A New Clue
"'M. G.'", Susan repeated slowly, staring at the handkerchief. "What's
so startling about that?"
"Michael dropped this handkerchief," Penny said significantly.
"And his last name is Haymond!" Susan cried as light dawned upon her.
"Why would he have a handkerchief marked 'M. G.'?"
"Why indeed? The simple answer is that maybe his name isn't Michael
Haymond after all!"
"Maybe he happened to pick up some other person's handkerchief."
"He'd not be apt to be using it."
"Once one of yours got into our washing somehow," Susan defended her
theory. "Don't you remember I was using it for one of my own until you
happened to notice it?"
"That was different," Penny replied. "I'll venture this is Michael's
handkerchief all right."
"Oh, you're too suspicious," laughed Susan. "Remember that wild chase
we had to Glenhaven just because you thought Michael might be hiding
something about his past."
"I'm not sure that it was a wild chase at all," Penny answered soberly.
"If you recall, Michael fitted into Mrs. Havers story quite
nicely--everything except his last name. And now the initials of this
handkerchief could stand for Michael Gladwin."
"Why, that's so," Susan murmured in astonishment. "But it doesn't seem
reasonable! What has Michael done that he's ashamed to have his true
name known?"
"I may be jumping at another one of my false conclusions," Penny
admitted. "Anyway, I think I'll keep this handkerchief."
"If only we had a picture of Michael we might send it to Mrs. Havers
for identification," Susan said thoughtfully.
"I was thinking of that," Penny nodded. "We'll get a picture today."
"How? By telling Michael that you've suddenly taken a great fancy to
him?"
"We'll take a snapshot. Fortunately I brought my camera along when we
came to Kendon."
"Do you have a film?"
"Yes, it's all loaded ready to go."
"Then let's get our prey!" laughed Susan. "But Michael may refuse."
"He shouldn't unless we make him suspicious. Mind, not a word about
the handkerchief."
The girls went directly to the cottage for Penny's camera. First they
flattered Mrs. Masterbrook by requesting her picture. The housekeeper
posed on the porch steps.
"We'd like your picture too," Penny said to Michael who was standing
near.
"I'd break your camera," the young man laughed good-naturedly.
"Oh, don't be silly," Susan cried, and catching him by the hand, pulled
him up on the porch.
Penny snapped the picture. To make certain that she would have a good
one, she took still another.
"That's enough," declared Michael moving away.
Mrs. Masterbrook lingered on the porch, hoping that the girls would
take another picture of her. However, they had no intention of wasting
any film.
"Let's get it developed right away," Susan declared.
"There's one more picture I'd like to take just to make the record
complete," Penny announced as she and her chum walked away from the
cottage.
"Whose?" asked Susan.
"Herman Crocker's."
"It would be interesting to keep it as a souvenir of your vacation,"
Susan agreed. "But try to get it!"
"I believe I could."
"You'd try anything."
"We'll have an hour before the sun is low," Penny declared, glancing
toward the western horizon. "Come on, let's go there now."
"I don't like the idea a bit," Susan complained but she allowed her
chum to lead her down the road.
"I'll have to think up a new excuse for calling on Herman," Penny
remarked as they drew near the house. "That one about wanting to buy
eggs is getting pretty thread bare."
"You're inviting trouble to go there again," Susan warned darkly.
"Herman will suspect something is wrong the minute you ask for his
picture."
"I don't mean to ask," Penny chuckled. "Perhaps I'll just snap it and
run."
There was no sign of activity about the Crocker premises. They did not
see the dog, and when they rapped on the door there was no response.
"Mr. Crocker and his grandson are gone," Susan said in relief.
"I guess I'll have to give up the picture then," Penny sighed. "I had
a particular use for it too."
"Why don't you snap one of the house?" Susan suggested.
"I might do that just to finish out the roll. Then we can take the
film down to Kendon and have it developed."
"You mean now?"
"Yes, I'm in a hurry to get the prints. Dad may take it into his head
to leave this place any day and I have considerable unfinished business
on my calendar."
