," Mr. Crocker returned briefly. "I have work to do, and I'm
waiting to get at it."
"Oh, we didn't mean to interrupt you," Penny apologized. "The truth is,
we came here to ask you about that stone you hauled for Jay Franklin. Do
you think the writing on it is genuine?"
"Sure it is. Anyone who knows anything about stones could tell it had
been lying in the ground for years."
"The aging couldn't have been faked?"
"Say, what is this?" Crocker demanded, scowling. "What are you trying to
get at?"
"My father, who publishes the _Star_, believes that someone may be
perpetrating a hoax."
"A what?" Crocker asked, puzzled by the word.
"A joke. He thinks that some _clever_ person may have faked the writing
on the two stones."
"Well, I didn't have nothing to do with it," Truman Crocker declared, his
tone unpleasant. "I hauled the rock for Jay Franklin and that's all I
know about it. Now go away and don't pester me."
"We're the same as absent right now," Penny laughed, retreating to the
doorway. "Thanks for your splendid cooperation."
"What's that?"
"Never mind, you wouldn't understand," Penny replied. "Goodbye."
A safe distance from the shack, the three girls expressed their opinion
of the old stonecutter's manners.
"He acted as if we were suspicious of him," Louise declared. "Such a
simple fellow!"
"It never once entered my head that Crocker could have any connection
with the hoax, assuming that the writing isn't genuine," Penny said. "But
now that I think of it, why wouldn't he be a logical person to do such a
trick?"
"He's far too stupid," Louise maintained. "Why, I doubt that he ever went
through eighth grade in school. Likely he never even heard of Elizabethan
writing."
"All true," Penny conceded, "but couldn't someone have employed him? If
he were told to carve a rock in such and such a manner, I'm sure he could
carry out instructions perfectly. He knows more about such work than
anyone in this community."
"Oh, Penny, you're quite hopeless!" Louise laughed. "Just let anyone
rebuff you, and immediately you try to pin a crime on him!"
"I'm not accusing Truman Crocker of anything--at least not yet. All the
same, those two stones were found quite close to his shack. The Gleason
farm isn't more than three-quarters of a mile away."
"Why should Mr. Crocker be interested in playing such a joke?" Rhoda
inquired dubiously. "Or for that matter, any other person?"
"I can't figure it out," Penny acknowledged. "If the stones are fakes,
one would judge them to be the creation of a rather brilliant practical
joker."
"Are you sure you didn't do it yourself?" Louise asked teasingly. "After
all, you were the one who found the second stone, so that throws
suspicion on you!"
Penny allowed the subject to die. With a quick change of interest, she
suggested to her companions that they return to Riverview by way of the
Marborough place.
"Don't you think we're showing ourselves there too frequently," Louise
protested mildly. "There's such a thing as wearing out one's welcome."
"Oh, we needn't try to break into the house." Penny grinned. "But if we
don't go there, we'll never learn any more about the mystery."
Louise and Rhoda were not particularly eager to climb the hill. However,
to oblige Penny they offered no objection to her proposal.
Approaching the Marborough property five minutes later, the girls were
startled to hear loud, angry voices. The sound came from the direction of
the old wishing well.
"Someone is having a fearful argument!" Penny declared, quickening her
step.
As the three friends emerged into the clearing they saw Mrs. Marborough
and Jay Franklin sitting together on a garden bench. The widow was
speaking in a high-pitched voice, reprimanding the caller for having
misled her regarding the record stone found on her land.
"She's giving it to him right, and I'm glad!" Penny chuckled.
"Let's not go any closer," Louise murmured, holding back.
Penny stared at her chum in blank amazement. "Not go closer?" she
demanded. "Why, this is why we came! I thought Mr. Franklin might be
here, and I want to hear what he has to say for himself."
CHAPTER
12
_NO ADMITTANCE_
Neither Louise nor Rhoda approved of interfering in the argument between
Mrs. Marborough and Mr. Franklin, but as usual they could not stand firm
against Penny. Making considerable noise to give warning of their
approach, the girls drew near the garden bench.
"Your conduct has amazed and disappointed me," they heard the old lady
say in clipped words. "When I allowed you to remove the stone from my
yard you promised that you would deliver it to the museum."
"I may have mentioned such a possibility, but I made no promise," Mr.
Franklin replied. "You sold the rock to me. It is now mine to do with as
I see fit."
"You deliberately tricked me! I am less concerned with the money than
with the fact that you are trying to force the museum to pay for
something which I meant them to have free."
"Mrs. Marborough, you sold the rock for two dollars. Unless I am very
much mistaken, that money meant more to you than you would have the
townspeople believe!"
Mrs. Marborough arose from the bench, glaring at the visitor.
"Mr. Franklin, you are insulting! Leave my premises this minute and never
return!"
