counter, a man pushed past her, and ran toward the nearest exit. In
surprise she turned around, unintentionally blocking the way of a store
detective. Shoving past her, he pursued the first man only to lose him in
the milling crowd near the front door.
"That fellow must have been a shoplifter!" Penny remarked to Louise. "I
think he got away too!"
The unexpected commotion had drawn the interest of many shoppers.
Mingling with the crowd, the girls heard a woman tell a companion that
the man who had escaped was wanted for attempting to pass a forged
cheque.
A moment later, the store detective came striding down the aisle. Pausing
at the jewelry counter he spoke to the floorman, confirming the report.
"Well, the fellow escaped! He tried to pass a bum cheque for fifty
dollars."
"What name did he use?" the floorman inquired.
"Ben Bowman. It will be something else next time."
Penny had heard the words. Startled by the name, she moved hastily to the
detective's side.
"Excuse me," she addressed him, "did I understand you to say that a man
by the name of Ben Bowman forged a cheque?"
"That's correct, Miss," the detective answered, staring at her curiously.
"Know anything about the man?"
"I think I may. Would it be possible for me to see the cheque?"
The detective removed it from a vest pocket, offering the signature for
inspection. One glance satisfied Penny that the cheque had been signed by
the same man who had been sending her father "crank" messages.
"At home I have a telegram which I'm sure bears this identical
signature!" she revealed. "I've never seen the man though--except as he
ran through the store."
The store detective questioned Penny at length about her knowledge of
Bowman. Realizing that a description of the man might be of great value
to her, he showed her a small card which bore a mounted photograph.
"This is Ben Bowman," he assured her. "He's an expert forger, and uses
any number of names. Think you can remember the face?"
"I'll try to," Penny replied. "He doesn't seem to have any distinguishing
features though."
"His angular jaw is rather noticeable," the detective pointed out. "Brown
eyes are set fairly close together. He's about six feet two and dresses
well."
Penny was highly elated to have gained a description of Bowman, and
especially pleased that the man had been traced to Claymore. The fact
that he was a known forger, encouraged her to hope that police soon would
apprehend him.
"That one hundred dollars Dad offered for Bowman's capture is as good as
mine already," she boasted gleefully to Louise as they left the store.
"All I need to do is wait."
"No doubt you'll collect," Louise admitted grudgingly. "I never met
anyone with your brand of luck."
"I feel especially lucky today too," Penny said with a gay laugh. "Tell
you what! Let's make another tour of the vegetable markets."
"It will make us late in getting home. The time is sure to be wasted
too."
"Oh, come along," Penny urged, seizing her by the arm. "I promise to have
you in Riverview no later than three o'clock."
In driving into Claymore that morning the girls had noticed a large
outdoor market near the outskirts of the city. Returning to it, Penny
parked the car, and with her chum wandered about the sales area.
"A nice fat chicken?" a farm woman asked persuasively, holding up an
uninviting specimen. "Fresh eggs?"
"We're looking for melons," Penny replied.
"Mr. Breldway has some nice cantaloupes," the woman returned. "He got a
truck load of 'em in from Riverview just the other day."
Locating Mr. Breldway's place of business, Louise and Penny began to
inspect the melons offered for sale. Almost at once they came upon a
basket of cantaloupes which bore a blurred stamp.
"Louise, these look like the Davis crop!" Penny cried excitedly.
"Wouldn't you say someone deliberately had blocked out the old marking?"
"It does appear that way."
"Maybe we can find just one melon with the original stamp!"
Penny dug into the basket with both hands, tossing up cantaloupes for
Louise to place on the ground. Their activities immediately drew the
attention and displeasure of Mr. Breldway.
"If you're looking for a good melon let me help you," he said, hurrying
toward them.
Penny straightened, holding up a cantaloupe for him to see.
"I don't need any help," she said distinctly. "I've found the melon I
want. It bears the Davis stamp."
CHAPTER
16
_A FAMILIAR NAME_
"The melon you have selected is a very good one," the market man
declared, not understanding the significance of Penny's remark. "Shall I
put it in a sack for you?"
"I'm not interested in the melon--only in the stamp," Penny replied. "Do
you realize that you may be liable to arrest?"
"What d'you mean, liable to arrest?" the man demanded. "I'm an honest
dealer and I have a license."
"Look at these melons." Penny held up one which bore the blurred stamp.
"The trade name has been altered."
