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diff --git a/34369-8.txt b/34369-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..723e5d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/34369-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6013 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost +Key, by Joan Clark + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key + +Author: Joan Clark + +Release Date: November 19, 2010 [EBook #34369] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PENNY NICHOLS--MYSTERY OF LOST KEY *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + PENNY NICHOLS + MYSTERY STORIES + + Penny Nichols Finds a Clue (1936) + Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key (1936) + Penny Nichols and the Black Imp (1936) + Penny Nichols and the Knob Hill Mystery (1939) + + _by_ + "Joan Clark" + (Mildred A. Wirt, 1905-2002) + + + + + Penny Nichols + and the + Mystery of the + Lost Key + + + _By_ + Joan Clark + + * + + The + Goldsmith Publishing Company + + CHICAGO + + COPYRIGHT 1936, BY + THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING COMPANY + + MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + + _CONTENTS_ + + + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. A Valuable Letter 11 + II. A Mysterious Key 25 + III. An Arrogant Guest 38 + IV. A Face at the Window 51 + V. The Lost Key 67 + VI. Midnight Visitors 76 + VII. "Ghost" Music 93 + VIII. The Ivory Collection 102 + IX. A Scrap of Paper 115 + X. The Wall Safe 131 + XI. A Night Adventure 140 + XII. A Suspicious Act 150 + XIII. The Secret Stairs 164 + XIV. A Diamond Ring 175 + XV. Penny's Evidence 186 + XVI. Mrs. Leeds' Strategy 199 + XVII. The Man in the Boat 209 + XVIII. A Daring Theft 220 + XIX. The Tables Turn 225 + XX. A Break for Freedom 239 + + + + + CHAPTER I + A Valuable Letter + + +"Hurry, Susan! We have only ten minutes before the store closes!" + +Penelope Nichols, the slender girl in blue, urged her companion into the +revolving doors at the entrance of the Bresham Department Store. A +vigorous push sent the barriers spinning at such a rate that other +shoppers turned to stare at the two girls. + +"You nearly took off my heels that time, Penny," Susan Altman protested +with a laugh as they emerged into the crowded store. + +"Sorry, but we've no time to waste if I get that pair of white earrings. +The clerks are starting to put things away already." + +Threading their way through the outgoing stream of shoppers, the girls +went directly to the jewelry counter. Penny peered anxiously into one of +the glass cases to see if the coveted ivory ornaments were still on +display. They had not been sold. + +"Do you think they'll look all right with my red party frock?" she asked +her chum as they stood impatiently waiting for a clerk. In matters of +dress she valued Susan's opinion more highly than her own. + +"Stunning. With your coloring you can wear anything. Now if you had a +skin like mine and a snub nose--" + +Penny did not hear the remainder of her chum's oft-repeated complaint for +she was trying vainly to attract the attention of a clerk. The only +available girl at the counter was occupied in showing a tray of fine +rings to a tall man in gray tweeds. + +"We'll never be waited on," Penny murmured in annoyance. "You can tell +it's going to take until closing time before he makes up his mind which +ring he wants." + +Susan turned to survey the customer. He was expensively dressed and upon +a casual inspection appeared to be a gentleman of considerable means. +Although the clerk offered several diamond rings for his approval none of +them satisfied him. + +"Haven't you anything better than this?" he questioned. "Show me that +large diamond, please." He tapped the glass case lightly with his cane. + +The clerk obligingly placed the ring before him. The man examined the +diamond closely, comparing it with another ring previously shown him. For +the first time he appeared aware of Penny and Susan. + +"Wait on these young ladies while I make up my mind which ring I prefer," +he urged the clerk. "I am in no hurry and I can see that they are." + +The clerk hesitated. The rings in which the customer was interested were +valuable ones. It was a rule of the store to keep them always in the +locked case. Yet it would take her only a minute to wait upon the girls, +and obviously the man was a gentleman. She turned to serve Penny. + +"I'll take that pair of earrings," Penny announced, indicating the ivory +pieces. "They're three dollars, aren't they?" + +"Yes, that is correct. I'll have them wrapped for you." + +Penny offered the girl a five dollar bill in payment. She could not +restrain a little sigh as she saw it deposited in the store's cash +drawer. Perhaps she had been foolish to buy the earrings. It meant that +she must do without a great many little things in order to keep within +her allowance. Penny sighed again. At times it was trying to have a +father who believed in maintaining his daughter strictly upon a budget +plan. + +Her eyes roved aimlessly toward the man at the ring counter. She saw him +cast a quick glance about. Then he walked rapidly away, making for the +nearest exit. + +Penny's keen blue eyes riveted upon the ring tray. The large diamond was +missing. + +She had not seen the customer actually take it--his movements had been +too deft for that--yet she knew for a certainty that while the clerk's +back had been turned he had secreted it somewhere upon his person. + +Penny did not hesitate. She darted after him. + +"Stop!" she cried. And then to the surprised shoppers who turned at the +sound of her voice: "Don't let that thief get away!" + +The man wheeled sharply, his face convulsed in anger. With his cane he +struck viciously at a stout woman who clutched him by the coat. + +A store detective blocked the main exit. + +Recognizing that he could not hope to escape that way, the thief turned +and bolted up a moving escalator which was carrying a capacity load of +passengers to the second floor. + +Penny, the detective, and a few of the more energetic customers took up +the pursuit. + +In a desperate attempt to escape, the thief elbowed women roughly aside +as he darted up the stairway. Upon the uncertain footing of the moving +treads, several stumbled and fell. In an instant hysterical women were +screaming and clutching at one another for support. + +A slender girl in a shabby business suit was rudely jostled. Penny, half +way up the moving stairway, tried to save her from a hard fall. She was +not quick enough. Down the girl went, and as she fell, the contents of +her pocketbook spilled out upon the moving stairway. The thief took +advantage of the resulting confusion to melt into the throng of shoppers +at the top of the escalator. While store detectives carried on the +pursuit, Penny tried to help the terrified women to alight from the +stairway. + +"Are you hurt?" she asked the girl who had fallen, trying to assist her +to her feet. + +"Never mind me! Save my pocketbook!" the other cried, frantically +beginning to gather up the scattered objects. + +The other passengers upon the stairway were more of a hindrance than a +help. Yet by working fast Penny managed to accumulate nearly all of the +lost articles before the brief ride approached its end. + +"My letter!" + +At the other girl's shrill cry, Penny saw a white envelope riding +serenely on the uppermost step. With a bound she covered the distance +which separated her from it, pouncing upon the letter an instant before +the moving belt disappeared into the flooring. + +Clutching it triumphantly in her hand, she turned to assist the girl who +had lost it. + +"Why, you're limping," she observed. "Here, lean on me." + +"It's nothing," the girl maintained staunchly. "I twisted my ankle when I +fell." + +Penny helped her to a nearby chair. Despite the girl's brave words, her +lips quivered when she spoke and her attractive face had taken on an +ashen hue. Yet, strangely, her interest centered not in her injury but in +the letter which she had nearly lost. + +"Thank you for saving it," she told Penny gratefully. "I don't know what +I should have done if I'd lost that letter. It means everything to me." + +Penny stared at the envelope a trifle curiously but she was too well bred +to ask personal questions. Before she could make any response store +officials hurried up to take charge of the situation. The girl's name was +Rosanna Winters, Penny learned, by listening. She lived at a rooming +house on Sixty-fifth Street, not a great distance from Penny's own home. + +Rosanna firmly turned down the suggestion of store officials that she be +sent to a nearby hospital for first-aid treatment. + +"It isn't necessary. I merely twisted my ankle. I'll soon be able to walk +on it." + +"Let me take you home," Penny offered. "My roadster is parked just +outside the store. We live close to each other." + +The girl hesitated, then smiled as she said: "That's very kind of you, +I'm sure. You don't really mind?" + +"Of course not. Here, let me help you downstairs." + +"Not by way of the escalator," Rosanna said hastily. "Hereafter I'll ride +on the elevator. It's safer." + +Although the store's gong had announced the closing hour some minutes +previously, shoppers were slow to leave the building. As the girls +returned to the street floor they were embarrassed to find themselves the +target for many curious stares. Penny readily was recognized as the girl +who had observed the theft of the ring. + +"What became of that man who knocked me down?" Rosanna questioned. "I +suppose he escaped." + +"I'm afraid so," Penny admitted, looking about for Susan. "The last I saw +of him he was running toward the kitchenware department with the store +detective after him." + +Sighting Susan near the outside door, Penny steered her new friend in +that direction. Quickly she introduced the girls, mentioning Rosanna's +unfortunate accident. + +"I saw it all," Susan declared. "Penny, you certainly did stir up things +when you set the store detective on that thief." + +"And the worst of it was that he escaped," Penny acknowledged. "Of +course, he may be caught here in the building but I doubt it." + +In the excitement, she had completely forgotten her package at the +jewelry counter. The girls would have left the store without it had not +the clerk come running after them with the purchase. + +"Thank you so much for calling out the alarm," she told Penny gratefully. +"If the thief isn't caught I may lose my job." + +"Oh, I hope not." + +"So do I, but I shouldn't have broken a store rule. I was completely +taken in by the man's appearance." + +"I don't wonder at that," Penny said. "He certainly looked anything but a +crook. Was the ring a valuable one?" + +"It was priced to sell at eight hundred dollars. I don't see how I could +have been so stupid." + +Penny felt sorry for the salesgirl, particularly so when the floorwalker +came up and began to question her sharply. + +"It really wasn't the clerk's fault," Penny insisted. "I feel certain +that man was a professional jewel thief." + +"Did you notice his appearance?" the floorwalker asked. + +"Yes, he was dressed in a gray tweed suit. I'd say he was approximately +six feet in height, dark hair and eyes. His face was long and angular." + +The store official noted down the description and took Penny's address in +case she might be needed later on to identify the crook if he were +captured. + +"We're watching all the lower floor exits," the floorwalker informed, +"but the chances are the man got away by means of one of the fire +escapes." + +The store rapidly was clearing of shoppers. Penny and her companions +lingered a few minutes longer and then they too were politely requested +to leave. + +"I'd like to know if the store detective caught that man," Penny declared +as they paused for an instant on the street. "I suppose now we'll have to +find out by reading our newspapers." + +Rosanna Winters turned as if to leave the girls. + +"Thank you again for saving my pocketbook," she said to Penny. "My ankle +is much better now so I'll just take a streetcar home." + +Penny caught her by the elbow. + +"You'll do no such thing. Why, I can see that it hurts you every step you +take. It isn't more than a block or two out of my way to drive you home." + +Despite Rosanna's protests, she urged the girl into the roadster which +was parked at the curbing. Penny was very proud of her car. Although it +was not a new model it ran very well and she spent most of her spare time +keeping it washed and polished. + +Since the Altman residence was close by, Penny dropped her chum off +before taking Rosanna home. During the ride to Sixty-fifth Street, the +Winters girl spoke scarcely a word. Several times Penny cast a curious +glance in her direction. + +Rosanna was the quiet type, she decided. A striking brunette with a +thoughtful, almost sad face. + +"I live at the next house," the girl said as they turned a corner. "The +one on the right." + +It was a modest but not unattractive boarding house. The porch was clean +and the yard more orderly than the majority in the neighborhood. + +"I'm only staying here a few days until I can find another place," +Rosanna mentioned, feeling that some explanation was due her companion. + +"You are a stranger in Belton City?" Penny guessed. + +"Yes, I came here looking for work. But now that won't be necessary." +Rosanna hesitated, and then, because Penny had seemed so very friendly, +decided to offer additional information. "I am an orphan, Miss Nichols. +Until this week I had begun to think that fortune had turned against me." + +"And now you've had a piece of good luck?" + +"Yes," Rosanna's face glowed as she opened her purse and took out the +letter which Penny had picked up from the escalator. "If you hadn't saved +this for me, I should have lost everything." + +"Then I'm glad I snatched it up in time," Penny smiled. + +She could not imagine the contents of the mysterious letter. It was all +she could do to keep from asking questions. + +"I'd like to have you read it if you care to," Rosanna said a trifle +timidly. "I'm anxious to learn the opinion of another person." + +"Why, I'll be glad to look at it if you wish," Penny returned, a little +surprised at the request. "And as far as advice is concerned, I love to +offer it." + +She accepted the envelope which Rosanna proffered. As she took out the +folded letter a key dropped out into her lap. + +"What's this?" Penny demanded. + +Rosanna laughed nervously. "If what the letter says is true, it seems to +be the key to my inheritance! But read the letter for yourself." + + + + + CHAPTER II + A Mysterious Key + + +Unfolding the paper, Penny noticed that the message had been written +under the letterhead: "J.C. Elfhedge, attorney, Brookport." The +communication stated briefly that Rosanna Winters was the sole heiress of +the late Jacob Winters, her uncle, and that she had inherited his +mountainside estate at Raven Ridge. A key to the property was enclosed. +She was urged to inspect the estate at her earliest convenience. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" Rosanna questioned as Penny studied the +letter in silence. + +"Why, it's fine," Penny returned after a slight hesitation. "Did you know +Jacob Winters well?" + +"I didn't know him at all. In fact I never even met him." + +"Oh! Then the inheritance must have come as a surprise." + +"It did. Even now I can't help thinking there must be some mistake. Did +you ever hear of Raven Ridge?" + +"Yes, indeed," Penny told her. "It is a lovely spot near Snow Mountain." + +"I must go there as soon as I can," Rosanna said. "Will the car fare be +very much do you think?" + +"Probably not more than ten dollars." + +"That's a large sum for me," Rosanna smiled ruefully. "Of course, now +that I've actually inherited Uncle Jacob's estate, I suppose I shouldn't +worry about money." + +"Well, I shouldn't spend lavishly until I was certain there would be no +slip-up about getting the property," Penny advised bluntly. "Perhaps I +shouldn't say it, but there's a certain tone to this letter that I don't +like." + +"What do you mean?" Rosanna questioned. + +Penny found it difficult to explain. + +"Brookport is only a few miles from here and yet I've never heard of a +lawyer by the name of Elfhedge. It seems a trifle strange too that he +should enclose a key to the property." + +"It struck me that way too at first," Rosanna admitted unwillingly. "Of +course, I do have an uncle named Jacob Winters--my mother often spoke of +him. He was always considered queer." + +"It may be all right. No doubt you have inherited a fortune. Only I think +I'd be a trifle cautious until I was certain it wasn't a hoax." + +"But what can I do except to obey the letter and visit the property?" + +Penny glanced again at the letterhead. "Why not visit this lawyer and +have a talk with him? Brookport isn't far from here and it might save you +a trip to Raven Ridge." + +"Can I reach Brookport by train or bus?" + +"I'm afraid not," Penny said. "It's off the main line of travel. You +haven't a car of your own or one you could borrow?" + +"No." + +"I'll take you to Brookport if you like," Penny offered generously. "We +might go tomorrow." + +"Oh, I shouldn't like to trouble you, Miss Nichols. I can probably rent a +car." + +"There's no need of it for I would enjoy the ride. Besides, I am curious +to learn if there is an attorney by the name of Elfhedge living in +Brookport. Suppose I call here for you around ten o'clock tomorrow +morning." + +"All right," Rosanna smiled. "It's good of you to offer. Perhaps I can +repay you someday." + +The girls parted, Penny driving directly to her own home. Entering the +house by the back door she found Mrs. Gallup, the housekeeper, cooking +dinner. The kitchen was permeated with the delightful aroma of frying +chicken. + +"Is Dad home yet?" Penny inquired, pausing to sniff the air. + +"He's in the study," the housekeeper informed. + +Penny found Christopher Nichols occupied at his desk. Sometimes it was +difficult for her to realize that she was the daughter of a detective who +had gained state-wide recognition for his ability in solving baffling +cases. Mr. Nichols had served an apprenticeship on the police force, had +risen from the ranks, and later had started his own private detective +agency. Yet, despite his success, he was quiet and unaffected. + +Mr. Nichols had no real hobbies and only two absorbing interests in +life--his work and his daughter. Penny had been left motherless at an +early age. Because there had been only a slight feminine influence in her +life her outlook upon the world was somewhat different from that of the +average high school girl. She thought clearly and frankly spoke her mind. +Yet if she enjoyed an unusual amount of freedom for one so young, she +never abused the trust which her father placed in her. + +Penny loved adventure. Recently, somewhat to her father's chagrin, she +had involved herself with a daring gang of automobile thieves. The story +of her exciting encounter with underworld characters has been recounted +in the first volume of the series, entitled, "Penny Nichols Finds A +Clue." + +"Now what?" Mr. Nichols demanded gruffly as his daughter perched herself +on the corner of his desk. "Has that car of yours broken down again?" + +Penny laughed as she shook her head. + +"No, believe it or not, I still have a few dollars of my allowance left. +I'm after information this time." + +"What sort of information?" + +"Preferably accurate," Penny smiled. "Tell me, did you ever hear of a +lawyer by the name of Elfhedge with an office at Brookport?" + +"No, I never did," Mr. Nichols returned instantly. "There is an attorney +in the Stover building by the name of Hedgel. Perhaps you're mixed up." + +"I have the name right," Penny insisted. She then related the contents of +Rosanna Winters' letter. + +"It sounds like someone's idea of a practical joke," Mr. Nichols +declared. "I'd advise the girl not to spend any money until she's done a +little investigating." + +"That's what I did tell her." + +"I'll look this man Elfhedge up in a day or two if you like," Mr. Nichols +promised. "It sounds like a fictitious name to me but of course the +letter may be _bona fide_." + +Mrs. Gallup interrupted the discussion to announce that dinner was ready. +Immediately after the meal had been served, Mr. Nichols left for his +office and Penny saw him no more that evening. He left the house before +she was up the next morning so she had no opportunity to explain that she +was driving Rosanna Winters to Brookport that day. + +At ten o'clock she rang the doorbell of the rooming house on Sixty-fifth +Street. Rosanna already was waiting. + +"I thought you might have changed your mind about wishing to make the +trip," she declared, following Penny to the car. + +"No, I'm more curious than ever to talk with your lawyer. It will be +wonderful, Rosanna, if the estate turns out to be a valuable one." + +Rosanna smiled a trifle ruefully. "Yes, I will have plenty of use for the +money. I can't believe yet that Uncle Jacob left everything to me." + +Penny refrained from saying anything which might disturb Rosanna. +Actually, she had not the slightest reason for doubting that the girl had +come into an inheritance, save that the letter from Mr. Elfhedge did not +have a genuine tone. It occurred to her that a scheme might be under way +to induce the orphan to part with her own savings. + +During the ride to Brookport, Rosanna mentioned a few of the hard +experiences she had undergone in the past year. First her mother had +died, then an aunt with whom she made her home, likewise had been taken +from her. She found work of a sort in a grocery store, but long hours and +trying conditions had worn her down. She had taken sick. Hospital bills +claimed the greater part of the money which her mother had left her. She +could not secure her old job back, nor could she find a new one. In +desperation she had decided to come to Belton City, hoping that she might +secure a position there. + +"You can imagine that I was pretty well discouraged when the letter +arrived from Mr. Elfhedge," Rosanna ended. "You don't know what a fright +you gave me by suggesting that it might be a hoax." + +"I'm sorry if I caused you worry. I had no reason for thinking that +someone wrote the letter for a joke." + +"Uncle Jacob was noted for doing queer things," Rosanna informed. "I +never met him but Mother often mentioned his name. He was quite a +traveler, I believe, and collecting was his hobby." + +"What did he collect?" + +"Oh, things from the Orient and antiques from all over the world." + +"Then if you've come into his property, you may have inherited some real +treasures," Penny commented. "It would be fun to visit that house at +Raven Ridge." + +"Yes, but I dread going there alone. Penny, I wish you could go with me." + +"I wish I could too, but I guess I'll have to stay at Belton City this +summer." + +It was only a little after eleven o'clock when the girls reached +Brookport. The town was less than a hundred thousand population and Penny +had no trouble in finding the main business section. After cruising about +for some minutes, they located the street where Mr. Elfhedge had his +office. The number which they sought brought them to an imposing +seven-story brick building. + +Penny parked the roadster and they went inside, searching the directory +for Mr. Elfhedge's name. It was not listed. + +"That's odd," Rosanna remarked with a troubled frown. "His office must be +here somewhere in the building." + +Penny went over to make inquiry of the elevator boy. + +"There's no one in this building by that name," he insisted. + +Thinking that the boy might be misinformed, Penny and Rosanna sought the +building superintendent. To satisfy them, the man looked carefully +through his list of tenants. No one by the name of Elfhedge occupied an +office in the building. + +"There is an attorney in Room 309 but his name is Rogers," the +superintendent told the girls. "You might talk with him. He may know this +man Elfhedge." + +They went up to Room 309 and after a brief wait were ushered into the +lawyer's private office. Rosanna was too shy to state the purpose of her +visit, so Penny explained why they had come. The lawyer had never heard +of a colleague by the name of Elfhedge. + +"He's never been in this building and I doubt that he's even located in +the city," they were told. "You must have made a mistake in the address." + +The girls had made no mistake, that they knew. The address was plainly +written on the outside of the envelope which Rosanna had in her purse. +She showed it to the lawyer. + +"Yes, that seems to be this building," he admitted. "It looks as if +someone used a fake address." + +They left the office completely discouraged. Penny felt sorry for her +companion. Rosanna had counted so heavily upon the inheritance. Now it +appeared that someone had played a cruel joke upon her. + +"You were right," Rosanna acknowledged as they walked slowly back to the +car. "You were suspicious of that letter from the first." + +"It struck me as peculiar that it was written in longhand instead of on a +typewriter," Penny explained. + +"I suppose it is nothing but a joke," Rosanna acknowledged, "and yet why +should a key be enclosed in the letter?" + +"It's beyond me, Rosanna. Even if the trip is wasted, you might feel +better about it if you went to Raven Ridge and investigated." + +"I'd go in an instant if I had the money to spare." + +"I'll loan it to you." + +Rosanna shook her head. + +"No, I can't take it although it's kind of you to offer." + +"I wish I could help you, Rosanna." + +"You've helped me a great deal already. Perhaps a little later on I'll +find some way of getting to Raven Ridge." + +Penny tried to urge the loan, but Rosanna, who was unusually proud, would +not hear of it. The girls parted at the latter's boarding house on +Sixty-fifth Street. + +"I'll see you within a day or two," Penny promised as she drove away. +"Perhaps by that time Father will learn something about Mr. Elfhedge." + +She did not really believe that Mr. Nichols could find anything to +report. Doubtless, the name had been a fictitious one. Yet who had played +the joke upon Rosanna and for what purpose? + +"There's more to the affair than what appears on the surface," she +reflected. "If only I had the chance, I'd do a little investigating." + +Penny smiled at the thought, little dreaming that such an opportunity was +to present itself very shortly. + + + + + CHAPTER III + An Arrogant Guest + + +That evening at the dinner table Penny told her father about the +unsuccessful trip to Brookport. + +"It looks like someone played a practical joke on your friend," he +commented. + +"But who could be so mean, Dad? Rosanna has had such a desperately hard +time to get along. Now if she wastes money going to Raven Ridge on a +fruitless visit, it won't seem fair." + +"Well, it's likely to amount to just that," Mr. Nichols returned. "I +tried to locate that attorney, Elfhedge today." + +"Any luck?" + +"No, I doubt if such a person exists." + +"So do I," Penny agreed. "By the way, what became of the newspaper today? +I wanted to read up about the department store theft." + +"To see if your name was mentioned?" her father teased. + +"No, I was just curious to learn if the thief was captured." + +"I can set your mind at rest on that point," Mr. Nichols informed. "He +wasn't. If you're interested in the details, you'll find the paper on the +front porch." + +Penny helped Mrs. Gallup clear the table of dishes, then went outside to +get the paper. The story appeared on the front page. It was a slightly +distorted version of what had happened and Penny was just as well pleased +that her name was not mentioned. According to the account, the thief had +escaped by means of a rear fire escape. The ring, valued