"I'll be very happy to depart," the man retorted, smiling coldly. "I came
here only because you sent for me. However, if you were inclined to take
a sensible viewpoint, I might make you a business proposition."
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Franklin?"
"I refer to this house here. If you're disposed to sell it I might make
you an offer."
Mrs. Marborough had started toward the house, but then she paused and
regarded him speculatively.
"What is your offer, Mr. Franklin?"
"I'll give you fifteen hundred for the house and grounds."
"Fifteen hundred!" the old lady exclaimed shrilly. "For a house which
cost at least forty thousand to build! Aren't you being outrageously
reckless?"
"Old houses are a drug on the market these days, Madam. You'll find no
other buyer in Riverview, I am quite sure. In fact; I wouldn't make you
such a generous offer except that I think this place might be fixed up as
a tourist home."
"A tourist home!" Mrs. Marborough cried furiously. "You would make this
beautiful, colonial mansion into a cheap hotel! Oh, go away, and never,
never show your face here again!"
"Very well, Madam," Mr. Franklin responded, still smiling. "However, I
warn you that my next offer for the property will not be as generous a
one."
"Generous!" Mrs. Marborough fairly screamed for she was determined to
have the final word. "Your price would be robbery! You're just like your
father, who was one of the worst skinflints I ever knew!"
Mr. Franklin had nothing more to say. With a shrug, he turned and strode
from the yard. Mrs. Marborough gazed after him for a moment, and then
sinking down on the stone bench, began to cry. Hearing footsteps behind
her, she turned her head and saw the three girls. Hastily, she dabbed at
her eyes with a lace handkerchief.
"Oh, Mrs. Marborough, don't feel badly," Penny said quickly. "We heard
what he said to you. Mr. Franklin should be ashamed of himself."
"That man doesn't affect me one way or the other," the old lady announced
with a toss of the head. The girls accepted the explanation with tranquil
faces although they knew very well why Mrs. Marborough had wept. Rhoda
wandered to the wishing well, peering down into the crystal-clear water.
"Do you know, I'm tempted to make another wish," she remarked. "Would it
be very selfish of me?"
"Selfish?" Louise inquired, puzzled.
"The last one came true. I shouldn't expect too much."
"Do make your wish, Rhoda," urged Penny, "but don't anticipate quick
action. I'm still waiting for mine to come true."
Rhoda drew a bucket of water from the well, and filling the dipper which
always hung on a nail of the wooden roof, drank deeply.
"I wish," she said soberly, "I wish that Ted might find a job. If he
could get work, maybe it wouldn't be necessary to accept charity from Mr.
Coaten or anyone!"
Rhoda's wish, so earnestly spoken, slightly embarrassed the others, for
it served to remind them of the girl's poverty.
"Now you make one, Penny," Louise urged to cover an awkward silence.
"I can't think of anything I want," Penny answered.
"Well, I can!" Mrs. Marborough announced unexpectedly. "In all the years
of my life I've never made a wish at this well, but now I shall!"
To the delight of the girls, she reached for the bucket of water. With a
grim face she slammed the entire contents back into the well.
"Just a little token, O wishing well," she muttered. "My desire is a most
worthy one. All I ask is that Jay Franklin be given his come-uppance!"
"We'll all second that wish!" Penny added gaily.
"There!" Mrs. Marborough declared, rather pleased with herself. "That
makes me feel better. Now I'll forget that man and go about my business."
"I think it was selfish of him to take the attitude he did about the
stone," Penny said, wishing to keep an entertaining topic alive.
Mrs. Marborough seemed to have lost all interest in the subject.
Gathering her long skirts about her, she started for the house. Midway up
the flagstone path she paused to say:
"There's a tree of nice summer apples out yonder by the back fence. Pick
all you like and take some home if you care for them."
"Thank you, Mrs. Marborough," Louise responded politely.
After the door had closed behind the old lady, the girls did not
immediately leave the vicinity of the wishing well.
"She means to be kind," Louise commented, drawing figures in the dirt
with her shoe. "But isn't it funny she never invites us into the house?"
"It's downright mysterious," Penny added. "You notice Jay Franklin didn't
get in there either!"
"Why does she act that way?" Rhoda asked in perplexity.
"Penny thinks she's trying to keep folks from discovering something,"
explained Louise. "The old lady is queer in other ways, too."
Thoroughly enjoying the tale, the girls told Rhoda how they had observed
Mrs. Marborough removing the flagstones surrounding the base of the
wishing well.
"There's been more digging!" Penny suddenly cried, springing up from the
bench. "See!"
Excitedly she pointed to a place where additional flagstones had been
lifted and carelessly replaced.
"Mrs. Marborough must have been at work again!" Louise agreed. "What does
she expect to find?"