The dealer took the cantaloupe from her, examining it briefly. She then
offered him the single melon bearing the Davis stamp.
"Well, what about it?" he asked.
"Just this. A few nights ago a truck load of melons similar to these, was
stolen from the Davis farm near Riverview. The thief was trailed right to
this city."
"You're trying to say that I sell stolen melons!"
"I'm not making any direct accusations," Penny replied evenly. "No doubt
you can explain where you got the melons."
"Certainly I can. I bought a truck load of them from a farmer named John
Toby. The melons were good, the price cheap, and I didn't pay any
attention to the stamp."
"Is Mr. Toby a regular dealer?"
"I buy from him now and then, when his prices are right. I never bothered
to ask any questions."
"Where does the man live?"
"I can't tell you that. He's a large, heavy-set fellow with brown hair
and eyes."
The description was too meagre to be of value to Penny.
"Does Mr. Toby drive a red truck?" she inquired thoughtfully.
"He did this last time."
"It was a red truck which was stolen from the Davis farm," Penny said
quietly. "I'm sure these melons came from there too."
"I paid good money for them," the dealer retorted in a defiant tone. "So
far as I knew, they belonged to this fellow Toby. I can't investigate
every farmer who offers me produce."
"All the same, you could get into serious trouble for selling stolen
melons," Penny replied. "Of course, I have no intention of going to the
police, providing you are willing to cooperate."
"What d'you mean, cooperate?" the dealer inquired suspiciously.
"Only this. Will you see John Toby again?"
"That's hard to tell. He said he might bring in another load of melons
within the next few days."
"When you receive the next shipment, will you notify me?"
"Yes, I'm willing to do that," the dealer promised. "If Toby is crooked,
I want to know it myself."
Penny gave the man her name, address, and telephone number. Knowing that
he might not be able to reach her quickly enough, she instructed him to
detain the farmer by force if necessary.
"If I can't get in touch with you, I may have the fellow questioned by
police," the dealer offered. "I don't want to put myself into a hole."
Penny was not entirely satisfied that the market man would keep his
promise. However, she hesitated to make a report to the police without
first consulting her father. Everything considered, it seemed best to let
the situation work out as it would.
"Well, your luck is still running true to form," Louise said jokingly, as
the girls drove toward Riverview. "Do you have any idea who John Toby may
be?"
"Not the slightest," Penny confessed. "The description would fit Hank
Holloway, or for that matter, any one of a dozen men I know."
The girls arrived in Riverview by mid-afternoon after an uneventful trip.
Penny dropped Louise at the Sidell home and then went to the _Star_
office to talk with her father. Mr. Parker was absent from his desk, but
his secretary who was typing letters, explained that he would return in a
moment.
Penny sat down in her father's chair to wait. A bulky, unsealed envelope
lay on the desk. Peering at it curiously she noted that it bore the
marking: "Property Deed: Lots 456, 457, and 458."
"What's this?" she asked aloud. "Is Dad buying property?"
"Oh, no," the secretary replied, glancing up from her typewriter. "That
is the deed and abstract for the Orphans' Camp site."
"I wonder which property it is?"
"The land Mr. Blake controls, I believe. At least he brought the papers
into the office this morning for your father's inspection. I heard him
say that if the forms are satisfactory, the deal will be completed at
once."
Penny unfolded one of the lengthy documents, shaking her head as she
scanned the legal terms.
"I don't see how Dad makes anything of this," she said. "Such a mess of
words and names!"
"I imagine Mr. Parker intends to turn it over to his lawyer," the
secretary smiled.
The editor entered the office at that moment, and Penny directed her next
question to him.
"Dad, is it all settled that the camp board will purchase Mr. Blake's
land?"
"Practically so," he answered. "If my lawyer, Mr. Adams, approves the
abstract, the deal will be completed. Against my advice Mrs. Van Cleve
already has given Blake five hundred dollars to hold an option."
"Why did she do that, Dad?"
"Well, Blake convinced her he had another buyer for the property. It's
the old story. Competition stimulates interest."
"Do the papers seem to be all right?"
"Oh, I've not looked at them," Mr. Parker replied. "Blake is a good real
estate man though, so there's not likely to be any flaw."
"Who actually owns the property, Dad?"
"It's there on the abstract," he answered. "Why not look it up for
yourself?"
