preserver if I fail!"
Calculating the space, Penny swung her feet from the ladder to the ledge.
Retaining an arm hold on the ropes, she edged herself backwards into the
hole.
"It's much easier than it looks," she called encouragingly to her chum.
"Come on, if you want to explore."
Louise hesitated, and then daringly climbed down into the well. Penny
helped her from the ladder into the tunnel.
"Where do you suppose this leads?" Louise gasped.
"Maybe to the house," Penny speculated. "I know lots of these old places
had escapes made so that in time of war or Indian attacks, the
householders could get away. Never heard of a tunnel opening into a well
though!"
The bricked passageway was so low that for the first twelve feet the
girls were forced to crawl on hands and knees. Gradually, the tunnel
deepened until they were able to walk in a stooped position.
"We're coming to the end of it," Penny presently announced.
Directly in front of her was a heavy door which showed the effects of
age. It did not move easily, but together, the girls were able to swing
it open.
"Where in the world are we?" Louise murmured in perplexity.
Penny flashed her light directly ahead. A series of four steps led down
from the tunnel into an empty room which barely was six feet across. So
far as she could see it had no exit.
"It looks as if we're at the end of the trail," Louise remarked in
disappointment.
"This must be part of the Marborough house," Penny declared, descending
the steps into the tiny room.
"But there's no way out of it except through the tunnel!"
"There must be if we can find it," Penny insisted.
Wandering about the room she began to explore the walls, and Louise
followed her example. Their search was rewarded, for presently they
discovered a small brass knob embedded in the rough board paneling. Penny
pulled on it and a section of wall slid back.
"Now we're really in the Marborough house!" she whispered excitedly. "The
basement, I think."
Stepping through the opening, the girls made no sound as they tiptoed
around in the dark, damp room. Penny's flashlight revealed that the walls
had been boarded over, but there was no solid foundation beneath their
feet, only a hard dirt floor. A steep stairway led up from the basement.
"Do you suppose Mrs. Marborough is here?" Penny whispered, listening.
There was no sound from above.
"Shall we go upstairs, or back the way we came?" she asked her chum.
"Let's risk being caught," Louise decided after a moment's hesitation.
"I'd rather be sent to jail for house breaking than to climb into that
well again."
Huddling together, the girls crept up the stairway. The landing was
blocked by another door. Penny tested it, and finding it unlocked, pushed
it gently open. Again they listened.
"The coast is clear," Louise whispered. "I'm sure Mrs. Marborough isn't
here."
Penny stepped across the threshold, tense with anticipation. Ever since
Mrs. Marborough's arrival in Riverview she had longed to see the interior
of the grand old mansion. And now, through a strange quirk of adventure,
her ambition was to be gratified.
Slowly she allowed the flashlight beam to play over the walls of the
room. There were several pictures in massive gold frames, leading her to
think that she had entered a library or living room. Systematically, she
continued to move the light about in search of furniture. So far as she
could see there was none.
"The room is empty!" Louise whispered at her elbow.
A board squeaked beneath their weight as the girls tiptoed to a doorway
opening into a still larger room.
"This must be the living room," Penny decided, observing a beautiful,
circular stairway which rose to the second floor.
"But where is the furniture?" demanded Louise in bewilderment.
Penny's light cut squares across the room, but the only objects revealed
were a chair and a table drawn close to the fireplace.
"What can this mean?" Louise gasped. "The house always has been
furnished. Now everything is gone."
Penny did not answer. The sound of shuffling feet on the front porch
caused both girls to freeze against the wall. Before they could retreat
to the basement stairs, the living room door opened. Light from a street
lamp cut a path across the bare floor.
Mrs. Marborough stood framed in the doorway. The girls had made no sound,
yet the mistress of Rose Acres seemed to sense that she was not alone.
"Who is it?" she called sharply. "Speak up! Who is hiding here?"
CHAPTER
17
_THE MARBOROUGH PEARLS_
In frightened voices Penny and Louise acknowledged their presence in the
dark room. Greatly relieved that the intruders were girls, Mrs.
Marborough struck a match and lighted three half-burned candles which
were set in a huge glass candelabra.
"Oh, so it's you!" she exclaimed as the flickering light fell upon their
faces. "May I ask why you have broken into my house?"