"Fishing worms, perhaps," Rhoda suggested with a smile. "Under the
flagstones would be a good place."
"Mrs. Marborough never would go fishing," Louise answered. "Sometimes I
wonder if she's entirely right in her mind. It just isn't normal to go
around digging on your own property after night."
"Don't you worry, Mrs. Marborough knows what she is about," Penny
declared. "She's looking for something which is hidden!"
"But what can it be?" Louise speculated. "Nothing she does seems to make
sense."
"She's one of the most interesting characters I've met in many a day,"
Penny said warmly. "I like her better all the time."
"How about those apples?" Rhoda suggested, changing the subject. "I'm
sure Mrs. Breen could use some of them."
As the girls started toward the gnarled old tree, a battered automobile
drew up in front of the house. A man who was dressed in coat and trousers
taken from two separate suits alighted and came briskly up the walk.
"Who is he?" Louise whispered curiously.
"Never saw him before," Penny admitted. "He looks almost like a tramp."
"Or an old clothes man," Rhoda added with a laugh.
Observing the girls, the man doffed his battered derby.
"Is this where Mrs. Marborough lives?" he asked.
"Yes, she is inside," Louise replied.
Bowing again, the man presented himself at the front door, hammering it
loudly with the brass knocker.
"Mrs. Marborough will make short work of him," Penny laughed. "She's so
friendly to visitors!"
Before the girls could walk on to the apple tree, Mrs. Marborough opened
the door.
"Mr. Butterworth?" she asked, without waiting for the man to speak.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Come in," invited Mrs. Marborough, her voice impersonal.
The caller stepped across the threshold and the door swung shut.
"Did you see that?" Louise whispered, stunned by the ease with which the
man had gained admittance.
"I certainly did!" Penny murmured. "That fellow--whoever he is--has
accomplished something that even Riverview's society ladies couldn't
achieve! Maybe I was puzzled before, but now, let me tell you, I'm
completely tied in a knot!"
CHAPTER
13
_A SILKEN LADDER_
As Penny approached the school grounds the following morning, she heard
her name called. A moment later, Rhoda Wiegand, breathless from running,
caught up with her.
"Penny, the most wonderful thing has happened!" she exclaimed.
"Your Texas friends have left town?" the other guessed.
Rhoda shook her head. "Unfortunately, it's not quite that wonderful.
They're still here. This news is about my brother, Ted. He has a job!"
"Why, that's splendid. Exactly what you wished for yesterday afternoon at
the well."
"Penny, doesn't it seem strange?" Rhoda asked soberly. "This makes twice
my wish has come true. How do you account for it?"
"I suppose your brother could have obtained the job through accident,"
Penny answered. "That would be the logical explanation."
"But it all came about in such an unusual way. Judge Harlan saw Ted on
the street and liked his appearance. So he sent a note to the Camp asking
if he would work as a typist in his office."
"Ted is accepting?"
"Oh, yes. The pay is splendid for that sort of work. Besides, it will
give him a chance to study law, which is his life ambition. Oh, Penny,
you can't know how happy I am about it!"
At the mid-morning recess, Penny reported the conversation to Louise.
Both girls were pleased that Ted Wiegand had obtained employment, but it
did seem peculiar to them that the judge would go to such lengths to gain
the services of a young man of questionable character.
"Perhaps he wants to help him," Louise speculated. "Ted is at the
critical point of his life now. He could develop into a very fine person
or just the opposite."
"It's charity, of course. But who put the judge up to it?"
"Mrs. Marborough heard Rhoda express her wish."
"Yes, she did," Penny agreed, "but I don't think she paid much attention.
She was too angry at Jay Franklin. Besides, Mrs. Marborough doesn't have
a reputation for doing kind deeds."
"If you rule her out, there's nothing left but the old wishing well,"
Louise laughed.
"I might be tempted to believe it has unusual powers if ever it would do
anything for me," grumbled Penny. "Not a single one of my wishes has been
granted."
"A mystery seems to be developing at Rose Acres," Louise reminded her.
"I've not learned anything new since I made my wish. Mrs. Marborough
hasn't decided to cooperate with the Pilgrimage Committee either."
The Festival Week program which so interested Penny had been set for the
twentieth of the month and the days immediately following. Gardens were
expected to be at their height at that time, and the owners of seven
fairly old houses had agreed to open their doors to the public. Both
Penny and Louise had helped sell tickets for the motor pilgrimage, but
sales resistance was becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.
"The affair may be a big flop," Penny remarked to her chum. "No one wants
to pay a dollar to see a house which isn't particularly interesting. Now
Rose Acres would draw customers. The women of Riverview are simply torn
with curiosity to get in there."
"I don't believe Mrs. Marborough ever will change her mind."
"Neither do I," Penny agreed gloomily.