"It seems as if I've walked a million miles today," Susan grumbled
good-naturedly.
"It's good for your figure," Penny laughed. "You don't want to get
fat."
"No chance of it around you," Susan retorted.
Penny took the picture and removed the roll of exposed film from her
camera. Walking down Knob Hill, the girls left it at one of the
drugstores in Kendon.
"How soon may we have the prints?" Penny asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," the clerk promised.
When the girls had left the drugstore, Penny suggested that they drop
in for a moment at Turner's.
"Are you still hopeful that someone will claim the toy lantern?" Susan
inquired with a trace of amusement.
"No, I gave up long ago," Penny admitted. "I just keep asking as a
matter of routine."
"Mr. Turner would let you know if anything develops."
"He might forget," Penny insisted. "Let's drop in for just a minute."
Susan sighed wearily and followed her chum into the store. Mr. Turner
did not look very pleased to see them. He had grown tired of their
frequent calls.
"Nothing new?" Penny asked pleasantly.
The storekeeper shook his head. "I think you may as well take the
lantern with you," he said. "I'm convinced it doesn't belong to any
child around here."
"It begins to look that way," Penny admitted.
She was debating what to do when she felt Susan pluck her sleeve.
Glancing quickly up she was surprised to see that Perry Crocker had
entered the store. The boy did not notice the girls but walked toward
the candy department.
"I didn't know Old Herman ever let him go any place alone," Susan
whispered.
"Neither did I," Penny agreed. "Probably Perry's grandfather is
waiting outside."
Susan started toward the boy, but Penny restrained her.
"Wait!" she whispered.
The boy had gone directly to the candy counter.
"Good afternoon, Perry," said the storekeeper. "I don't see you very
often."
"Today is my birthday," the boy explained in an excited voice. "I'm
eleven years old. My grandfather gave me ten cents to spend."
"That's fine," said the storekeeper. "What kind of candy will you
have?"
"I want some of those caramels and lemon drops. Or would I get
more----"
Perry broke off to stare at the broken toy lantern which stood on the
storekeeper's shelf directly behind the candy counter.
"Why, where did you get my lantern?" he asked quickly. "Give it to me."
"Is this your lantern?" the storekeeper questioned, glancing toward
Penny and Susan who had remained some distance away.
"Of course it's mine," said Perry. "Please give it to me."
"But how do I know it is yours?" asked Mr. Turner. He had been coached
carefully by Mr. Nichols. "A great many boys have lanterns exactly
like this."
"It's really mine, Mr. Turner," Perry insisted. "I can tell because I
made a new wick for it out of an old piece of white cloth. Someone has
smashed the isinglass."
Mr. Turner again glanced inquiringly toward Penny. She nodded her head
as a signal that he was to give the lantern to the boy.
"Very well, Perry, here you are," the storekeeper said, handing him the
toy. "Now what kind of candy do you want?"
He filled the order and Perry left the store without observing Penny
and Susan. Through the plate glass window the girls saw him show the
toy lantern to his grandfather. Then he climbed into the car and they
drove away.
"I hope I did right to let him take the toy," said the storekeeper
anxiously.
"Yes, you did," said Penny quietly. "The lantern has served its
purpose now."
"I was very much surprised that it belonged to Perry," went on Mr.
Turner.
"It was somewhat of a shock to me too," Penny acknowledged.
"Your father told me a little about the case," the storekeeper
continued. "I fear that this clue has no significance for Perry's
grandfather is an upstanding man in the community."
"I quite understand," replied Penny gravely. "Thank you for going to
so much trouble to help my father. I'm sure that he'll not wish you to
speak of this matter to anyone."
"I'll keep it to myself," Mr. Turner promised. "If there is anything
more I can do, let me know."
The instant that the girls were outside the store they lost their
serene attitude.
"Now what's our move?" asked Susan tensely.
"We must get home as fast as we can and tell Dad," Penny replied.
"This clue has a lot more significance than Mr. Turner believes. It
probably means that Herman Crocker is the man who took the Kirmenbach
jewels!"