Mr. Coaten said to his companion. "We've wasted enough time in this
one-horse town."
"Oh, I shouldn't say wasted," drawled Carl Addison. "We'll get the oil
money. And that's not all. Take a look at this little trinket!"
There was a brief pause, followed by Mr. Coaten's angry exclamation: "The
Marborough pearls! So you stole them!"
"Careful of your words," the other warned. "Your own record isn't so
pure."
"I've never descended to stealing!"
"No?" Mr. Addison mocked. "The only difference is that you tie your
packages up with legal red tape so that no one can pin anything on you."
"I use my head! Stealing the Marborough pearls was a stupid thing to do.
You may go to prison for it."
"There's no risk," the other retorted. "The police didn't find a single
clue."
The voices died away, indicating that the two men had moved some distance
from the wishing well. Nevertheless, everyone in the ballroom had heard
enough to realize that Mrs. Marborough's priceless pearls were in the
possession of Mr. Coaten's companion, Carl Addison.
"I understand it all now!" Penny exclaimed. "Mr. Coaten and his friend
must have been standing outside the window of the trailer that night when
Rhoda told the Breen family about finding the pearls! They probably heard
the conversation."
"I want those two men arrested!" Mrs. Marborough announced in a shrill
voice, propelling her wheel chair toward the door. "Why doesn't someone
do something?"
Spurred to action, Judge Harlan instructed several men from the group to
guard the estate exits. Accompanied by Penny, Rhoda, Louise, in fact,
nearly every person who had attended the party, he strode into the yard
to confront the two conspirators. Taken completely by surprise, Mr.
Coaten and his friend did not immediately understand the meaning of the
encircling delegation.
"Your little game is up," said Penny, thoroughly savoring the moment. "We
know now that your real reason for wanting to adopt Rhoda and Ted was to
gain control of valuable oil lands!"
"And you stole my pearl necklace!" accused Mrs. Marborough. "I want it
returned!" Thoroughly incensed, she wheeled her chair directly into Carl
Addison, seizing him by the coat.
"Madam, I know nothing about your pearls," the man blustered, shaking
loose from her grasp. "We came to this party only because we were given
free tickets."
"Let's get out of here," Mr. Coaten said gruffly, starting away.
"It's no use," Penny interposed, blocking the path. "We have learned
everything. You see, a microphone was installed at the wishing well and
it carried your entire conversation into the ballroom for everyone to
hear."
Mr. Coaten and his companion, gazing at the unfriendly faces encircling
them, realized that they could not hope to explain the situation away.
In a sudden break for freedom, Carl Addison ran to the hedge and
attempted to leap over it. One of the guards at a nearby exit seized the
man and brought him back.
"Search his pockets!" Mrs. Marborough cried.
Judge Harlan did as the widow demanded, but the missing pearls were not
found on either of the men.
"There, you see!" Mr. Coaten declared triumphantly. "You have falsely
accused my friend."
Penny suspected that Mr. Addison had disposed of the jewel case somewhere
near the hedge. Crossing to it, she groped about on the ground. After a
brief search her hand encountered a tiny box which she knew must contain
the stolen necklace. Returning with it, she displayed the pearls and
presented them to Mrs. Marborough.
"Do we need additional evidence to hold these men?" she asked Judge
Harlan anxiously.
"You have produced more than enough," he replied. Turning to the two
culprits, he said sternly: "I place you both under arrest! Stand where
you are until the police arrive, and remember, anything you say may be
used against you."
CHAPTER
24
_RIVER RISING_
The exposure of Mr. Coaten and Carl Addison had been even more dramatic
than Penny had dared hope it might be. She felt very grateful to Judge
Harlan for the vital information he had provided regarding oil lands, and
especially for the "break" of luck which had made it possible to regain
Mrs. Marborough's necklace.
"How glad I am that I never told Rhoda I suspected Ted of the theft," she
thought. "I was very unjust."