Two days elapsed during which nothing happened, according to the
viewpoint of the girls. From Rhoda they learned that Ted was well
established in his new job, and that Mr. Coaten seemed displeased about
it. Mr. Parker reported that Jay Franklin had made progress in his
efforts to sell the Marborough stone to the Riverview Museum. Other than
that, there was no news, no developments of interest.
"Louise, let's visit Truman Crocker again," Penny proposed on Saturday
afternoon when time hung heavily.
"What good would it do?" Louise demurred. "You know very well he doesn't
like to have us around."
"He acted suspicious of us, which made me suspicious of him. I've been
thinking, Lou--if the writing on those two stones were faked, it must
have been done with a chisel--one which would leave a characteristic
mark. Every tool is slightly different, you know."
"All of which leads you to conclude--?"
"That if Truman Crocker did the faking he would have a tool in his
workshop that would make grooves similar to those on the stones. An
expert might compare them and tell."
"Do we consider ourselves experts?"
"Of course not," Penny said impatiently. "But if I could get the right
tool, I could turn it over to someone who knows about such things."
"So you propose to go out to the shack today and appropriate a tool?"
"I'll buy it from Mr. Crocker. Perhaps I can convince him I want to
chisel a tombstone for myself or something of the sort!"
"I used to think you were just plain crazy, Penny Parker," Louise
declared sadly. "Lately you've reached the stage where adjectives are too
weak to describe you!"
A half hour later found the two girls at the Crocker shack. The door of
the workshop stood open, but as Penny and Louise peered inside, they saw
no sign of the old stonecutter. A number of tools lay on a bench where
Crocker had been working, and with no hesitation Penny examined them.
"Here is a chisel," she said in satisfaction. "It seems to be the only
one around too. Just what I need!"
"Penny, you wouldn't dare take it!"
"In my official capacity as a detective--yes. I'll leave more than enough
money to pay for it. Then after I've had it examined by an expert, I'll
return it to Mr. Crocker."
"O Mystery, what crimes are committed in thy name," Louise warbled. "If
you land in jail, my dear Penny, don't expect me to share your cell cot."
"I'll take all the responsibility."
Selecting a bill from her purse, Penny laid it in a conspicuous place on
the workbench.
"There, that should buy three or four chisels," she declared. "Now let's
leave here before Truman Crocker arrives."
Emerging from the shop, Penny and Louise were surprised to see dark storm
clouds scudding overhead. The sun had been completely blotted out and
occasional flashes of lightning brightened a gray sky.
"It's going to rain before we can get to Riverview," Louise declared
uneasily. "We'll be drenched."
"Why not go by way of Mrs. Marborough's place?" Penny proposed. "Then if
the rain does overtake us, we can dodge into the summer house until the
shower passes over."
Hastening toward the hillside trail, the girls observed that the river
level was higher than when last they had seen it. Muddy water lapped
almost at the doorstep of Truman Crocker's shack. A rowboat tied to a
half submerged dock nearby swung restlessly on its long rope.
"I should be afraid to live so close to the river," Louise remarked. "If
the water comes only a few feet higher, Crocker's place will sail South."
"The river control system is supposed to take care of everything," Penny
answered carelessly. "Dad says he doesn't place much faith in it
himself--not if it's ever put to a severe test."
Before the girls had gone far, a few drops of rain splattered down.
Anticipating a deluge, they ran for the dilapidated summer house which
stood at the rear edge of Mrs. Marborough's property. Completely winded,
they sank down on a dusty wooden bench to recapture their breath.
"The clouds are rolling eastward," Louise remarked, scanning the sky. "It
may not rain much after all."
"Lou!" Penny said in a startled voice.
She was gazing toward the old wishing well at a dark figure which could
be seen bending far over the yawning hole.
"What is it?" Louise inquired, turning in surprise.
"Look over there!" Penny directed. "Mrs. Marborough is doing something at
the well. Is she trying to repair it or what?"
"She's examining the inside!" Louise exclaimed. "Why, if she's not
careful, she may fall. We ought to warn her--"
"Mrs. Marborough knows what she is about, Lou. Let's just watch."
From a distance it was not possible to tell exactly what the old lady was
doing. So far as the girls could discern she was tapping the inside
stones of the well with a hammer.
"She's trying to discover if any of them are loose!" Penny whispered
excitedly. "Louise, I'm sure of it now! Something of great value is
hidden in or near the wishing well, and Mrs. Marborough came back to
Riverview to find it!"
"What could it be?"
"I haven't an idea."
"If there's something hidden in or around the well, why doesn't she have
a workman make a thorough search?"
"Probably because she doesn't want folks to suspect what she is about,
Lou. That may explain why she works at night and on very dark, gloomy
days such as today. She doesn't wish to be seen."