"We're thoroughly ashamed of ourselves, Mrs. Marborough," Penny said
apologetically.
"Indeed we are," added Louise. "When we started to investigate the
wishing well we didn't intend to enter the house."
"Suppose you explain," suggested the mistress of Rose Acres.
"It's a long story," sighed Penny. "May we sit down somewhere?"
The request embarrassed Mrs. Marborough. She hesitated, and then
indicated that the girls were to follow her. To their surprise she led
them through another empty room to the kitchen, there lighting a candle.
Its soft illumination revealed an old oil stove, several chairs, a
porcelain table and a cot which obviously served both as a day couch and
bed.
Mrs. Marborough offered no explanation or apology. Taking wood from a
box, she piled it into the fireplace, and soon had a cheerful blaze on
the hearth.
Drawing their chairs to the fire, Penny and Louise explained how they had
entered the old mansion. Mrs. Marborough listened attentively to their
story but did not appear especially surprised.
"I've always known about that old tunnel," she said when they had
finished. "It was built by the first owner of this house, many, many
years ago, and I doubt if it ever was used. I tried to find the entrance
from the basement a few days ago, but was unable to locate it."
"We saw you with your lantern at the wishing well," Louise confessed.
"That was what aroused our curiosity."
"I was looking for the other tunnel entrance. I found it without much
trouble, but it was so deep down in the well that I dared not risk trying
to get into it. Although I considered hiring a man, I hesitated, because
I knew it would cause talk."
Penny and Louise were feeling much more at ease, sensing that the
mistress of Rose Acres no longer was irritated by their actions. Eagerly
they waited for her to reveal more.
"I suppose you think me a queer old lady," Mrs. Marborough resumed.
"Perhaps I am, but I have a very good reason for some of the things I do.
I came to Riverview to search for something which has been lost many
years."
"Something hidden during the Civil War?" inquired Louise breathlessly.
"No, my dear, an object secreted by my sister, Virginia. Since you girls
already have learned so much I will tell you all. Perhaps you have heard
of the Marborough pearls?"
Penny and Louise shook their heads.
"I forget that you are so very young," Mrs. Marborough said. "Your
mothers would remember. At any rate, the necklace was handed down in our
family for many generations, always to the daughter who was the first to
marry. Virginia, my younger sister, dreamed and hoped that the pearls
would go to her. Naturally, I shared a similar desire. As it came about,
I was the first of the family to marry."
"Then you received the necklace?" Louise commented.
"It should have gone to me, but my sister was determined I never should
win such a victory over her. In a fit of anger she hid the pearls. Father
tried to force her to tell what she had done with them, but she was very
headstrong. She ran away from home, married a scamp, and sailed with him
to South America. She died there less than two years after my own
marriage."
"What became of the pearls?" Penny asked eagerly.
"Our family believed that she took the necklace with her. For many years
we assumed that Virginia's worthless husband had obtained possession of
it. He denied any knowledge of the pearls, but we never accepted his
story as true. Then, a few weeks ago, a letter came from South America.
It had been written by Virginia's husband shortly before his death."
"He confessed to the theft of the necklace?" Louise asked, trying to
speed the story.
"No, indeed. He merely enclosed a letter written by Virginia years
before. It was addressed to me, and had never been sent, because her
husband deliberately withheld it. Just selfish and cantankerous, that man
was! The letter told where the pearls had been hidden. I imagine that
Virginia's husband had planned to gain possession of them someday, but
fate defeated him. So on his death bed he sent me the original letter
which I should have received forty years earlier."
"Where were the pearls hidden?" Penny questioned, her eyes sparkling with
anticipation. "You haven't found them yet?"
"No, and I doubt that I ever shall," Mrs. Marborough sighed. "Virginia's
letter was not very definite. She begged my forgiveness for having caused
so much trouble, and said that she had hidden the necklace near the old
wishing well."
"Didn't she tell you where?" Louise asked in disappointment.
"There were several words which had been blotted with ink. I suspect
Virginia's husband did it to prevent anyone but himself from learning the
hiding place. Then when he finally sent the letter to me, he may have
forgotten what he had done. That's only my guess, of course. As the
letter reads, my only clue is that the pearls were hidden near the
wishing well."
"That explains why you were removing the flagstones the other night,"
Louise remarked.
"Yes, I've searched everywhere I can think of except in the old tunnel.