After the two Texas men had been removed to jail by Riverview police, the
party went on with more gaiety than before. Penny, the center of
attention, was forced to tell over and over how a high-school boy friend
had assisted her in installing the microphone-loudspeaker arrangement in
the old wishing well.
"I wasn't at all certain it would work," she modestly declared. "I did
hope that under the proper conditions, those two men would talk, and they
did!"
"You are a very clever young lady," praised Judge Harlan, patting her
arm. "This will make a nice story for your father's paper too."
Mrs. Marborough did not try to express in words her appreciation for the
recovery of the heirloom pearls. However, throughout the evening, her
worshipful gaze followed Penny wherever she went. Not until refreshments
were being served did she have an opportunity to say:
"Penelope, you have brought me more happiness than I deserve--you and
Rhoda together. Now that I have the pearls again, I'll be able to carry
out a few of my plans."
"You'll remain in Riverview?" Penny asked eagerly.
"Yes, I shall, and I've been wondering--do you suppose Rhoda and Ted
would be willing to live with me? I'm getting old. While I'll have money
enough I'll need someone."
"Why not talk to Rhoda about it?"
"I think I shall," Mrs. Marborough nodded. "I'll do it tonight."
Penny was pleased a few minutes later when Rhoda relayed the widow's
request to her.
"Will you agree to it?" she asked the girl, her eyes twinkling.
"Will I?" Rhoda laughed. "I love Rose Acres, and Ted and I will be
together again! Mrs. Breen was kind to us, but she has her own family.
Mrs. Marborough needs someone to care for her."
"I think the arrangement will be an ideal one," Penny declared. "Oh, yes,
I meant to tell you. Judge Harlan has promised to look after your legal
interests. With him working on the case those oil rights are the same as
yours right now!"
As the night wore on, additional guests arrived at Rose Acres, crowding
the spacious rooms. Nevertheless, shortly before midnight, Penny was
surprised to see her father's car drive up to the door, for she had not
expected him to attend the party. Mr. Parker was accompanied by a
reporter, Jerry Livingston.
"What brings you two news hawks here?" Penny asked, running outside to
greet the newcomers. "You must have heard about Mr. Coaten and the pearl
necklace!"
"Yes, but that's not why we came," Mr. Parker tersely replied. "There's
been a break in the dam above Cedarville and the river is rising fast!"
"Rose Acres isn't in danger?" gasped Penny.
"The water shouldn't come this high, but the flats will be inundated
within a few minutes. Everyone is being warned to get out fast!"
"We've not been able to telephone Truman Crocker," Jerry added. "His
shack has no 'phone."
"Can we drive down there?" Mr. Parker asked anxiously.
Penny shook her head. "Not without going miles around. The quickest way
is to take the trail at the rear of this property. Wait, I'll show you!"
Darting into the house for a coat, she led her father and Jerry to the
hillside. Then, deciding to accompany them, she went on ahead down the
steep incline.
"There's a light burning in the shack," Mr. Parker observed a few minutes
later. "Crocker must be up."
Reaching the building, the editor thumped once on the door of the
workshop and then pushed it open. Truman Crocker was busy at his bench.
Startled by the unexpected intrusion of the three visitors, he backed a
few steps away from them.
"You can't do nothin' to me," he mumbled. "All I did was what I was told
to do."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mr. Parker cut him short.
"We're here to warn you! The dam at Cedarville has let go, and the river
is rising fast."
"The river--" the stonecutter faltered.
For a fleeting instant the man's gaze had roved toward a large object
covered with a piece of canvas. As Crocker's words came back to Penny,
she suddenly knew why he had been so startled to see her father.
Impulsively, she darted across the room and jerked the canvas from the
object it covered. Revealed for all to see was a large rounded rock,
bearing a carving which had not been completed.
"A record stone!" she cried. "Truman Crocker, you are the one who planted
those fakes! You've been hired by someone!"
"No, no," the man denied, cringing away.
Mr. Parker strode across the room, and one glance at the rock Penny had
uncovered convinced him that his daughter's accusation was a sound one.