"Too much like doing home-work," Penny grinned, but she spread the
document on the desk and began to read various names aloud. "'Anna and
Harry Clark to Lydia Goldwein, Lydia Goldwein to Benjamin Bowman--'"
"What was that name?" Mr. Parker demanded sharply.
"Benjamin Bowman." Penny peered at the document a second time to make
certain she had made no mistake. "That's the truth, Dad. Who knows, maybe
it's your old pal, Ben!"
"Are you making up that name?" Mr. Parker asked skeptically.
Penny thrust the abstract into his hand. "Here, read it for yourself,
Dad. Bowman seems to be the present owner of the land."
Mr. Parker rapidly scanned the document.
"The land is held by a Benjamin Bowman," he admitted, frowning. "A
strange coincidence."
"I never heard of a Bowman family living near Riverview," Penny remarked,
reaching for a telephone book. "Did you?"
"No, but Bowman is a fairly common name."
Turning to the "B" section Penny went through the telephone list.
"There's only one Bowman here," she said, penciling a circle around the
name. "A Mrs. Maud Bowman."
"The name Maud Bowman doesn't appear on the abstract," Mr. Parker
declared, as he studied the document once more. "There's something funny
about this."
"Mr. Blake seemed rather eager to dispose of the land, didn't he?"
"His price was a bit low, which surprised me," Mr. Parker said, thinking
aloud. "Probably everything can be explained satisfactorily."
"Then why not ask Mr. Blake to do it?" Penny proposed. "He should be able
to tell you something about his client."
"That's really a first-class idea," Mr. Parker agreed and he reached for
a telephone. "I'll ask Mr. Blake to come here at once."
CHAPTER
17
_FALSE RECORDS_
Mr. Blake, suave, completely at ease, sat opposite Mr. Parker and Penny
in the editor's private office.
"I came as soon as I could after receiving your telephone message, Mr.
Parker," he said pleasantly. "Now what seems to be the trouble?"
"Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered you," the editor apologized. "However,
in glancing over the abstract for the Orphans' Camp property I noticed
that the land is owned by a man named Benjamin Bowman."
"Quite true. I am acting as his agent."
"It happens that I have had dealings with a man by that same name,"
resumed Mr. Parker. "Rather unpleasant dealings, I might add. I'm curious
to learn if this property owner is the same fellow."
"Very unlikely, I think," Mr. Blake shrugged. "My client does not reside
in Riverview."
"Nor does the man I have in mind."
"Can you tell us what he looks like?" Penny interposed eagerly.
"I am very sorry, but I can't," Mr. Blake returned. "I've never met Mr.
Bowman."
"Yet you act as his agent?" Mr. Parker inquired in astonishment.
"All our dealings have been by mail or telephone."
"I see," the editor commented reflectively. "Well, at least you can
provide me with the man's address."
"I can't do that either," Mr. Blake declined. "Benjamin Bowman is a
salesman with no permanent address. He communicates with me at fairly
regular intervals, but until I hear from him, I have no idea where he
will be the following week."
"Your description seems to fit the man of my acquaintance," Mr. Parker
said dryly. "But tell me, how do you expect to complete this deal? Will
Bowman come here to sign the necessary papers?"
"Oh, that won't be required. He's already made out the sales documents,
and also given me a power of attorney."
"Mr. Bowman seems to think of everything," Mr. Parker remarked grimly. "I
was hoping for the pleasure of meeting him."
"I really don't see what all this has to do with the sale of the
property," Mr. Blake reproved in a mild voice. "You feel that the site is
a suitable one, and the price right?"
"I have no serious objections to it."
"Then why allow your personal feelings to interfere with the deal?"
"I have no intention of doing so," Mr. Parker answered.
"Then if you'll give your approval, we'll sign the final papers tomorrow
at my office. The dedication of the new camp has been set for the tenth
of the month, and that means no time can be lost."
"Everything seems to have been settled without my approval," Mr. Parker
said, smiling. "However, if you don't mind, I'll keep this abstract a
little longer."
"As you like," the real estate man shrugged. "Have your lawyer go over
the records with a fine tooth comb. He'll find no flaws anywhere."
Arising, Mr. Blake bowed politely and left the office. Penny waited until
she knew that he was a considerable distance from the door before seeking
her father's opinion of the interview.
"Everything may be on the level," he conceded, frowning. "I've no reason
to distrust Blake, and yet I can't help feeling that there's something
peculiar about this land deal."
"Blake has been rushing things through at such a furious rate," Penny
nodded. "Another thing, Ben Bowman is a well-known forger."
"What makes you think that?" the editor asked alertly. "Any real
information?"
Penny revealed everything she had learned that day at Claymore. Mr.
Parker listened attentively, making few comments until she had finished.
"I am more than ever convinced there is something phoney about Bowman's
connection with this affair," he declared grimly. "We'll see what my
lawyer has to say."
Having made up his mind that the transaction merited a thorough
investigation, Mr. Parker personally carried the questionable abstract to
a reliable law firm, Adams and McPherson. The report came back late in
the afternoon, and was relayed to Penny at the dinner table.
"Mr. Adams says that the abstract seems to be drawn up correctly," the
editor disclosed. "He could find no flaw in it or in any of the records
at the court house."
"Then apparently we jumped too hasty to conclusions," Penny remarked in
disappointment.
"I'm not so sure. Mr. Adams tells me that the ownership of the property
is a very muddled affair."
"Muddled?"
"Yes, it has changed hands many times in the past year, and oddly, none
of the buyers or sellers seem to be known in Riverview."
"What does Mr. Adams think about that, Dad?"
"He advises that the records be inspected very carefully. It will take
weeks though, for they are quite involved."
"I suppose that will hold up the opening of the camp."
"It may," Mr. Parker acknowledged. "However, it seems wise to take every
precaution even if the camp isn't opened this year. Too much money is
involved to risk paying for land which may have a faulty title."
The following day, the editor conferred with members of the Camp Fund
board, telling of his findings. To his chagrin, Mrs. Van Cleve did not
share his views.
"I trust Mr. Blake's judgment implicitly," she insisted. "I am sure the
property will be satisfactory in every way. If there should by chance be
any flaw in the title, he would make it good."
"We can't possibly delay the dedication another week," added another
feminine member of the board. "The summer is nearly over now."
"At least postpone making the final payment until after I have had
another report from my lawyers," Mr. Parker pleaded.
"Very well, we'll do that," Mrs. Van Cleve agreed. "Mr. Blake is so
obliging I am sure he will allow us to set up equipment on the land, even
though we don't actually possess title."
The entire transaction seemed very unbusinesslike to Mr. Parker, but he
did not attempt to force his opinion upon the board members. Accordingly,
plans went forward for the grand opening of the camp. Stories appeared
regularly in the _Star_, playground equipment and floored tents were set
up on the camp site, and the actual dedication program was announced.
"You might know Mr. Blake would be invited to make the main speech,"
Penny remarked disapprovingly as she scanned the latest story of the
coming affair. "Every day, in every way, he gives me a bigger and bigger
pain!"
Throughout the week both she and Louise had been very active, helping out
at the new camp site. The land had been cleared of underbrush, trails had
been constructed, and a well dug. While supervising the setting-up of
slides, merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters, Penny upon several occasions
had had disagreements with Mr. Blake. The man remained at the site almost
constantly, imposing his wishes upon everyone.
"A great deal of time and money has been spent getting that place ready
for the dedication," Penny commented to her father. "If anything should
happen that the final papers aren't signed, it would be a pity."
"I've had no report as yet," Mr. Parker answered. "My lawyers tell me
they never delved into a more involved case."
"What does Mr. Blake think about the investigation?"
"He seems to be agreeable. However, I suspect he's been working on the
various board members, trying to get them to conclude the deal without
waiting."
"How long will it be before you'll have a final report, Dad?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "I expected to get it long before this."
In the flurry of preparing for the camp dedication, Penny had no
opportunity to give much thought to other affairs. She did not see Seth
McGuire, the sheriff had nothing to disclose concerning Clem Davis'
disappearance, and the Black Hoods seemed to have become an extinct
organization.
On the morning of the designated date, Penny was abroad early. She and
Louise planned to drive to the dedication exercises together, and wished
to arrive before the grounds were congested. Eating breakfast hurriedly,
Penny scarcely noticed when her father was called to the telephone. He
absented himself from the dining room nearly fifteen minutes. As he
returned to the table, Penny pushed back her chair, ready to leave.
"Well, I'll see you at the camp grounds, Dad," she said lightly.
"I don't know what to do about the dedication," responded Mr. Parker in a
sober tone. "By rights there should be none."
Penny stared at him.
"I've just heard from my lawyers," Mr. Parker explained.
"Then, there is a flaw in the title as you suspected!"
"Decidedly. It's a very mixed-up mess, and as yet we're not sure what it
may mean."
"Tell me about it, Dad," Penny pleaded, sliding back into her chair.
"Benjamin Bowman--whoever he may be--doesn't own the camp property."
"Then in whose name is it?"
"The property doesn't belong to anyone."
"Why, how ridiculous!" Penny exclaimed. "Doesn't every piece of land in
the world belong to someone?"
"Actually the heirs of Rosanna and Joseph Schulta own this particular
property. But there are no heirs."
"What you say doesn't make sense to me, Dad."
"The whole affair is very involved," Mr. Parker explained. "In tracing
back the history of the land, my lawyers found that originally it was
owned by Rosanna and Joseph Schulta, an elderly couple, who had no known
relatives. They sailed for Germany more than fifty years ago. The ship
sank, and presumably they were lost. Their land was never claimed, and
somehow the state overlooked the case."
"But I thought the property had changed hands many times in recent
years!"
"Only theoretically. All those records have been falsified."
"By whom, Dad? Ben Bowman?"
"My lawyers are inclined to think Blake may be at the bottom of it. He is
a very shrewd real estate man, and in examining records at the court
house, he may have learned about this floating property."
"Then he deliberately tried to cheat the Camp Fund board!"
"It looks that way. Neither Ben Bowman nor anyone else owns the property.
Had you not noticed his name on the abstract, it's unlikely the fraud
would have been uncovered for quite a few years to come."
"What will you do, Dad?" Penny inquired, deeply distressed. "The
dedication is scheduled to start within an hour."
"I don't see how it can be postponed," Mr. Parker said soberly. "It will
have to go on according to schedule."
"Afterwards you'll ask for Blake's arrest?"
"There's no real evidence against him."
"No evidence!"
"He claims to be a mere agent of Ben Bowman. All of the deeds and legal
papers were drawn up by some other person. If any accusation is made
against him, he can escape by maintaining that he knew nothing of the
back records."
"There's one person who might be able to implicate him!" Penny exclaimed.
"Ben Bowman!"
"Bowman should have it in his power to clear up some of the mystery," Mr.
Parker agreed. "But how are we to find him?"
"I don't know," Penny admitted. "It looks rather hopeless unless the
police just present him to us wrapped in pink ribbon."
The clock struck nine. Daring not to linger any longer, Penny hastily
bade her father goodbye and left the house.
Driving to the camp site with Louise Sidell, she told her chum of the
latest complications.
"Mr. Blake is one of the worst hypocrites in the world," she declared
feelingly. "He pretends he wants to help the orphans, and all the while
he intends to trick the Board and make a nice profit for himself."
"Your father won't let him get away with it," Louise returned
confidently. "So long as the money hasn't been paid over there's no need
to worry."
Arriving at the camp site, the girls went at once to the official tent.
To their surprise, Mr. Blake, Mrs. Van Cleve, and all members of the
Board save Mr. Parker, were there. On the table lay various legal papers
which bore signatures still moist with ink.
Penny gazed from one person to another, slowly comprehending the scene.
"You're not buying this property!" she exclaimed in protest.
Mrs. Van Cleve's reply stunned her.
"It seemed unreasonable to keep Mr. Blake waiting," the woman said
quietly. "The transaction has just been completed."
CHAPTER
18
_ADELLE'S ACCUSATION_
"Oh, Mrs. Van Cleve! You've been cheated!"
The signing of the papers had taken Penny so by surprise that she did not
weigh her words before speaking. Too late, she realized that her father
never would approve of revealing the facts in such blunt fashion.
However, having said so much, she was determined to go on.
"My dear, what do you mean?" inquired Mrs. Van Cleve, troubled by the
unexpected accusation.
"Any money paid for this land will be lost! My father has just learned--"
"I resent such loose talk!" Mr. Blake broke in irritably. "Mr. Bowman,
whom I represent, has taken a substantial loss on the property."
"And who is Ben Bowman?" Penny challenged. "You can't produce him, nor
prove that he owns the land. The title is faulty. Neither you nor Ben
Bowman has any right to sell it!"
"This isn't true?" Mrs. Van Cleve asked the real estate man.
"Certainly not! You may be sure that if there is the slightest flaw in
the title, I shall return your cheque."
"Perhaps, considering the uncertainty, it might be wise to postpone
payment until I have talked again with Mr. Parker," Mrs. Van Cleve said
diffidently.