When you girls went through it tonight, did you notice anything unusual?"
"No hiding place," Penny replied. "Of course we weren't looking for
anything of the sort. If we could explore the passageway by daylight--"
"Can't we help you find the pearls, Mrs. Marborough?" Louise interrupted.
"It would be such fun searching for them."
"I'll be very happy to have your help," the old lady said, smiling. "Upon
one condition. You must tell no one. Already I am the laughing stock of
Riverview and if this latest story should get around everyone would
talk."
Penny and Louise promptly assured her that they would tell no one about
the pearls.
"Another thing--" Mrs. Marborough hesitated and then went on. "I suppose
you understand now why I never invited you into the house. It wasn't that
I meant to be inhospitable."
"Because the place isn't fixed up?" Louise came to her aid. "Why, Penny
and I would have thought nothing of it. This is a cozy kitchen with a
cheerful fire. I think it's nice."
"I probably shan't be here long. My purpose in returning to Riverview was
to find the pearls. I've nearly made up my mind that they are lost
forever."
"Oh, don't say that!" Penny cried. "Tomorrow, with your permission,
Louise and I will explore the tunnel. We may have luck."
"I shall be very glad to have your help, my dear." Again Mrs. Marborough
groped for words and finished awkwardly: "Please, I beg of you, don't
tell anyone what you have seen tonight, particularly the barren state of
this house."
"We understand," Penny said gravely.
The fire had burned low. Mindful that they must be home early, the girls
bade Mrs. Marborough goodbye, promising to return the following day. Once
outside the mansion, they paused beside a tree so that Penny might remove
the heavy coveralls which she still wore over her frock.
"What a night!" she murmured happily.
"For once, Penny, one of your crazy adventures turned out beautifully,"
Louise praised. "We'll have a wonderful time searching for that necklace!
She's certainly queer though."
"Mrs. Marborough?"
"Yes, imagine being so sensitive about how the interior of her house
looks. Who would expect it to be fixed up nicely after standing empty so
many years?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Penny asked. She hopped grotesquely on
one foot as she extricated the other from the coveralls.
"Forgetting what?" Louise demanded, puzzled.
"Remember that first day we peeped into the house through the window?"
"Why, yes, what about it?"
"Your memory isn't very good, Louise. Don't you remember the sheet-draped
furniture we saw?"
"That's right! I had forgotten. What became of it?"
"If I had just one guess, I'd say--Mr. Butterworth."
"Who is he, Penny?"
"A second-hand dealer who buys old furniture, newspapers, rubber
tires--everything except bottles."
"Not that funny looking man we saw enter this house the other day!"
"The same. Louise, it's my guess that Mrs. Marborough sold all of her
valuable antiques--probably for a fraction of their true worth."
"How foolish of her. Why would she do that?"
"Don't you understand?" Penny asked patiently. "There can be but one
explanation. Mrs. Marborough isn't wealthy any more. She's living in dire
poverty and trying to keep people from learning the truth."
CHAPTER
18
_SIGNBOARD INDIANS_
The realization that in all likelihood Mrs. Marborough had sold her
valuable antiques to the second-hand dealer was disconcerting to Louise
as well as Penny. They did not believe that Mr. Butterworth would pay a
fractional part of the furniture's true value, and apparently the widow's
only reason for parting with her treasures was an urgent need for money.
"Of course, I may have guessed wrong about it," Penny admitted as she and
Louise started toward home. "Just to check up, I'll call at Mr.
Butterworth's shop tomorrow and see what I can learn."
"I wish we dared tell someone about the condition of the house," Louise
said thoughtfully. "Why, if Mrs. Marborough is in need, Mother would
help."
"So would Mrs. Weems," added Penny. "But we gave our promise not to
reveal anything we saw. For the time-being, our hands are tied."
The events of the night had made the girls eager to return again to Rose
Acres to search for the missing pearl necklace. They agreed that
immediately after school the next afternoon they would call upon Mr.
Butterworth and then keep their appointment with the widow.
"Remember, we mustn't tell anyone what we have learned," Penny warned as
she parted company with her chum. "Not even Rhoda."
Throughout the following day, both girls were so excited that they found
it all but impossible to study. When the closing bell finally brought
release, they bolted from the school building before any of their
classmates could detain them.
"I have the address of Mr. Butterworth's shop," Penny said, consulting a
paper. "It's not far from here."
The building proved to be a typical second-hand store with old tables and
chairs piled in the windows along with cut glass and bric-a-brac.
Entering, the girls wandered about until a woman asked them if they were
searching for anything in particular.
"We're interested in furniture," Penny explained. "Old pieces--antiques
if we can find them."
"Come into the back room," the woman invited. "Mr. Butterworth bought a
number of pieces just a few days ago. From one of Riverview's best homes
too."
"Where was that?" inquired Louise.
"I didn't hear him mention the name. It was from a house that has been
closed many years. The owner returned only a short time ago and is
closing out everything."
The girls did not doubt that the furniture under discussion had been
obtained from Rose Acres. They were certain of it as they viewed rosewood
and mahogany chairs, imported mirrors, porcelain ornaments, massive
four-poster beds, sofas with damaged coverings, and handsome chests and
bureaus. Penny ventured to price a few of the items. The amount asked was
so low that she knew Mr. Butterworth had paid an extremely small sum to
the widow. Making an excuse for not purchasing, she and Louise escaped to
the street.
"There's no question about it," Penny declared as they set off for Rose
Acres. "Mrs. Marborough sold her beautiful things to Mr. Butterworth."
"He can't appreciate their value or he never would offer them at such low
prices," Louise added. "Anyone who buys those things will obtain
wonderful bargains."
Penny nodded soberly. Lost in thought, she had little to say until the
girls drew near Rose Acres.
"Don't let on to Mrs. Marborough that we've learned about the furniture,"
she warned. "It's really none of our affair if she sells her belongings."
The widow had been expecting the girls and had everything in readiness to
explore the tunnel. While they searched it from end to end, she waited
hopefully at the wishing well.
"Have you found anything?" she called several times.
"Not yet," Penny would reply patiently.
She and Louise laboriously examined every inch of the bricked passageway
but with fading hope. The walls were firm, giving no indication that
anything ever had been hidden behind or within them. To have excavated
the hard-packed dirt flooring was a task not to be considered at the
moment.
"There's nothing here," Penny whispered to her chum. "I doubt that the
pearls ever were hidden in this tunnel."
"Mrs. Marborough will be terribly disappointed," Louise replied in an
undertone. "What shall we tell her?"
"We can pretend to keep on searching. Maybe if we prowl about this place
for a few days, we'll have luck."
"The pearls were hidden near the wishing well. We have that much to go
on."
"They may have disappeared years ago," Penny contributed pessimistically.
"To tell you the truth, I don't feel very hopeful about ever finding
them."
Leaving the tunnel by means of the easier exit, the girls emerged into
the basement. They were preparing to climb the stairs to the first floor
when Mrs. Marborough's voice reached their ears almost as plainly as if
she were in the cellar.
"Louise! Penny! Are you all right?"
Startled by the clearness of the call, the girls paused on the stairway.
"Why, her voice came through as plainly as if she were in this room!"
Louise exclaimed. "You don't suppose Mrs. Marborough has ventured into
the passageway?"
Thoroughly alarmed, the girls raced up the stairway and out of the house
into the yard. To their relief they saw Mrs. Marborough standing by the
wishing well, peering anxiously down.
"Oh, here you are!" she murmured as they ran up. "I was beginning to get
worried. The last time I called you did not answer."
"We were down in the basement," Penny explained. "Mrs. Marborough, your
voice came through to us as plainly as if you were in the passage."
The disclosure did not seem to surprise the widow, for she smiled and
said:
"I've always known that sound carried from the well to the house. In
fact, in past years I found it amusing to listen to conversations carried
on by persons who never dreamed that their words were overheard."
"Then that explains why so many wishes which were made here at the well
came true!" Penny cried. "You were the Good Fairy behind it all."
"Oh, now and then, if it pleased my fancy, I arranged to have a wish
granted," Mrs. Marborough acknowledged, smiling grimly. "That was in the
days when I had money--" she broke off and ended--"more than I have now,
I mean."
"Mrs. Marborough, you must have heard those wishes we made the day of
your return to Riverview," Penny said after a moment. "Were you
responsible for sending a basket of food to Rhoda's people?"
"I am afraid I was."