Obviously, the stone had been treated with acid and chemicals to give it
an appearance of great age. Several Indian figures remained uncompleted.
"Who hired you?" he demanded of Truman Crocker. "Tell the truth!"
"I ain't tellin' nothing," the stonecutter returned sullenly.
"Then you'll go to jail," Mr. Parker retorted. "You've been a party to a
fraud. It was the publicity agent of the Indian Show who hired you. He
probably gave you a hundred dollars for the job."
"Not that much," Crocker muttered. "An' you can't send me to jail because
all I did was fix the stones and put 'em where he told me."
"You won't go to jail if you testify to the truth," Mr. Parker assured
him. "All you'll have to do is tell what you know--"
"I ain't going to tell nothing," Crocker said sullenly.
Moving so quickly that both Jerry and Mr. Parker were caught off guard,
he wheeled and ran out the open door.
"Get him!" the editor barked. "Unless he'll testify against Bill McJavins
we may lose a big story!"
Penny waited anxiously at the shack while her father and Jerry pursued
the fleeing man. Ten minutes later they stumbled back, completely winded,
to report their failure. The laborer had hidden somewhere among the
bushes dotting the hillside, and they could not hope to find him.
"Without Crocker's story we have no more evidence than we ever had," Mr.
Parker declared in disgust.
Penny tapped the big rock with the half-completed carving. "You have this
stone, Dad. If you could photograph it in this unfinished state, wouldn't
it tell its own story?"
"We have no camera here, and the river is rising fast. How long would it
take you to get to town and back, Jerry?"
"I might make it in thirty minutes."
"Before that time, this shack will be under water."
Anxiously, Mr. Parker gazed at the dark, angry flood which swept so close
to the door of the cabin. Inch by inch it was eating away a board walk
which led to a pier and a boat tied to it.
"Dad!" Penny suddenly cried. "If only we could get this stone into the
boat we could float it to Riverview!"
"Not a chance," Mr. Parker returned briefly. "Both would sink."
"We're completely out of luck," added Jerry. "At the rate the water is
coming up, this shack will be awash in another fifteen minutes."
"Dad," Penny went on determinedly, "if we could make a heavy raft,
couldn't the stone be floated? It might be towed behind the boat."
"A raft? There's nothing from which to make one."
"Yes, there is!" Penny pointed to several barrels, up-ended in a dark
corner of the shop.
"It's an idea!" cried Jerry. "We have Crocker's tools! This story means a
lot to you, Chief. Isn't it worth a try?"
"Maybe it is," Mr. Parker conceded, and then with sudden enthusiasm:
"Let's get to work. By moving fast we may yet outwit Old Man River!"
CHAPTER
25
_PRECIOUS CARGO_
Working with feverish haste, Mr. Parker and Jerry constructed a raft of
eight empty barrels, wiring them together into one solid unit. Penny
aided the two men as best she could, holding tools and offering
suggestions which were not especially appreciated.
"Run outside and see that the boat is all right," Mr. Parker instructed
her. "We mustn't let it float away."
Obeying, Penny discovered that already the river was flowing in a
shallow, muddy stream over the pier. The swift current tugged at the
underpinning, threatening to carry it away. Wading through the water, she
reached the boat and drew it close to the shack where she retied it.
By the time she finished, her father and Jerry had completed the raft.
"How will you ever get the stone on it?" Penny asked anxiously. "It must
weigh several hundred pounds."
"Just watch," grinned Jerry.
During Penny's absence, he and Mr. Parker had constructed a small square
platform of rough boards, equipped with four tiny rollers. Getting the
stone on it, they were able to trundle it outside to the raft with a
minimum of exertion.
"Now dump her on easy," Mr. Parker ordered Jerry. "If she sinks, our
story sinks too."
Together they rolled the heavy stone from the platform to the raft which
immediately began to settle beneath the great weight.
"It's going under!" Penny screamed.