at approximately +nine hundred dollars, was fully covered by insurance. + +While Penny was reading the story, Mr. Nichols came out and sat on the +porch steps. + +"How would you like to take a little trip?" he asked casually. + +Penny dropped the newspaper. "With you?" she questioned eagerly. + +"Yes, I've been working hard lately and I feel like taking a rest over +the week end." + +"Where will we go?" + +"I thought of Mt. Ashland. It will be cool in the mountains and at this +time of year the hotels will not be too crowded." + +"Why, Mt. Ashland isn't very far from Snow Mountain, is it?" Penny +demanded with interest. "I'm going to look it up on the map." + +She ran into the house for the big red atlas. A moment later she +returned, her eyes dancing with excitement. + +"Mt. Ashland isn't more than a two hours' drive from Snow Mountain," she +told her father. + +"And just what difference does it make?" + +"Why, Raven Ridge is located on Snow Mountain, you know." + +"Oh! So that's what you have in your mind!" + +Penny perched herself on her father's knee, smiling her most beguiling +smile. + +"Never mind, you little tease," he said hastily. "I give in." + +"You don't even know what I want," she laughed. + +"Yes, I do. You want to take this new friend of yours along with us." + +"I think it would be nice, don't you?" Penny beamed. "Then while you're +having a good rest at Mt. Ashland we could drive on to Raven Ridge. +Rosanna could investigate her property there, if she has any, and it +wouldn't cost her much of anything to make the trip." + +"You seem to have it well planned," the detective marveled. + +"Well, what's wrong with the idea?" + +"Nothing. We'll take her along if she wants to go. She may help keep you +out of mischief." + +"When do we start?" Penny demanded gaily. + +"Tomorrow afternoon as soon as I can get away from the office." + +"Then I'll dash over to see Rosanna now and ask if she can go with us," +Penny announced. + +Without giving her father an opportunity to change his mind, she hurried +to the garage for her roadster. At the rooming house on Sixty-fifth +Street, the landlady, a stout woman with a tired, lined face, admitted +her. + +"Miss Winters has the attic room," she informed. "Five flights up." + +At the top of the last flight Penny paused to catch her breath before +rapping on Rosanna's door. The orphan was a trifle startled at seeing +her. + +"Do come in," she said cordially. + +The room was oppressive and warm, although the tiny windows were open +wide. A bed, a chest of drawers, two chairs and a cracked mirror composed +the entire furniture. + +"I don't expect to stay here long," Rosanna said apologetically. "I +thought it would do until I found work." + +"Why, of course," Penny agreed instantly. "Did you have any luck today?" + +Rosanna shook her head and sank wearily down upon the bed. + +"No, everywhere I went it was the same old story. I'm beginning to think +I'll never find employment." + +"Perhaps you'll not need it if you come into an inheritance," Penny +smiled. "Rosanna, I've found a way for you to get to Raven Ridge." + +The orphan's face brightened but for a full minute after Penny had +explained the plan, she sat silent. + +"Don't you want to go?" Penny asked, perplexed. + +"Yes, of course I do. It isn't that. You've been so good and kind to me. +I'll never be able to repay you for your trouble and expense." + +"Nonsense! The trip will be more fun if you go along, Rosanna. Besides, I +have an overwhelming curiosity to see Raven Ridge and your uncle's +estate. Please say you'll go." + +"All right, I will," Rosanna gave in. + +"Good. Father and I will stop for you tomorrow. I must get back home now +and start packing." + +Penny clattered down the creaking, narrow stairway and disappeared into +the night. + +Although the trip was only a short one, and at the longest would occupy +less than a week's time, Penny spent many hours planning her wardrobe. +She packed an evening gown, several afternoon frocks, and sports clothes. +Then, reflecting that Rosanna would not be so well fixed, she hung the +garments back in the closet, substituting her plainest dresses. + +"There, that will be much better," she decided. "A wise traveler goes +light anyway." + +At three o'clock the following afternoon, Penny and her father stopped at +Rosanna's rooming house to pick up the orphan. She was waiting on the +porch, and as Penny had thought, confined her luggage to one overnight +bag. + +At first the road to Mt. Ashland wound through fertile valleys and low +hills. Gradually, they climbed. The curves became more frequent. Tall +pines bordered the roadside. + +Six o'clock found the party well into the mountains, although still some +miles from their destination. Noticing a pleasant little inn at the top +of a ridge, they stopped for dinner which was served on the veranda +overlooking a beautiful valley. + +"I wonder if Raven Ridge will be as pretty as this?" Rosanna mused. + +"It's even more beautiful," Mr. Nichols told her. "The scenery is very +impressive." + +Before they arose from the table it was growing dusk for they had +lingered to watch the sunset. + +"It's just as well that I wired ahead for hotel reservations," Mr. +Nichols remarked as they hurried to the parked car. "Getting in after +dark it wouldn't be so pleasant to find all the rooms taken." + +At exactly nine o'clock the twinkling lights of the Mt. Ashland Hotel +were sighted, and a few minutes later the automobile drew up in front of +the large white rambling building. An attendant took the car and they all +went inside. + +"I doubt if you'll get rooms here tonight, sir," a bellboy told the +detective as he carried the luggage to the main desk. "There's been a big +rush of guests this week-end." + +Mr. Nichols was not disturbed. At the desk he merely gave the clerk his +name, claiming the two rooms which he had reserved by wire. + +"We saved two very fine rooms for you," the clerk returned politely. +"Both overlook the valley." + +While Mr. Nichols signed the register, Penny and Rosanna sat down nearby. +Their attention was drawn to the main entrance. A large touring car had +pulled up to the door. A pompous looking woman of middle age and a +younger woman, evidently her daughter, had alighted. Both were elegantly +if somewhat conspicuously dressed. Several suitcases, hat boxes and +miscellaneous packages were unloaded. The older woman carried a fat +lapdog in her arms. + +"They seem to have brought everything but the bird cage," Penny said in +an undertone. + +The two women walked up to the desk. + +"I am Mrs. Everett Leeds," the one with the dog announced a trifle too +loudly. "I have a reservation." + +"Just a minute please," the clerk requested. + +It seemed to Penny that he looked disturbed as he thumbed through his +cards. + +"There is no occasion for delay," Mrs. Leeds declared blandly. "My +daughter and I always engage the same room--305." + +"Why, that was the number of one of the rooms assigned to my party," Mr. +Nichols observed. + +"There's been some mix-up," the clerk said in distress. He turned again +to the two women. "Your reservation isn't on file, Mrs. Leeds. When did +you send the wire?" + +"I reserved the room by letter," the woman informed him coldly. + +"It was never received here I am sure." + +"No doubt the letter was lost." + +"You are certain it was sent?" + +"Of course I am," Mrs. Leeds declared icily. "My daughter mailed it. +Didn't you, Alicia, my dear?" + +A queer expression passed over the girl's face. It struck Penny that she +probably had forgotten to post the letter. However, Alicia staunchly +maintained that she had. + +"It's most provoking that you have misplaced the reservation," Mrs. Leeds +said irritably to the clerk. "But of course we can have the room?" + +"I am afraid that is impossible, Mrs. Leeds. The room you wanted was +reserved for two young ladies." With a nod of his head the clerk +indicated Penny and Rosanna. + +Mrs. Leeds and her daughter turned to stare somewhat haughtily. + +"What other room can you give us then?" the woman demanded angrily. + +The clerk cast Mr. Nichols a despairing glance. He knew he was in for +trouble. + +"Practically everything is taken, Mrs. Leeds. In fact the only available +room is on the top floor." + +"And you expect us to take that?" Mrs. Leeds cried, her voice rising +until everyone in the lobby could hear. "I never heard of such outrageous +treatment. Call the manager!" + +Penny had risen to her feet. She moved quickly forward. + +"There's no need to do that," she said pleasantly. "If Rosanna doesn't +mind, I am perfectly willing to exchange rooms with Mrs. Leeds." + +"Why, of course," Rosanna agreed. "It doesn't matter to me where I +sleep." + +Satisfied at having her own way, Mrs. Leeds quieted down. She even +thanked the girls graciously for the sacrifice they had made. The clerk +gave out the keys. + +"Why did you do that?" Mr. Nichols asked gruffly as he and the girls +followed a bellboy to the elevator. "Your room up by the roof will be hot +as blazes." + +"I know, but I didn't see any sense in making such a fuss over a room, +Dad. Besides, it's only for one night." + +"I'd insist that you girls take my room if it had a double bed." + +Penny shook her head. + +"No, you came here for a rest. Rosanna and I really won't mind." + +The three entered the elevator and a minute later Mrs. Leeds and her +daughter likewise stepped into the lift. + +"I hope you girls will not find it uncomfortable on the top floor," Mrs. +Leeds remarked, trying to make pleasant conversation. + +"It isn't very warm tonight," Penny returned politely. "Besides, it will +only be for one night. We're going on to Raven Ridge in the morning." + +The elevator was whizzing them upward. + +"Did you say Raven Ridge?" Mrs. Leeds questioned sharply. + +"Yes." + +A queer expression had come into Mrs. Leeds sharp, blue eyes. She seemed +on the verge of speaking, then apparently changed her mind. + +The elevator stopped at the third floor. Without a word, the woman urged +her daughter out the door, following her down the hall. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + A Face at the Window + + +The little room on the top floor of the hotel was as hot and unpleasant +as Mr. Nichols had predicted. Even with all the windows open wide the air +still seemed close. + +"Rosanna, I shouldn't have forced you into this," Penny said +apologetically. + +"I've slept in far worse places than this," Rosanna laughed. "We have a +comfortable bed and a private bath. I didn't fare half so well at Mrs. +Bridges." + +"You're a good sport anyway, Rosanna. That's more than could be said for +Mrs. Leeds or her daughter." + +"I wonder how old the girl is? She looked about our age." + +"I'd guess she was two or three years older," Penny returned. "She had so +much paint on it was hard to tell." + +Both girls were tired from the long day's drive. Rosanna immediately +began to undress. Penny sat on the edge of the bed, thoughtfully staring +into space. + +"Did it strike you as queer the way Mrs. Leeds acted when I mentioned we +were going to Raven Ridge tomorrow?" she questioned her companion. + +Rosanna kicked off her slippers before replying. + +"Well, come to think of it, she did look a little startled. She put on +such a scene downstairs that I didn't pay much attention." + +"We'll probably never see her again." With a shrug of her slim shoulders +Penny arose and began to unpack her overnight bag. + +According to the plan which they had worked out with Mr. Nichols, the +girls expected to leave for Raven Ridge the next morning directly after +breakfast. It was their intention to motor to the mountain resort, +inspect the Winters' property and see if they could learn anything +concerning Rosanna's uncle. They intended to return either the next night +or the one following. + +Few guests were abroad when the detective joined the girls at breakfast. +It was only a little after seven o'clock. + +"Sleep well?" he inquired, looking over the menu. + +"Not very," Penny admitted truthfully. She might have added more had not +Mrs. Leeds and her daughter entered the dining room at that moment. The +two bowed slightly and selected a table in the opposite corner of the +room. + +"Social climbers," Mr. Nichols said in an undertone. "I can tell their +type a mile away." + +Breakfast finished, the girls prepared to leave for Raven Ridge. Their +bags were already packed and downstairs. + +"Now drive cautiously over the mountain roads," the detective warned as +he accompanied the girls to the waiting car. "If you can't get back by +evening send me a wire." + +As Penny took her place at the steering wheel she observed that Mrs. +Leeds' automobile had been brought to the hotel entrance by an attendant. +Apparently, she too was making an early morning departure. + +"You're not listening to a word I am saying!" Mr. Nichols said severely. + +"Yes, I am." Penny's attention came back to the conversation. "I'll drive +carefully and deliver your precious car back to you without a scratch." + +"I wasn't exactly worried about the car." + +"Well, there's no need to be uneasy about Rosanna or me. We'll have no +trouble." + +With a laugh of careless confidence, Penny started the car and drove +slowly away. It was not the first time she had driven over mountainous +roads. She handled the wheel exceptionally well and used due caution on +all of the sharp curves. The brakes were good but she dared not apply +them too steadily on the steep inclines. + +"We'll have to rush if we get back to Mt. Ashland this evening," Penny +announced, slowing down to read a signpost. "I declare, a mountain mile +seems to be three times the length of an ordinary mile." + +They had gone only a short distance farther when a tire went down. Penny +knew it instantly by the feel of the steering wheel. She pulled off at +the side of the road. + +"Now we are in it," she said in deep disgust. "At least ten miles from a +garage. I can change wheels on my own car, but I doubt if I can on Dad's +automobile." + +The girls waited for a few minutes hoping that someone would come along +to help. When no one did, Penny dragged out the tools, and after +considerable trouble succeeded in jacking up the rear axle. + +"I see a car coming," Rosanna reported hopefully. + +"Let's flag it," Penny suggested. "I could do with a little masculine +help." + +In response to her signal of distress, the approaching automobile slowed +down. The driver was a man and there were no passengers. + +"He's stopping," Penny said in relief. + +There was a screech of brakes as the automobile came almost to a +standstill. Then surprisingly, it speeded up again. But not before Penny +had caught a fleeting glimpse of the driver's face. + +"Well, of all things!" Rosanna exclaimed indignantly. "I call that a mean +trick." + +"I believe he was afraid to stop," Penny announced excitedly. "I think I +recognized him. It was the same man who stole the ring from Bresham's +Department Store!" + +"Are you sure?" Rosanna demanded incredulously. + +"I couldn't be absolutely certain, of course. He was traveling too fast +for me to catch more than a passing glimpse of his face. But if he didn't +recognize us, why did he slow down and then speed up?" + +"He did act suspiciously. But what can we do about it?" + +"Nothing, I'm afraid. We may as well devote our energies to this wheel." + +Rosanna was more than eager to help but she had never even seen a tire +changed and had no idea how to go about it. After a little annoying +experimentation, Penny got the wheel in place and tightened the lugs. + +"There, it's done," she said in relief, "but my dress is a mess. I'm +afraid we'll have to stop at the first garage and have the old wheel +fixed, for I don't carry another spare." + +A signpost at the next bend in the road advised them that Simpson's +Garage was located only six miles away. They made it in a few minutes. +There was no town, only a post office, one general store, and the garage +which obviously was a remodeled blacksmith shop. + +"I'm glad it's nothing more than a tire which needs repairing," Penny +commented as the garageman came to learn what they wanted. + +He promised that the tire would be ready in half an hour. Glancing at her +wrist watch, Penny saw that it was already past lunch time. She inquired +if there was a cafe nearby. + +"Not in Hamilton, there ain't," the garageman told her. "Ma Stevens, +across the street in the big white house, serves meals to tourists now +and then." + +Rather than spend an unpleasant half hour in the garage, the girls walked +over to the rambling white house. They were reassured to see that the +yard was well kept and that everything appeared orderly and clean. + +"Let's take a chance on the food," Penny decided. "I'm hungry enough to +eat a fried board!" + +Mrs. Stevens, a motherly looking woman in a blue checked gingham dress, +opened the door. She looked slightly troubled at their request for food. + +"It's later than I usually serve," she explained. Then noticing their +disappointed faces, she added hastily: "But if you're not too particular, +I can find you something." + +The "something" consisted of a generous platter of mountain trout, fresh +from the stream and fried to a golden brown, French fried potatoes, a +salad, and cherry pie. + +"Dear me, after such a meal, we may not be able to get to Raven Ridge," +Penny remarked, finishing her second piece of pie. "I never ate so much +in my life." + +"Did you say you were going to Raven Ridge?" Mrs. Stevens inquired. + +"Yes, we're waiting now to have a tire patched." + +"You're the second party through here today that's heading for Raven +Ridge," Mrs. Stevens informed. "A man stopped for lunch about an hour +ago. Only he thought it wasn't cooked well enough for him." + +"He must have been particular," Penny commented. "What did he look like?" + +"He was tall and dark and he had a sharp way of watching one." + +"I wonder if it could have been that man who passed us on the road?" +Penny mused. "Was he driving a gray coupé?" + +"Yes, I believe he was." + +Penny was convinced that the man Mrs. Stevens described was the same +person who had declined to help her on the road. She wondered what +business took him to Raven Ridge. Could she have been mistaken in +believing him to be the thief who had stolen the diamond ring? + +Paying for the luncheon, the girls went back to the garage. The tire was +ready for them. Soon they were on their way again. + +They had driven for perhaps an hour when Penny observed that the road +seemed to be leading them out of the mountains. She began to wonder if +they had taken a wrong turn. She stopped at the next filling station to +inquire. To her dismay, she was told that she had traveled nearly twenty +miles out of her way. + +"I thought this didn't seem like the right road," Penny declared ruefully +to her companion. "Now we'll be lucky to get to Raven Ridge by dinner +time, to say nothing of returning to Mt. Ashland tonight." + +"I've put you to a great deal of trouble," Rosanna said regretfully. + +"Not at all. This trip to Raven Ridge is an adventure, and I like it. It +will be more fun to stay over night anyway." + +An occasional road marker reassured the girls that at last they were on +the right highway. The mountain curves were sharp, and Penny did not make +as good time as she had anticipated. She became a little alarmed to see +that storm clouds were rapidly gathering. + +"It looks as if we may have rain," Rosanna commented. + +"A great deal of it, I'd judge. Those clouds are black as ink." + +In less than half an hour the storm struck them in full force. A great +gust of wind dashed huge drops of water against the windshield, there was +a vivid flash of lightning, then the rain came down in steady sheets. + +Even with the wiper going Penny could see only a few feet ahead of the +windshield. She pulled up under a huge oak tree at the side of the road. +The girls waited a quarter of an hour and still the rain fell in +torrents. At length, however, it slackened slightly, and not wishing to +lose any more time, Penny cautiously drove on. + +"It can't last much longer," Rosanna said optimistically. + +Despite her hopeful words, the rain showed no sign of stopping. Penny +reconciled herself to a slow pace for the remainder of the journey. She +was beginning to grow tired. Her back and arms ached and it was a strain +to keep such close watch of the road. + +With the sun hidden from view, night came on early. Nervous at the +thought of driving over unfamiliar mountain roads after dark, the girls +did not stop for dinner. Nine o'clock, in a pouring rain, found them +drawn up at a filling station to inquire how much farther it was to Raven +Ridge. + +"Why, you're practically there now," the attendant informed. "What place +are you looking for?" + +"The Jacob Winters' estate," Penny replied. + +"Then keep on this road for about two miles more. When you come to the +top of the ridge, take the gravel road to the left. It will lead you to +the house. There's no one there though, unless maybe a caretaker." + +"Oh," Penny murmured, "then perhaps you can direct us to a place where we +can spend the night." + +"The nearest is at the town of Andover, five miles beyond the Winters' +place." + +The girls thanked the man for his assistance, and once more followed the +winding road up the mountainside. + +"Shall we go on to Andover or stop at the Winters' house?" Penny asked +her companion. + +"I don't know what to do," Rosanna faltered. "We're both so tired." + +"The place surely must have a caretaker, Rosanna. Let's take a chance and +stop." + +At the top of the ridge they watched for the gravel road and were elated +to find it. The entrance was barred by a white gate. Rosanna stepped out +in the rain to open it. + +"This may have been a foolish thing to do," Penny admitted as they drove +between tall rows of whispering pines. "We could have gone on to Andover +only I dreaded driving down the mountainside with slippery roads." + +Rosanna huddled closer to her friend. The road was dark and the rustling +of the wind in the pine needles made her uneasy. + +Soon they came within view of the house. It was built of native stone, +half hidden by the luxuriant growth of shrubbery and trees which +surrounded it. No lights gleamed in the windows. + +"There's no one here," Rosanna declared. + +"Let's knock anyway. The caretaker may be at the rear somewhere." + +They parked the car as close to the front door as possible and made a +dash for the porch. Penny knocked several times on the massive door but +there was no response. + +"We might try your key, Rosanna," she proposed. "If it fits I'll begin to +think there's something to that mysterious letter you received." + +Rosanna groped in her pocketbook for the key. Impatient for action, Penny +turned the handle of the door. To her astonishment the latch clicked. + +"Why, the door is already unlocked, Rosanna!" + +"But of course we won't dare go in." + +"Why not?" + +"Well, it doesn't seem right. The people may not be at home." + +"Someone must be around or the door wouldn't be unlocked. Besides, you +have a key, Rosanna. And according to the letter, this is your +inheritance." + +Penny swung wide the door. She peered inside but could see nothing. Her +hand groped for the electric switch. She found the button by the door and +pressed it. Instantly everything was flooded with light. + +The girls found themselves in a long, narrow living room. The ceiling was +beamed, the furniture was rustic, and a great fireplace occupied one end +of the wall. + +Penny crossed over to the hearth. There was no fire but logs were in +readiness to make one. + +"I don't feel right about coming in here," Rosanna said nervously. + +"Nonsense, if it's your property you're not trespassing," Penny insisted. +"Besides, it looks to me as if you were expected, for everything seems in +readiness for guests. I'm going to build a fire and see if I can't thaw +out my chilled bones." + +Reluctantly, Rosanna went to help her. Soon they had a roaring fire in +the hearth. As they grew more comfortable they took more interest in +their surroundings. The room was plainly but expensively furnished. +Curious objects from many lands occupied the tables and bric-a-brac +shelves. + +"Your uncle must have lived an interesting life," Penny commented, +picking up a tiny ivory box from a nearby stand. + +"Yes, Mother often told me----" + +Rosanna's voice broke in the midst of the sentence. Turning, Penny saw +that her friend's eyes were fastened upon the window. All color had +drained from Rosanna's face. Her eyes were dilated with fear. + +"What is it?" Penny demanded. + +Rosanna clutched her hand. + +"I saw someone just then," she whispered. "A man's face at the window!" + + + + + CHAPTER V + The Lost Key + + +Penny turned quickly toward the window. She saw nothing save the rain +trickling down the panes. + +"You must have imagined it, Rosanna." + +"No, I didn't. I know I saw a face." + +Rosanna huddled close to Penny. She was afraid. + +"I'll go and look out," Penny proposed daringly. + +Before Rosanna could stop her she moved to the door and flung it open. A +man in oilskins confronted her. His face was half hidden by the felt hat +which he wore low over his eyes. + +"What do you want?" Penny asked nervously. + +Without answering, the man stepped into the room. Under the electric +light he did not look as terrifying as he had at first glance. Penny saw +when he swept off his dripping hat that he was an elderly man although +spry for his years. She felt slightly reassured. + +"I came to find out what you mean by entering Mr. Winters' house when +he's away?" the man demanded curtly. "Don't stand there staring like a +blind owl! Answer." + +Rosanna had completely lost her power of speech, so Penny tried to +explain the situation. She told how they had been caught by the storm and +mentioned Rosanna's key and letter which gave her right to investigate +the property. + +"So you're old Jacob Winters' niece?" the man questioned gruffly, peering +intently at Rosanna. "At least that's what you say." + +"Of course he's my uncle, although I never saw him," Rosanna defended. "I +can prove it by my letter." + +"Probably wrote it yourself," the man snapped. "But let's see it anyway." + +"Just a minute," Penny interposed, feeling that it was time the newcomer +answered a few questions of his own. "Are you the caretaker of this +house?" + +"Yes, and no. I'm a neighbor of Mr. Winters and he asked me to keep an +eye on his house while he was away. I saw the light in the windows and +came to see what was wrong." + +"My uncle is dead," Rosanna said quietly. "I have inherited the estate." + +"Jacob Winters dead!" the man exploded. "Why, I had a card from him last +week. Mailed from some place down in Africa. Let me see that letter you +claim to have." + +Rosanna opened her pocketbook and searched for it. A troubled look came +over her face. She was certain she had placed both the letter and the key +in the inside compartment. Now she could find neither. + +"So you haven't got it?" the man said suspiciously. + +"I must have it somewhere. I can't imagine how I misplaced it. You +remember the letter don't you, Penny?" + +"Of course. You had it in your pocketbook the last time I saw it. We're +telling you the absolute truth Mr.----" + +"Caleb Eckert," he supplied. "If you didn't have a key how did you get +into the house?" + +"Why, the door was open--that is, it was unlocked," Penny explained. + +Caleb Eckert peered at her sharply as if trying to make up his mind if +she were speaking the truth. Rosanna, who by this time had emptied her +purse out upon the table, was growing more upset every minute. + +"Oh, let's leave this house, Penny," she burst out. "I've lost the letter +and the key and so we've no right to be here at all. I didn't mean to +trespass. I wish we'd never have come at all. That letter has caused me +so much grief." + +Rosanna looked as if she might cry at any moment. Caleb Eckert softened. + +"Now, I wouldn't want you to go out into this storm. As far as I'm +concerned you may stay here for the night." + +"We don't care to intrude," Rosanna said stiffly. + +"It isn't safe to go down the mountain in this rain," the man declared, +adopting a more friendly tone. "Now don't be offended by the way I acted. +My bark is worse than my bite." + +"We can't blame you for being suspicious," Penny admitted. "It may be +that someone played a joke on Rosanna in sending her the letter and key. +We were afraid of that from the first." + +Caleb Eckert's eyes roved to the crackling fire, then to the splattered +windows. + +"Tell you what," he proposed gruffly. "You girls stay here for the night. +In the morning we'll see if we can't straighten things out." + +"But if Mr. Winters is alive we have no right to use this house," Rosanna +protested weakly. + +"You're his niece, aren't you?" Caleb demanded. "Jacob Winters wouldn't +turn anyone out in a storm, much less one of his own kin folks. Have you +had supper?" + +The girls admitted that they had not had any food since lunch time. Caleb +led them to the kitchen, showing them where canned goods were stored. + +"If you're handy with a can opener there's no need to starve," he +declared. + +The girls thanked him for his trouble. Rosanna timidly ventured a few +questions concerning her uncle. + +"Did you never see him?" Caleb asked. + +"No, once I wrote him a letter but he never answered. I've heard Uncle +Jacob was very eccentric." + +"Some might call him that. He liked to live alone and mind his own +business which is more than most folks do. He traveled a lot too. I guess +he must have visited every country in the world." He added slyly: "If +Jacob _is_ dead, you'll come into possession of some valuable things." + +"I hope that nothing has happened to him," Rosanna said sincerely. "I +don't really care for riches. All I want is a home." + +"Jacob Winters never liked girls." + +"I know," Rosanna sighed. "I guess that's why he never answered my +letter." + +"You counted a lot on the inheritance, didn't you?" Caleb questioned +shrewdly. + +Rosanna flushed but did not deny the accusation. + +"I thought that it might make my future more secure," she acknowledged. +"Since Mother died I've battered around from one rooming house to +another. But even if I don't come into the inheritance, I'll be glad that +my uncle is still alive." + +"I don't know that he is," Caleb Eckert said hastily. "He was alive when +he sent that postcard from Africa. Since then we've had no word from him +here at Raven Ridge." + +While the girls prepared food for themselves, Caleb sat by the kitchen +stove watching. He showed them how to start a fire in the range but would +not partake of supper when it was cooked. + +"Had mine four hours ago. I'll show you where you can sleep and be +getting on home." + +"Do you live near here?" Penny asked curiously. + +"Not far. If the rain would let up you could see my cabin through the +dining room window. It's perched on the edge of the cliff, overlooking +Lake Chippewa." + +Rosanna remarked that the scenery around Raven Ridge must be beautiful. + +"'Tis," Caleb agreed enthusiastically. "You'll have to walk down to the +lake in the morning. There are some mighty pretty trails to follow too." + +"If we have time before we go, we'll surely explore," Penny promised. + +Caleb conducted them upstairs, opening the door of one of the bedrooms. +It was stuffy and dusty but otherwise ready for occupancy. Penny turned +back the coverlet of the bed and found that it was equipped with clean +sheets and blankets. The furniture was massive and all hand carved. + +"I guess you can make out here for one night," Caleb said. + +"We'll be very comfortable," Penny assured him. + +Returning to the lower floor, Caleb lighted his lantern and prepared to +leave. With his hand on the door knob he turned to face the girls again. + +"Oh, yes, there was something I forgot to mention. If you hear queer +noises in the night don't be upset." + +"Queer noises?" Penny echoed. + +Caleb nodded soberly. + +"Folks around here claim the house is haunted but I never took stock in +such stories myself. I just thought I'd warn you." + +And before the girls could recover from their astonishment, he firmly +closed the door, disappearing into the rain. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + Midnight Visitors + + +"I wish," Rosanna commented emphatically, "that I had never brought you +to this queer old house." + +Penny laughed as she went over to the fireplace and dropped on another +stick of wood. She stood watching the sparks fly up the chimney. + +"I think Caleb Eckert was only trying to be funny when he warned us of +ghosts," she declared. "At any rate, I'm too tired and sleepy to care +much whether the place is haunted or not." + +"It's a good night to sleep," Rosanna admitted, going to the window. "I +believe the storm is getting worse." + +Rain pounded steadily upon the roof and the wind was rising. It whistled +weirdly around the corners of the house. The tall maple trees which +shaded the front porch bent and twisted and snapped. + +For a time the girls sat before the fire. Presently Penny suggested that +they retire. + +"I don't believe I can sleep a wink tonight," Rosanna protested. "Even +though Caleb Eckert said it was all right for us to stay here, I don't +feel entirely easy about it." + +"I don't see why not," Penny protested as they mounted the creaking +stairs to their bedroom. "According to the letter, you've inherited the +house. And you have a key." + +"I had a key you mean. I can't understand how or where I lost it." + +In thinking back over the activities of the day, Rosanna could not recall +taking either the key or the letter from her purse. However, several +times for one purpose or another she had opened her pocketbook, and it +was quite likely that the articles had fallen out unobserved. She thought +possibly she might find them on the floor of Penny's car. She intended to +search in the morning. + +The upstairs room was damp and chilly. The girls hurriedly prepared to +retire. Penny put up the window, snapped out the light and made a great +running leap which landed her in bed. + +"Listen to the wind howl," she murmured, snuggling drowsily into her +pillow. "Just the night for ghosts to be abroad." + +"Don't!" Rosanna shivered, gripping her friend's hand. "I can almost +imagine that someone is coming up the stairway now! I'm afraid of this +lonely old house." + +"I won't let any mean old ghost get you," Penny chuckled teasingly. "I +love stormy nights." + +Rosanna lay awake long after her companion had fallen asleep. She +listened restlessly to the crash of the tree branches against the roof, +the creaking of old timbers and boards. But the steady beat of rain on +the windowpanes had a soothing effect upon tense nerves. Presently she +dozed. + +Suddenly she found herself wide awake. She sat upright in bed, straining +to hear. She was convinced that some unusual sound had aroused her. + +Then she heard it again. A peculiar pounding noise downstairs. + +She clutched Penny by the arm. + +"What is it?" the latter muttered drowsily. + +"Wake up! I think someone is trying to break into the house!" + +As the words penetrated Penny's consciousness, she became instantly +alert. She too sat up, listening. Someone was pounding on the front door. + +"What shall we do?" Rosanna whispered in terror. + +Penny sprang from bed and snapped on the light. "I'm going to dress and +go down. It may be Caleb Eckert." + +"Or a ghost," Rosanna chattered. "If you're going down, so am I." + +With the appearance of a light in the bedroom, the clanging on the door +increased in violence. Penny, who was dressing as rapidly as she could, +began to grow irritated. + +"Are they trying to break down the door?" she grumbled. "I should think +whoever it is would know we're hurrying." + +Without delaying to lace up her shoes, she ran down the stairs, Rosanna +close at her elbow. Before snapping on the living room lights the girls +peered out the window. + +Slightly reassured by the appearance of the midnight visitors, they +cautiously unbolted the front door. + +Mrs. Everett Leeds and her daughter Alicia, swept into the room. Both +were bedraggled and obviously out of sorts. + +Mrs. Leeds shook the rain from her cape, flung her wet hat into the +nearest chair, and then coldly surveyed the two girls. + +"What are you doing here, may I ask?" she inquired. + +"We _were_ sleeping," Penny smiled. + +"I mean, what are you doing in this house?" + +"It seems to belong to Rosanna," Penny said evenly. "She inherited it +from her uncle, Jacob Winters." + +Mrs. Leeds' expression was difficult to interpret. For an instant she +looked stunned. But she quickly recovered her poise. + +"Nonsense!" she said shortly. "This house belongs to me. Jacob Winters +was my cousin. He died recently, leaving me everything. I have a letter +and key to prove it. Naturally I couldn't use my key to get into the +house for you had it bolted from the inside." + +Mrs. Leeds looked accusingly at the girls as she offered the letter to +Penny. A casual glance assured the girls that it was identical with the +one Rosanna had received and lost. + +"It's too late to go into this tonight," Penny protested. "Let's discuss +it in the morning." + +"Very well," Mrs. Leeds agreed coldly. "Where are we to sleep?" + +Penny informed her that there were several empty bedrooms upstairs. She +led the way to the upper floor. Opening the door of one of the rooms, she +was surprised to see that it was not as well furnished as the bedroom +which she and Rosanna shared. Mrs. Leeds uttered an exclamation of +disgust. + +"Surely you don't expect me to sleep here, Miss Nichols. The room is +dirty. Positively filthy." + +"Look at that long cobweb hanging from the ceiling!" Alicia added +indignantly. "I'd have hysterics if I slept here." + +"Perhaps the adjoining room is better," Penny commented. + +An inspection revealed that if anything it was even more neglected. + +"I'm afraid you'll just have to make the best of it for tonight," Penny +declared, "unless you care to drive on to the next town." + +"We'll stay," Mrs. Leeds decided instantly. "I'd prefer to sit up all +night, rather than brave those horrible mountain roads again." + +"We slipped into a ditch coming here," Alicia informed. "That's what made +us so late. We've had a terrible time." + +In a closet at the end of the hall, Penny and Rosanna found blankets and +linen. As they made up the beds, neither Mrs. Leeds nor her daughter +offered to assist. It was after one o'clock when the girls went back to +their own room. + +"Mrs. Leeds means to make trouble about the inheritance," Penny remarked +in an undertone as they snapped out the light once more. "I wonder if by +any chance she could have picked up your letter and key?" + +"Oh, I doubt it," Rosanna returned. "I remember when we were at Mt. +Ashland she dropped the hint that she was going to Raven Ridge. At least, +she acted strangely when we mentioned the place." + +"Yes, she did. I had forgotten for the moment. Oh well, in the morning +we'll learn exactly what she intends to do." + +Penny rolled over and soon was sleeping soundly. Toward morning she awoke +to hear a clock somewhere in the house chiming four. At first she thought +nothing of it, then it occurred to her that no one had wound any of the +timepieces the previous evening. While she was musing over such an odd +happening her keen ears detected the sound of soft footsteps in the long +hall outside. + +"It's probably Mrs. Leeds or her daughter," she reasoned. + +The sounds persisted. At length Penny quietly arose and tiptoed to the +door. She looked out into the dark hall. No one was within sight. Mrs. +Leeds' door was closed. + +Penny went back to bed, taking care not to awaken Rosanna. Scarcely had +she pulled the blankets up than the soft pad of footsteps could be heard +again. + +"I hope it isn't that ghost Caleb warned us about," she thought uneasily. +"Oh, bother! I know there aren't any ghosts!" + +Penny closed her eyes and tried to sleep but found it quite impossible. +Even after the noise in the hall ceased she caught herself listening for +the footsteps. At a quarter to seven she dressed and stole downstairs to +see what she could find for breakfast. + +At eight o'clock when Rosanna came into the kitchen, Penny had coffee, +cereal and crisp bacon ready. + +"The larder seems very well supplied," she informed cheerfully. "Someone +left milk on our doorstep too. I imagine it must have been Caleb." + +"I'm hungry enough to eat anything," Rosanna declared. "Shall I call Mrs. +Leeds and Alicia?" + +"Yes, do, although I don't know how they'll take to my cooking." + +Rosanna went upstairs to rap on Mrs. Leeds' door. She returned a minute +later, reporting that neither of the guests would be down for breakfast. + +"They were quite put out at being disturbed so early," she told Penny +ruefully. + +"We'll let them get their own breakfasts then. Come on, we'll have ours +anyway." + +Penny had learned to cook very well under the tutelage of Mrs. Gallup. +She had done remarkably well with the meager supplies at her disposal and +Rosanna declared that the breakfast was excellent. + +The girls had finished the dishes and were stacking them away when Alicia +came down the stairs. + +"Mother and I will take our breakfast now," she informed. + +Rosanna started toward the kitchen, but Penny neatly blocked the way. + +"Sorry," she said cheerfully, "but we've just finished ours. You'll find +supplies in the kitchen." + +Alicia started to reply but without waiting to hear what she might have +to say, Penny and Rosanna went out the back door. + +"While she cools off we may as well look over the grounds," Penny +laughed. "If Mrs. Leeds and Alicia