"And did you grant Rhoda's second wish?" Louise asked quickly. "Did you
have anything to do with getting her brother, Ted, a job?"
"Judge Harlan is an old friend of mine," Mrs. Marborough explained. "I
merely wrote him a note suggesting that he would do me a favor by helping
the boy if he found him worthy."
Although the widow's admission cleared up much of the mystery which had
surrounded the old wishing well, Louise and Penny were dumbfounded,
nevertheless. Never once had anyone in Riverview connected Mrs.
Marborough with a particularly charitable deed.
As if guessing their thoughts, the woman said sharply:
"Now mind, I'll not have you telling this around the town! I'm through
with all such silly business, and I don't propose to have busybodies
discuss whether or not I am addle-brained!"
"Why, Mrs. Marborough!" protested Louise. "It was a kind, generous thing
to do."
"Generous, fiddlesticks! I did it because it pleased me and for no other
reason. Let's not talk about it any more."
Mrs. Marborough questioned the girls concerning their exploration of the
tunnel. Her disappointment over the failure to find the pearls was keen
but she tried not to show it.
"I knew it was a fool's errand coming to Riverview to look for that
stupid necklace!" she declared. "Like as not, it never was hidden at Rose
Acres, my sister's letter to the contrary. I intend to forget about the
whole affair."
"Oh, Mrs. Marborough, don't give up so soon," Penny pleaded. "Louise and
I have only started to search. We may find it yet."
"You've been very nice," the widow said, smiling almost in a friendly
way. "I'll remember it always when I am far away."
"Then you intend to leave Riverview?" Louise asked in disappointment.
"I must sell Rose Acres. I have no other course open."
"Not to Jay Franklin, I hope!" Penny exclaimed.
"I have no intention of dealing with him if anyone else will make an
offer. So far I have found no other person who is interested in the
property."
Drawing a deep sigh, Mrs. Marborough arose. Without much enthusiasm she
invited the girls to come with her into the house, but they tactfully
declined.
"We'll come again tomorrow, if you don't mind," Penny said as she and
Louise turned to leave.
"Do," replied Mrs. Marborough. "We might make a final search for the
pearls."
Enroute to Riverview, the girls talked over the situation and agreed that
the prospect of finding the necklace was a slim one. They had grown to
like the eccentric widow and were sorry that she had decided to move away
from the city of her birth.
"I am sure if she had money she would remain here," Louise declared. "And
it will nearly kill her if she is forced to deal with Jay Franklin. How
she does dislike him!"
Parting with her chum in the business section of Riverview, Penny went
directly to the _Star_ office. Her father was ready to start home.
"Anything new about Jay Franklin and those record stones he hopes to sell
to the museum?" Penny inquired absently as the automobile sped along the
congested streets.
"Nothing you haven't heard," Mr. Parker replied. "Franklin expects to
make the sale and probably will. The museum people have put themselves on
record as saying that the stones bear authentic writing."
"Then it appears that your original hunch was incorrect," Penny observed.
"Too bad you played down the story in the _Star_."
"I may have made a mistake. All the same, I am pinning my hopes on the
expert from Brimwell College."
"What expert, Dad?"
"I guess I neglected to tell you. The _Star_ hired Professor Anjus from
Brimwell to inspect the stones. His opinion doesn't coincide with that of
the museum experts. He has pronounced them fakes."
"If the experts can't agree, then how can one prove anything?"
"It is something of a tangle," Mr. Parker smiled. "I turned that tool you
obtained from Crocker over to Professor Anjus. He expects to make
exhaustive tests and to report to me within a few days."
The car had reached the outskirts of Riverview. As it passed along
streets which were sparsely dotted with houses, Penny called attention to
several large billboards which disfigured the landscape.
"Look, Dad!" she directed, pointing to a particularly colorful poster.
"An Indian show is coming to town next week!"
Mr. Parker turned his head to gaze at the billboard. To Penny's
amazement, he suddenly slammed on the brake, bringing the car to a
lurching halt at the side of the road.
"That's it!" he cried, his eyes on the huge sign. "The motive! I couldn't
figure it out, but now I have the clue I need! Penny, we'll put a crimp
in Jay Franklin's little game, or my name isn't Anthony Parker!"
CHAPTER
19
_PUBLICITY PLUS_
Completely mystified by her father's remarks, Penny waited for him to
explain.