As the three watched anxiously, the raft steadied and rode just beneath
the surface of the water.
"She floats!" Jerry cried jubilantly. "Now unless we have an upset or
strike an object in the river, we should make it to the Adams Street
pier."
"We'll have a _Star_ paper truck meet us there, and haul the rock to the
newspaper plant," Mr. Parker added with satisfaction. "Let's shove off!"
Penny had untied the rowboat. However, as she prepared to step into it,
her father pulled her back.
"This little trip isn't for you, Penny. We might upset."
"Don't be ridiculous, Dad," she argued. "You know very well I can swim
circles around you. If the boat does go under, you'll be glad to have me
along."
"Maybe you're right," the editor conceded. "Jump in."
Water was flowing over the floor of the Crocker shack as the boat and the
cumbersome raft started downstream. Jerry, who had elected to steer,
found himself hard pressed to keep the prow nosing into the waves. Mr.
Parker pulled without much enthusiasm at an extra oar supplied him,
content to allow the swift current to do most of the work.
"Isn't it fun?" Penny demanded, snuggling close to her father. "Just look
at the beautiful stars!"
"Look at the river," Mr. Parker retorted. "Do you realize that if we
should strike a floating object--if that big rock should shift--"
"And see the lovely moon," Penny went on dreamily. "I think it's laughing
at the joke we're going to play on Jay Franklin in the morning."
"That old coot will get a shock when he reads the _Star_," Mr. Parker
admitted, relaxing. "So will the publicity agent of the Indian Show. When
I get through, the outfit won't dare put on a performance in Riverview."
"Do you suppose Franklin had any part in hiring Truman Crocker to fake
those record stones?" Jerry asked, steering to avoid a floating box.
"Not in my opinion," the editor replied. "He merely thought he would
profit by selling them to the museum at a fancy price. It was immaterial
to him whether or not he sold fake stones or real."
"You'll certainly ruin his little business transaction," chuckled Penny.
"What will be done about Truman Crocker?"
"We'll find him tomorrow and force him to tell the truth--that he was
hired by Bill McJavins. With this stone as evidence, he can't deny his
part in the hoax."
"Can't you just see that special edition of the _Star_?" Penny asked
gaily. "A big splashy picture of this Pilgrim Rock we're towing, with a
story telling how Truman Crocker faked the writing. Then, in the next
column, a yarn about Mr. Addison's arrest, and the recovery of the
Marborough pearls."
"It will be a real paper," Mr. Parker agreed heartily. "By the way, how
were Mr. Coaten and Carl Addison trapped? Our reporter got the story from
the police, but he was a bit vague on that point."
"I'm far too modest to tell you," Penny laughed. "If you're willing to
pay me at regular space rates, I might be induced to write the story."
"Trust Penny to drive a hard bargain," grinned Jerry. "We might have
guessed who was responsible, for she never fails to be on hand for the
final round-up."
Penny smiled as she gazed down the dark, turbulent river. Close by she
heard the deep-throated whistle of a tug boat. Along the bank, tall
buildings began to appear, and far ahead, she could see the twinkling
lights on the Adams Street pier.
"We've worked on some dandy stories together," she murmured, "but this
one tops them all for a thrilling finish. Mrs. Marborough regained her
pearls, Rhoda won a home, the two men from Texas are behind bars, and the
wishing well is equipped with a brand new microphone! You know, I'd like
to make one more wish down its moist old throat!"
"What would you ask for this time?" Jerry asked banteringly. "A safe
arrival in port?"
Penny shook her head. "We're almost at the pier now. I'd wish that Dad's
hunk of granite would turn into a lump of pure gold. Then I'd truly feel
as if I were the captain of a treasure ship sailing home with precious
cargo."
"Oh, I wouldn't ask for a better cargo than we have right here," Mr.
Parker responded heartily. "At this moment I would rather have our old
rock than all the gold in the world!"
Transcriber's Notes
--Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, as in
the final book, "The Cry at Midnight".
--Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos.