"Ghost" Music
As Penny and Rosanna entered the living room, the stranger turned to face
them. For a long moment Penny was convinced that he was the shoplifter
who had stolen the diamond ring from the Belton City department store.
His build was the same and the general lines of his face were similar.
Then the man spoke and she was not certain at all. The tone of his voice
was entirely different as was his abrupt manner of speaking.
A trifle nervously, or so it seemed to Penny, Caleb Eckert introduced the
stranger.
"Max Laponi," he said. "He represents himself as a nephew of Jacob
Winters."
"Not only do I represent myself as such, but I have proof that I am Uncle
Jacob's nephew," the stranger retorted. "You'll find my credentials in
order. I've come to take over the estate."
The girls were not greatly surprised when he took from his pocket a
letter similar to the one which Mrs. Leeds had produced. They were more
impressed with the other papers which he offered for Caleb's
inspection--a birth certificate, a letter of identification from a well
known Chicago banker and various legal documents.
"It looks to me as if someone has played a joke on all you folks," Caleb
said slowly. "We don't know that Mr. Winters is even dead."
"Oh, yes, we do," Max Laponi insisted, producing another letter. "This
came from my attorney this morning. It definitely states that Mr.
Winters--Uncle Jacob--was buried at sea."
Caleb sank down in a chair. He scarcely read the letter although his face
had turned an ashen hue.
"I can't believe it even now," he murmured. "There must be some mistake."
"There's no mistake," Max cut in sharply. "It's clear enough that I am
the heir too. By the way, didn't the old man have a valuable collection
of ivories?"
Caleb stiffened visibly. "Ivories?" he asked blankly.
"Sure, some pieces he collected years ago on his tours. Read about it in
the paper."
"Oh, so you read about it?" Caleb echoed significantly.
"Uncle Jacob told me about the collection too. He always intended me to
have it."
"Then you should know where to find it," Caleb retorted bluntly. "I'm
sure I don't."
With that he turned and walked to the door. There he paused to fling over
his shoulder:
"I wash my hands of the whole matter. You folks will have to fight it out
among you."
Mrs. Leeds had managed to hold her tongue very well, but the moment that
the door closed behind Caleb, she began an angry attack upon Rosanna and
the newcomer, accusing both of being impostors. Unwilling to listen to
such an unreasonable tirade, Penny and Rosanna fled out of doors.
"Such a mad house!" Penny exclaimed, taking a deep breath. "I have to
keep pinching myself to believe it's real!"
"I never saw such a hopeless muddle," Rosanna added. "Everyone is so
eager for the property no one gives the slightest thought to the tragedy
which befell poor Mr. Winters."
"Perhaps he isn't dead," Penny suggested.
Rosanna stared. "What makes you think that? Didn't Mr. Laponi have proof
of it?"
"He seemed to have proof of everything," Penny admitted with a rueful
laugh. "That's what makes me suspicious. There's something strange about
this entire affair."
"I agree with you there."
"I'm convinced of one thing, Rosanna. Either Mrs. Leeds or this man
Laponi is an impostor. At first I thought Laponi was the same person who
stole the ring. Now I can't be sure."
Rosanna did not believe that the two were identical although she admitted
there was a close resemblance. However, she was quite willing to agree
that the man seemed like an impostor despite his credentials.
"He may have picked up that letter and key you lost," Penny went on,
thinking aloud. "And there was something rather sinister in the way he
mentioned the collection of ivories."
"I noticed that. Caleb seemed disturbed."
"It wouldn't surprise me if he knows where Mr. Winters kept the
collection," Penny continued. "At any rate, he's wise to pretend
ignorance. With such a mad lot of people in the house, anything might
happen."
Noticing a nearby path which led to a spring house, the girls followed
it, drinking of the cool mountain water. They sat down on a bench which
afforded a view of the tall chalk-like cliffs. After a time they felt
soothed and tranquil again. They presently walked back to the house.
Max Laponi was nowhere to be seen although Alicia told them that he was
busy moving his things into one of the upstairs bedrooms.
"Mother's worried since he came," the girl confided, growing more
friendly. "They had a dreadful quarrel. Now she's hunting for the will."
"But Caleb Eckert warned her not to do that," Penny protested.
"That old meddler has nothing to do with this place," Alicia declared
with a toss of her head. "I hope he minds his own business and stays
away."
The girls found Mrs. Leeds in the library. She was going through the
drawers of the desk in systematic fashion, tossing papers carelessly on
the floor. One drawer was locked. She shook it viciously.
"Like as not Jacob Winters' will is locked up in there," she said
irritably. "I'm half a notion to break into it."
"Oh, you mustn't do that," Rosanna cried indignantly, before she could
check herself.
"And why shouldn't I?" Mrs. Leeds demanded tartly. "Jacob Winters is dead
isn't he? And his will must be found. I suppose you're afraid to have the
document come to light for fear you'll be cut off completely."
Rosanna's cheeks flushed.
"I never thought of such a thing, Mrs. Leeds. I think it's disgraceful
the way everyone is acting about the property!"
Before Mrs. Leeds could reply, she ran from the room. Penny loyally
followed, joining Rosanna in the bedroom which they shared. She found the
orphan in tears.
"Forget it," Penny advised kindly. "Mrs. Leeds is so intent on getting
the money that she doesn't realize what she says."
"I'm sorry I ever came here. I want no part in this disgraceful grab for
Uncle Jacob's money."
"I know how you feel," Penny agreed, "but let's stay a day or two. I'm
curious to learn just what is going on here."
In truth, she was completely baffled. It was difficult for her to make up
her mind whether or not the entire arrangement was a hoax. Somehow she
had distrusted Laponi's credentials. She distrusted him too.
"I don't believe he could be a nephew of Jacob Winters," she thought. "I
wish there was some way to trace down his past."
It was clear to Penny that Rosanna would never defend her claim to the
inheritance. Unless she personally took a hand in the affair, Mrs. Leeds
and Max Laponi would ignore the orphan completely.
"I'll let them make the first move," she decided shrewdly. "For the time
being I'll play a waiting game."
For the greater part of the afternoon, Penny and Rosanna remained in
their own room. Toward nightfall they walked about the grounds and later
motored to a nearby inn for dinner. At nine o'clock when they returned to
the big empty house, the downstairs was dark. They judged that Mrs. Leeds
and Max Laponi had already gone to their rooms.
"We may as well turn in too," Penny suggested. "The mountain air makes
one drowsy."
Both girls were soon sound asleep. However, sometime later Penny was
awakened by the sound of footsteps in the hall. She thought little of it,
and rolling over, tried to go to sleep again. Suddenly she heard soft
music from above.
She sat up in bed, listening. A strain of a famous opera resounded
through the room, rising in volume, then falling away. Penny knew that
she was not imagining it. She nudged her companion who quickly awakened.
"Do you hear the same thing I do?"
Rosanna clutched the sheets more tightly about her.
"Ghost music," she whispered in awe.
"It sounds like pipe organ music coming from a long distance away," Penny
whispered. "I'm going to find out!"
Before Rosanna could prevent it, she stole from bed and swiftly tiptoed
to the door.