expect to get along with me, they'll +have to learn that this household is going to operate on a cafeteria +basis." + +From the rear door a sandstone path led down a steep incline to the brow +of a high cliff. A river wound its way directly below, emptying into a +crystal blue lake. Deep in the pine woods, some distance from the path, a +cabin could be seen. The girls decided that it must belong to Caleb +Eckert. + +While they were admiring the rugged scenery, someone came up behind them. +They wheeled about to face Caleb himself. + +"Well, well, you both look bright and gay this morning," he greeted +heartily. "Sleep well?" + +"Quite well," Rosanna told him shyly. "That is, we did until the visitors +arrived." + +"Visitors?" + +Rosanna explained about Mrs. Leeds and her daughter while Penny added +omitted details. For some reason they both were beginning to feel that +Caleb was their ally. + +"All this talk about letters and keys and inheritances certainly has me +puzzled," he proclaimed, shaking his head. "It's hard to believe that +Jacob Winters is dead. I think I'll walk back to the house with you and +have a little talk with Mrs. Leeds." + +"Did you leave milk at our doorstep this morning?" Penny questioned as +they returned together. + +Caleb admitted that he had placed it there. + +"You've been very kind," Rosanna said gratefully. "I want to thank you +before we leave." + +"You're not aiming to leave today?" Caleb asked quickly. + +"Well, yes, I imagine we will. I don't feel right about staying here." + +Caleb lowered his voice. "Take my advice, Miss Winters, and don't leave +while that other woman and her daughter are here. From what you've told +me, I think they mean to grab the property." + +"But what can I do?" Rosanna asked helplessly. "I've lost my letter and +the key. I haven't any proof that the property was left to me." + +"Maybe this Leeds woman hasn't any proof that it was left to her either," +Caleb said sagely. "Anyway, we'll find out what she has to say." + +At first, Mrs. Leeds, accosted in the living room of the old house, had +little comment to make. She was out of sorts from lack of sleep the +previous night, and the breakfast which she and Alicia had endeavored to +cook had not been a success. Nor was she impressed with Caleb who wore +high boots, an old pair of dirty trousers and a crumpled felt hat. + +"I don't see why I should discuss my business affairs with you," she said +aloofly. "I have inherited this property from my cousin and I mean to +remain here in possession of it indefinitely if necessary." + +"May I see the letter which you say you received?" Caleb inquired. + +Mrs. Leeds hesitated, then reluctantly handed it over. Caleb studied it +briefly and returned it. + +"You will require more than this as evidence of Mr. Winters' death," he +said quietly. "For all I know, you may have forged this letter." + +"Preposterous!" Mrs. Leeds snapped. "I refuse to discuss the matter with +you further. I shall send for my attorney and he will straighten out +everything." + +"Not without the will, he can't," Caleb returned grimly. "And there's no +telling what became of it." + +"The will?" Mrs. Leeds caught him up. "Are you sure there was a will?" + +"Mr. Winters told me once that he had made one and hidden it somewhere in +the house." + +"Then of course it can be found." + +"Mr. Winters wouldn't want anyone prying around in his private papers," +Caleb insisted. "Until I have definite word that he is dead, I can't let +anyone hunt for it." + +"I shouldn't call searching for the will exactly prying!" Mrs. Leeds +retorted indignantly. "What right have you to say what is to be done +here? Are you the caretaker?" + +"Well, not exactly, but Mr. Winters asked me to look after things until +he got back." + +"That will must be found." + +Caleb's face tightened. "Mrs. Leeds," he said severely, "I repeat, things +in this house must not be disturbed." + +Mrs. Leeds drew herself up proudly. "Unquestionably, the will leaves +everything to me." + +"That may be," Caleb acknowledged, "but this girl here has a claim too." +He indicated Rosanna. + +Mrs. Leeds froze her with a glance. Her eyes snapped like brands of fire +as she listened to Rosanna's account of the letter and key. But a look of +relief, which was not lost upon either of the girls, came over her face +as she learned that they had been misplaced. + +"The story sounds ridiculous to me," Mrs. Leeds declared coldly. "If you +can't produce the letter or the key, what proof have you that you +actually are Jacob Winters' niece?" + +"I could get evidence within a few days," Rosanna declared. "The letter +and key may show up too." + +"I think perhaps you dropped them in the car," Penny interrupted. "Let's +look now." + +Leaving Mrs. Leeds and Caleb embroiled in another argument, they went +outside where the automobile had been parked near the house. A careful +search of the flooring and pockets of the car did not reveal the missing +letter or key. Rosanna was completely discouraged. + +"Do you think Mrs. Leeds could have picked it up?" she asked gloomily. + +"I don't see how," Penny returned thoughtfully. "But there's one thing +certain. She intends to make trouble. You surely don't intend to go away +from here while she and her daughter are camped in the house?" + +"What else can we do?" + +"Send a wire to Dad that we're staying on a day or two," Penny answered +instantly. + +"But won't that inconvenience both of you?" + +"No, I suspect Dad will be grateful for the rest and as for myself, I'd +enjoy seeing this thing through." + +It required little urging to convince Rosanna of the wisdom of remaining +on the scene. She had taken an immediate dislike to Mrs. Leeds and her +daughter, and agreed with Penny that they were determined to claim more +than a rightful share of the inheritance. + +Once the girls arrived at a decision they lost no time in driving to the +nearest town where Penny dispatched a message to her father. Noticing an +inviting looking restaurant, they ate lunch before motoring back to the +Winters' mansion. It was nearly two o'clock when they reached the Ridge +again. + +An unfamiliar car stood on the driveway. Penny was certain it did not +belong to Mrs. Leeds for her mud-splattered sedan was parked some +distance away. + +"It looks like more visitors," she commented as they crossed the veranda +together. + +At the doorway both girls involuntarily paused. Mrs. Leeds was engaged in +conversation with a stranger. + +For an instant Penny and Rosanna stood and stared. It was the same man +who had refused them help on the road. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + "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. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + The Ivory Collection + + +Penny quietly opened the bedroom door, peering out into the long dark +hall. She could hear the music distinctly. It seemed to be coming from +almost directly overhead. + +By this time, Rosanna, overcoming her fear, crept beside her friend. They +huddled together, listening. + +"It's an organ. I'm sure of it," Penny whispered. "But where can it be +hidden?" + +"I'm afraid of this place," Rosanna chattered. "Let's lock the bedroom +door and leave in the morning." + +Penny made no response. For that matter she did not even hear for she was +intent upon trying to localize the sound of the music. Never inclined to +be superstitious, she had no thought that the old house was haunted. She +felt certain that the ghost-like music was man made. + +"This house must have a third floor or an attic," she declared softly. +"Let's see if we can find our way up." + +"Never!" + +"Then I'm going alone." + +Penny started off down the hall. Rosanna hesitated, and then, unable to +watch her friend walk into danger alone, hurriedly followed. Halfway down +the hall she reached for the electric switch but Penny caught her hand +before she could turn on the light. + +"Don't! It would give warning that we're coming." + +Groping about in the dark the girls went past Mrs. Leeds' bedroom and the +one occupied by the stranger. Penny noted that the doors of both were +tightly closed. At the end of the hall she found still another door. +Gently she turned the handle and opened it. A steep flight of stairs led +upward. + +"Oh, please, let's not go up," Rosanna pleaded, trembling. + +"You stay here," Penny said in a whisper. "If anything goes wrong, let +out a cry for help." + +The mysterious music had ceased for the moment. Penny waited until it +began again, and then, following the sound, crept noiselessly up the +stairs leaving Rosanna on guard below. + +At the top of the last step Penny paused to listen again. Actually, she +was not as courageous as she had pretended. She could hear her own heart +pounding. + +It was so dark on the third floor that at first she could distinguish +nothing. The music had increased in volume and Penny was more sure than +ever that it came from a hidden pipe organ. + +As her eyes focused better she found herself standing upon a small +landing from which branched two closed doors. After a slight hesitation +she tiptoed to the nearest one and opened it a tiny crack. + +Although no sound had betrayed her, the music from within ended with a +discordant crash. Startled, Penny allowed the door to swing wide. She +started forward, and suddenly tripped. Until that moment her nerve had +held steady. But as she stumbled and fell she uttered a shrill cry of +terror. + +Rosanna, fearing the worst, came running up the stairs. + +"Penny! Penny! Are you hurt?" + +Reassured by her friend's voice, Penny scrambled to her feet and met +Rosanna at the door. + +"I'm all right," she said shakily. "But I've done enough investigating +for one night!" + +"What frightened you so?" + +"I'll tell you later." + +They lost no time in returning to the lower floor. Down the hall, Mrs. +Leeds' door had opened. A light flashed on. + +"What is going on here?" Mrs. Leeds demanded, emerging into the hallway. +"Such a house I never saw! First it's music--then a scream! It's enough +to send one into hysterics." + +Penny and Rosanna could not refrain from smiling, for Mrs. Leeds looked +ridiculous in her curlers which were sticking out from her head at all +angles. Before they could answer, Alicia joined her mother. + +"I should think you could go to your room and let folks sleep!" she said +irritably. "You've been running up and down the hall all night." + +"You're wrong there," Penny returned. "This is the first time Rosanna or +I have stirred from our room. We got up to investigate the mysterious +music." + +"Then you heard it too?" Mrs. Leeds breathed in awe. "I thought perhaps I +had imagined that part of it." + +"No, you heard music all right," Penny told her grimly. + +"It isn't--you don't think the house is haunted?" Alicia stammered +nervously. "That old man--what's his name--was trying to tell us about +someone having died in a room on the upper floor!" + +"Well, the music seemed to come from the third floor," Penny informed, +relishing the effect which her words produced. "As for the scream, I can +account for that. I tripped and fell. Now I think we may as well all go +back to bed. There's been so much commotion that I rather judge our +'ghost' has been frightened away for the time being." + +"I can't sleep a wink after all this has happened," Mrs. Leeds declared. +"I shall sit up until morning." + +"As you wish," Penny said indifferently. "I'm going to bed." + +As she walked down the hall to her own room she glanced rather sharply at +the door of Max Laponi's room. It was still tightly closed. + +"Our friend appears to be a sound sleeper," she remarked to Rosanna. + +In the privacy of their bedroom, Rosanna demanded to know exactly what +had happened. + +"Well, I didn't see much," Penny admitted. "But I did learn one +interesting thing. There's a pipe organ installed in this house. I might +have discovered who was playing it too only I tripped over a rope which +had been strung up in front of the door." + +"Placed there deliberately, you think?" + +"Of course. It startled me so that I let out that wild yell. I don't care +to do any more investigating tonight, but in the morning I mean to have a +good look at that room upstairs." + +"You have more nerve than I," Rosanna declared admiringly. + +Penny carefully locked the outside door before turning out the light. It +was twenty minutes after twelve by her wrist watch. + +"I shouldn't call it nerve exactly," she replied thoughtfully, climbing +into bed. "The truth is, I'm a little afraid, Rosanna." + +"Then why do you go up there again?" + +"Oh, I don't mean that. It isn't the music that has me frightened." + +"But what else is there to be afraid of?" Rosanna persisted. + +"It's just a feeling, I guess," Penny admitted. "I can't explain--only it +seems to me that some sinister plot is brewing in this old house." + +"I have the same sensation," Rosanna confessed. "Let's leave in the +morning." + +Penny laughed softly and settled herself more comfortably in the pillows. + +"Never!" she retorted. "I'm the daughter of a detective you know! This is +our own special mystery case, and unless that ghost gets me first, I +intend to get him!" + +With that threat, Penny rolled over and lost herself in sleep. + +The warm sun was streaming in at the windows when the girls aroused +themselves. They dressed and went downstairs, finding the house quite +deserted. Apparently Mrs. Leeds, her daughter and Max Laponi had gone to +the village for breakfast. + +"I wish they had vanished for good but there's no use hoping that," Penny +commented. "I doubt if even a ghost could keep Mrs. Leeds from remaining +until the estate is settled." + +The girls cooked their own breakfast, utilizing supplies which they had +purchased at the nearby town. As they washed the dishes and stacked them +away, Rosanna mentioned again that she did not feel comfortable about +making such free use of her unknown uncle's property. + +"Perhaps it isn't just the thing to do," Penny acknowledged, "but the +situation isn't a normal one either. If Mr. Eckert says it is all right +for us to stay on, I don't think we should worry." + +"Will it do us any good to remain?" Rosanna pondered in a troubled tone. +"If Mr. Eckert can't tell us what became of my uncle, who could?" + +"That's just the point, Rosanna. I believe he knows more than he lets +on." + +Penny's gaze wandered to the tiny log cabin set back in the pine woods. +Wisps of thin smoke curled from the chimney. That meant that Caleb must +be at home. + +"Let's walk down there and talk with him," she proposed impulsively. +"It's time he answers a few of our questions." + +Caleb did not come to the door to answer their timid knock. Instead he +called out a hearty, "Come in," which they instantly obeyed. + +Caleb was the picture of comfort, sitting propped back in his chair by +the window, puffing at an old pipe. He arose reluctantly and dusted off +two camp stools for the visitors. + +"We thought perhaps you might furnish us with a little information," +Penny began pleasantly. + +Her eyes roved swiftly about the room. She noticed the open bookcase with +four rows of well-thumbed volumes. The titles were impressive. Caleb +Eckert, despite his rough appearance, seemingly had a liking for +intellectual books. + +"Well, what is it you want to know?" Caleb demanded, not unkindly. "I've +told you before that I'll have nothing to do with this muddle over Mr. +Winters' property." + +"I've given up all hope of inheriting any of the estate," Rosanna said. +"But I should like to hear about my uncle. What was he like?" + +"Some folks said he was the queerest man on Snow Mountain. I liked him +because he attended to his own business. He was considered a remarkable +sportsman by some." + +Penny's eyes traveled to a huge bear skin which hung on the cabin wall. +Caleb followed her gaze. + +"Mr. Winters gave me that skin last year when he came back from his trip +north. A mighty nice specimen." + +"Do you have a picture of Mr. Winters?" Penny asked, abruptly changing +the subject. + +Caleb shook his head. He began to talk about the bear skin again. Rosanna +listened eagerly, but Penny sensed that the old man was trying to +monopolize the conversation and thus keep her from asking questions which +he did not care to answer. + +When she succeeded in breaking in it was to bring up the subject of Mr. +Winters' ivory collection. Caleb seemed reluctant to offer definite +information. + +"All I know is that Mr. Winters was supposed to have one," he answered. +"Folks said it was worth a fortune and that he had spent years gathering +it." + +"What became of the collection?" Penny inquired curiously. + +"How should I know?" Caleb retorted crossly. "Seems to me you girls ask a +lot of silly questions." + +"We didn't mean to be inquisitive," Penny apologized. "Only it struck me +that Max Laponi has an unusual interest in that collection of ivory." + +Caleb eyed her strangely. "So you noticed it too?" he asked. + +Penny nodded. "Perhaps I shouldn't say it, but I don't trust that man, +Mr. Eckert. If Mr. Winters' collection of ivory is still in the house, +don't you think it should be removed to a safer place?" + +"That's what I'd like to do," Caleb muttered, looking out the window. + +"Then you do know where the ivory collection is," Penny tripped him. + +Caleb glared at her. "I didn't say so, did I? Why should Mr. Winters tell +me where he kept his valuables? Bosh! I tell you I won't be mixed up in +the muddle. Now go away and let me sleep!" + +Caleb stretched himself out on the couch and closed his eyes. Thus +dismissed, the girls hastily departed. + +"Such a cross old man!" Rosanna exclaimed when they were out of earshot. +"But even though he is irritable, I rather like him." + +"So do I," Penny admitted with a laugh. "You know, I think our questions +about the ivory collection disturbed him more than he cared to show." + +"He did seem reluctant to tell us anything about it." + +"We'll nail him down yet," Penny declared grimly as they walked slowly +toward the house on the cliff. "Unless I'm sadly mistaken, that ivory +collection is hidden somewhere on the premises and he's scared silly for +fear someone will find it!" + + + + + CHAPTER IX + A Scrap of Paper + + +Penny and Rosanna entered the house by the side door. Hearing a murmur of +voices from the direction of the library, they involuntarily paused to +listen. + +"If we go into this thing as partners we're both bound to profit," they +heard a man say in an insistent tone. "Think it over and I know you'll +see how easily it can be accomplished. Those two girls are nit-wits. +They'll make no trouble." + +Penny and Rosanna exchanged a startled glance. They recognized Max +Laponi's voice. So he was plotting against them! Undoubtedly, planning to +secure complete control of the Winters' estate. + +"I'm going to find out with whom he is talking," Penny whispered. + +Before Rosanna could protest, she walked to the library door and opened +it. Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi were sitting at the desk, examining some +document which was spread out before them. As Penny came in, Laponi +whisked it into his pocket. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," Penny said casually. "I didn't mean to +interrupt." + +"You aren't at all, my dear," Mrs. Leeds said more graciously than was +her custom. "Mr. Laponi was just showing me a letter from his sister." + +"Yes, from my sister," Laponi echoed with a slight smirk. "She lives in +Naples and writes such interesting letters." + +Penny found it difficult to refrain from smiling. She pretended to search +in the bookcase for a volume. + +"I thought possibly you had discovered the will," she remarked +mischievously. + +"The will! Oh, no!" Mrs. Leeds assured her. + +"That is a good joke," Laponi echoed. "Ha! Ha! Even a ferret couldn't +find old Jacob Winters' will in this house!" + +Penny was aware that both Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi were watching her +shrewdly, trying to make up their minds if she had overheard anything. +She dared say no more lest she betray herself. Picking up a book she +quietly withdrew. + +"It's just as I thought," she told Rosanna when they were together in +their bedroom. "Laponi is trying to get Mrs. Leeds involved in some +scheme to steal the property. Unless we watch out, Rosanna, they'll get +everything away from you." + +"I don't much care," Rosanna returned in disgust. "I never saw such +disgraceful actions in all my life. As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather +leave this place tomorrow and let the lawyers settle everything." + +"There will be nothing left to settle when Mrs. Leeds and Laponi get +through. It's pretty evident that one or the other is an impostor." + +"But we can't prove that, Penny. If only I hadn't lost my key and the +credentials!" + +"We're only starting to work on this case," Penny said cheerfully. "Let's +keep our eyes and ears open. We may discover something of value." + +Since their arrival at the old house, the girls had awaited an +opportunity to inspect the third floor, hoping to discover the cause of +the mysterious music which had disturbed the household. Penny suggested +that while Mrs. Leeds and Laponi were occupied in the library they might +make their tour of investigation. Rosanna agreed but without enthusiasm. +She was not as venturesome as her companion. + +Penny led the way to the third floor landing. The hall was dark and +dusty; cobwebs hung from the corners of the ceiling. + +Penny cast an appraising glance about her. The doors leading from the +hall were all closed. She was certain that upon her previous visit one +had been slightly ajar. + +She reached for the knob and turned it. The door did not give. It was +locked. + +"That's funny," Penny murmured. + +"What is?" + +"I'm sure this door was unlocked before." + +"Perhaps it was the other one," Rosanna suggested. + +They moved on down the hall to try the second door. It too was securely +fastened. + +"I distinctly recall opening that other door," Penny maintained. "I +started to go in and tripped over something. I suspect it was a rope +stretched just inside the door." + +"Well, if we can't get in I guess we can't learn anything," Rosanna said, +somewhat in relief. + +Penny made no response. She bent down to peer through the keyhole. + +"See anything?" Rosanna asked. + +"Just a big empty room. But there is something up against the far wall! +Rosanna, it's a pipe organ!" + +After a minute she stepped away that her friend might see for herself. +Rosanna agreed that the shadowy outline was an organ and a magnificent +one. + +"The music came from this room all right," Penny said excitedly. "I wish +we could get in." + +After trying the door again, the girls returned to the second floor. As +Penny closed the stairway door she noticed that it had a key. Upon +impulse she turned it in the lock and pocketed the key with a smile of +satisfaction. + +"That should put a stop to the music for a few nights," she remarked. +"I'll show that ghost I can lock a few doors myself!" + +As they reached their own bedroom, Rosanna said that she believed she +would lie down for a half hour. The events of the past few days had worn +her down, both physically and mentally. + +"Do," Penny urged: "A sleep will refresh you. I think I'll go downstairs +and see if I can discover what plot is brewing." + +She descended the spiral stairway and paused at the library. It was +empty. The house was strangely silent. Penny crossed the hall to the +living room. Heavy draperies screened the arched doorway. As Penny pulled +them aside to enter, she saw Mrs. Leeds standing at the fireplace, her +back to the door. Something about her manner aroused Penny's suspicions. +She waited and watched. + +Mrs. Leeds had built up a roaring fire on the hearth. She held a paper in +her hand. Deliberately, she tore it into a dozen pieces and dropped them +into the flames. + +Penny hastily entered the room. + +Mrs. Leeds wheeled, her cheeks flushing. "How you startled me, Miss +Nichols! You surely have a way of coming in quietly." + +"Sorry," Penny said, walking over to the hearth. "How nice to have a +fire, although it is a little warm today." + +"The room seemed damp," Mrs. Leeds said nervously. "I was cold. I think +I'll go to my room and get a sweater." + +The instant Mrs. Leeds had disappeared, Penny snatched a charred piece of +paper from the hearth. It was the only scrap which had not been +completely consumed by the flames. + +Only a few scattered lines with many words missing were visible. The +others were blackened or torn away. + +Penny distinguished a part of the writing: "Last will and testam-- --do +bequeath to my niece, Ro--" + +"This must be a portion of Jacob Winters' will!" she thought. "Mrs. Leeds +probably found it somewhere in the house and decided to destroy it +because she or her daughter weren't mentioned!" + +She stared at the word which began Ro----. The remaining letters had been +torn away. Had Mr. Winters written Rosanna's name? If only she had +entered the living room a minute earlier she might have prevented the +document from being destroyed! + +In reviewing Mrs. Leeds' actions during the past two days, Penny could +not doubt that the woman had actually found the missing will. Since her +arrival at Raven Ridge she had spent most of her time poking about into +odd corners of the house. The locked drawer of the desk had annoyed her +exceedingly. + +"I'll just take a look and see if it's still locked," Penny thought. + +She opened the desk and tried the drawer. It readily opened. + +"Empty," Penny commented grimly. "Just as I suspected." + +She examined the lock. It was evident at a glance that it had been broken +by a sharp instrument and not unlocked with a key. + +"The will was hidden in this drawer," she mused. "I feel confident of it. +And it must have been drawn up in Rosanna's favor or Mrs. Leeds never +would have destroyed it." + +Penny closed the desk and carefully placed the charred bit of paper in +her dress pocket. She was deeply disturbed over the discovery, realizing +that Mrs. Leeds, by destroying the document, had gained a great +advantage. However, she had no intention of abandoning the fight. + +"I'll keep this strictly to myself," she decided. "For the present I'll +not even tell Rosanna. It would only disappoint her to learn that the +will has been burned." + +Since Mrs. Leeds' arrival at Raven Ridge, Penny had done everything in +her power to avoid a break with the arrogant society woman. She had +ignored snubs and many unkind remarks. Now she felt that if Rosanna's +interests were to be safeguarded, she no longer could afford to play a +waiting game. + +"Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi have shown their hand," she reflected. "They +mean to gain their ends by any possible means. But since they're stooping +to underhanded tricks, I may have a few little schemes of my own!" + +Penny was unusually silent that evening. Rosanna noticed it at once but +thinking that her friend was absorbed in her own thoughts, refrained from +questioning her. + +At six o'clock the girls motored to Andover for dinner. To their chagrin, +Mrs. Leeds and her daughter Alicia chanced to select the same cafe. All +during the meal, Penny noticed the woman's eyes upon her. As she and +Rosanna arose to leave, Mrs. Leeds hastily followed them. + +"Miss Winters, may I speak with you a moment?" she began coldly. + +"Why, yes, of course," Rosanna responded. + +"I mean alone." + +Rosanna hesitated and glanced at Penny. The latter started to move away. + +"No, don't go," Rosanna said quickly. "I am sure that anything Mrs. Leeds +may wish to say to me can be said in front of you." + +"Very well," Mrs. Leeds returned icily. "Evidence has reached me today +which proves conclusively that I am Jacob Winters' sole heir." + +Rosanna took the blow without the quiver of an eyelash. + +"What evidence, may I ask, Mrs. Leeds?" + +"I don't feel compelled to go into that, Miss Winters. Certainly not in +the presence of strangers or on the street." + +"Penny isn't exactly a stranger," Rosanna smiled. + +"From the first I have been very tolerant, I think," Mrs. Leeds went on, +ignoring the orphan's remark. "By your own admission you have no +credentials--we have only your word that you are even related to Jacob +Winters." + +"I had a letter and key--the same as you," Rosanna faltered. "Either I +lost them or they were stolen." + +"And Rosanna happens to be a niece of Mr. Winters," Penny added +significantly. "I believe you are only a cousin, Mrs. Leeds?" + +The woman eyed her furiously. + +"Just what is it that you want me to do?" Rosanna asked. + +"I think you both should leave immediately." + +"And allow you to have everything your way," Penny interposed sweetly. +"Now wouldn't that be nice--for you!" + +She took Rosanna by the arm and urged her toward the car. + +"Don't allow Miss Nichols to poison your mind!" Mrs. Leeds pleaded, +following Rosanna to the curbing. "Unless you leave immediately you will +receive no part of the fortune. If you go without making any further +trouble, I might agree to some small settlement. After all, I mean to be +generous." + +"Thanks for telling us," Penny smiled. + +She closed the car door and they drove away. + +"Perhaps we shouldn't have been so short with her," Rosanna said uneasily +as they returned to the house on Snow Mountain. "If it's true that the +property has been left to her, then she was being generous to offer to +give me anything." + +"Don't worry, she'd forget her promise soon enough if she succeeded in +getting you away from here, Rosanna. I detest that woman. She thinks she +is so subtle and she's as transparent as glass!" + +"I wonder what evidence she referred to?" Rosanna mused. + +Penny started to speak, then changed her mind. Although Mrs. Leeds had no +suspicion that she guessed the truth, she was well aware of the nature of +the new evidence. However, she refrained from mentioning the burned will, +realizing that Rosanna, in her present depressed state of mind, would be +greatly disturbed by the information. If the orphan believed that she no +longer had a definite claim to the fortune, she would insist upon leaving +Raven Ridge without further delay. + +Penny did not intend to quit the scene until she had answered several +questions to her satisfaction. + +The entire case seemed a trifle fantastic as she reviewed it. First, +Rosanna had received the strange letter signed by a fictitious name. +Then, although the orphan had lost the key, they had found the door of +the Winters' mansion unlocked. Close upon the heels of their arrival, +Mrs. Leeds, her daughter, and Max Laponi appeared. Since then, the house +had been disturbed by haunting organ music and one baffling event had +crowded upon another. + +"It's all very bewildering," Penny reflected. "But I believe that +everything can be fitted together if only I am able to learn the identity +of the mysterious ghost." + +The night closed in dark and windy. Penny and Rosanna sat by the fire, +trying to read. They were relieved when Mrs. Leeds and her daughter +retired to their rooms shortly after eight o'clock for it gave them an +opportunity to talk. At ten o'clock the girls went to their own room. Max +Laponi had not yet returned from Andover where he took his meals. + +Penny was tired and fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the +pillow. Hours later she was awakened by Rosanna who was sitting upright +in bed. + +"What is it?" Penny mumbled drowsily. + +Then she knew. The house reverberated with the soft chords of a pipe +organ. + +Without switching on the electric lights, Penny drew on her dressing +gown. She started toward the door, then returned to grope in the drawer +of the dresser where she found the key which locked the door leading to +the attic floor. + +"What are you going to do?" Rosanna asked anxiously, drawing the +bedclothes closer about her. + +Penny already had gone. Stealing quietly down the dark hall she reached +the end of it and stood listening. The door leading to the third floor +was closed. She could hear the music more distinctly than before and knew +for a certainty that it came from above. + +She gently tried the door. It was still locked. + +Penny was momentarily baffled. She had half expected to find the door +unlocked. She had been so confident that by taking the key she could put +a stop to the ghost music. + +"How did the organist reach the third floor if he didn't pass through +this door?" she debated. "That ghost must be quite a clever fellow if he +can enter without keys." + +The entire house had been carefully locked up for the night. Penny and +Rosanna had attended to it the last thing before retiring, knowing that +Max Laponi could come in later by using his own pass key. They had +secured every door and window. + +"Well, I won't learn anything by standing here," Penny thought +uncomfortably. "I'll have to go up there." Her usual courage was at low +ebb. She dreaded the ordeal. + +However, before she could open the stairway door, a shrill scream echoed +down the hall. + +Terrified, Penny crouched back against the wall and waited. + + + + + CHAPTER X + The Wall Safe + + +Recovering from her fright, Penny reached up and snapped on the light. +She heard a door open down the hall. Mrs. Leeds, a dressing gown clutched +about her unshapely figure, stumbled toward the girl. + +"There's something in my room! It struck my face while I was sleeping! +Oh, oh, such a horrible house!" + +"Control yourself," Penny advised, taking her by the arm. "We'll see what +it is." + +Mrs. Leeds jerked away, assuming an attitude of tense listening. For the +first time she had paid heed to the organ music from above. + +"There it is again!" she whispered in awe. "This house is haunted." + +Rosanna came down the hall, joining the two at Mrs. Leeds' door. Alicia +huddled nearby, too frightened to speak a word. + +Penny opened the door and groped for the electric switch. As the room was +flooded with light, she looked quickly about. Everything was in disorder +but that was because Mrs. Leeds had done no straightening or cleaning +since her arrival. + +Suddenly Penny began to laugh. + +"Pray what do you find that is so humorous?" Mrs. Leeds demanded +indignantly. + +"Bats!" Penny answered, laughing again. + +There were four of them blinded by the light, cowering in the corners of +the room. Penny opened a window and with Rosanna's help drove them out +into the night. + +"They must have come in through an open window," she said to Mrs. Leeds. + +"I didn't have a window open," the woman retorted. "I can't bear to sleep +in this room again. Tomorrow I shall move into another. Come Alicia, +we'll sit up until morning in the living room." + +Returning to her own room, Penny listened for the organ music. It had +ceased as mysteriously as it had begun. She glanced curiously toward the +room occupied by Max Laponi. The door was closed. He alone of the entire +household seemed undisturbed by the strange things which went on about +him. + +"I'd like to know if he really is in his room," Penny thought. + +She hesitated by the door but did not have the courage to try the knob. +After a moment she followed Rosanna to their bedroom at the other end of +the hall. + +Morning found Mrs. Leeds even more upset than upon the previous night. +Her eyes were bloodshot, her face sallow, her clothes unpressed. She +quarreled with her daughter and ignored Penny and Rosanna. However, when +Max Laponi came down the stairs looking as dapper as ever, her attitude +instantly changed. She spoke to him in a softer tone. + +"We were beginning to wonder if the ghost made off with you last night," +she said archly. + +"What ghost?" + +"You mean to say you didn't hear the music?" + +"Not a sound," Laponi told her. "I am a very hard sleeper." + +He seemed disinclined to listen to Mrs. Leeds' account of all that had +transpired, and very shortly drove away in his automobile, ostensibly to +have breakfast in a nearby town. + +After straightening their room and making the bed, Rosanna and Penny went +for a short walk. They sat down by the cliff where they could see the +river below, discussing the situation. + +"I don't see that it's doing a particle of good to stay here," Rosanna +insisted. "I don't feel right about letting you waste so much time and +money." + +Rosanna was thinking of the expensive meals which they bought at Andover. +Because her own supply of cash had run so low, Penny paid for everything. +Rosanna meant to settle the debt and it steadily grew larger. + +"Now don't worry," Penny advised kindly. "I'm staying on here largely +because I've determined to discover the identity of our ghost. Then, too, +I can't bear to see Mrs. Leeds gain what doesn't belong to her." + +"I'd be glad to stay if I thought it would do the slightest good--" + +"I think it will Rosanna. I have a scheme which I intend to try. It will +take a few days before we can work things out." + +Penny then explained a part of what was in her mind. She was not certain +as to all the details of her plan, but little by little it was taking +shape. + +After a time the girls walked down to Caleb Eckert's cabin. He was not at +home. They sauntered leisurely back to the house on the cliff. + +Neither Mrs. Leeds' car nor the one belonging to Max Laponi was on the +driveway. + +"I guess we're the only ones here this morning," Penny commented. + +They entered by the front door. From the direction of the living room +they heard a muffled exclamation of impatience. Signaling for silence, +Penny tiptoed toward the velvet curtains which hid the living room from +view. She parted them. + +Caleb Eckert was working at the dials of a wall safe which had been +concealed in a secret panel behind a large oil painting. + +Although the girls had made no sound, Caleb sensed their presence. He +turned and faced them. + +"Why, Mr. Eckert, doesn't this call for some explanation?" Penny asked in +bewilderment. "Surely you have no right to tamper with Mr. Winters' +safe." + +The old man plainly was embarrassed. He moistened his lips, looked away, +then said gruffly: + +"I didn't come here to steal. I came because I wanted to protect Mr. +Winters' valuables. There's folks in this house that I don't trust." + +"But how does it happen you know the combination of the safe?" Rosanna +inquired. + +"Mr. Winters gave it to me before he left. You see, he was my best +friend. Jacob trusted me." + +"He must have," cut in a sneering voice from directly behind. + +Everyone turned to see Max Laponi standing in the doorway. His sharp +little eyes moved swiftly about the room taking in everything. They came +to rest upon the wall safe. + +Caleb spun the dials. He hastily pressed a concealed button and the +picture swung back into place, hiding the safe. + +"Neat little device," Laponi commented dryly. His eyes narrowed. "Trying +to steal the Winters' booty, were you?" + +"Certainly not," Caleb retorted angrily. + +Laponi caught him roughly by the shoulder, forcing him back against the +wall. + +"You know a lot more than you let on," he accused. "Tell me, is that +where old Winters hid his ivory collection?" + +"I'll tell you nothing," Caleb snapped. + +"You'll tell or I'll--" + +"Mr. Laponi, you're hurting him!" Rosanna cried. + +"Perhaps we should call the police if there's to be trouble," Penny added +cunningly. + +At the mention of police, Laponi instantly released his grip on Caleb. He +laughed harshly. + +"We'll let it go this time," he said, "but I'm warning you, Eckert, stay +away from this house and this safe if you know what's good for you." + +"You might take that advice to yourself, too," the old man retorted, +edging toward the door. + +From the window the girls watched him hurry down the path to his own +cabin. His departure was almost flight. Obviously, Caleb was afraid. + +Penny did not know what to believe. An hour before she would have taken +oath that he was strictly honest, devoted to the interests of Jacob +Winters. Now she could not be sure. + +Max Laponi lingered in the living room. Suspecting that he intended to +investigate the wall safe the instant he was alone, Penny and Rosanna +settled themselves for a long stay. They pretended to read. + +After an hour, Laponi grew tired of the game, and went off, grumbling to +himself. + +"We outlasted him that time," Penny chuckled. "However, we'll have to be +on the lookout or he'll sneak back sometime when we're gone. I wonder if +Mr. Winters did leave his ivory collection in the safe?" + +"Laponi seems to think so," Rosanna commented. "I'm glad he doesn't know +the combination. I distrust him even more than I do Caleb." + +"So do I, but I intend to watch them both," Penny responded thoughtfully. +"I'm convinced there's a deep plot brewing--something far more sinister +than we've suspected." + + + + + CHAPTER XI + A Night Adventure + + +Since taking leave of Mr. Nichols at Mt. Ashland, Penny had received no +word from her father. She did not worry actively, yet it was a great +relief when later in the afternoon a uniformed messenger boy delivered a +telegram into her hand. + +"Remain as long as you wish," her father wired. "Am enjoying good rest +here." + +From an upstairs window Mrs. Leeds had noted the arrival of the messenger +boy. She came hurrying down to see if the message was for her. While +Penny read the communication, the woman eyed her suspiciously. + +At last her curiosity could no longer be restrained. She asked +carelessly: "I don't suppose your wire has anything to do with Jacob +Winters or the estate?" + +"Only indirectly," Penny responded mischievously. + +To avoid further questioning, the girls went outdoors. + +"Let's see if Caleb is at home," Penny proposed. + +They rapped several times upon the door of the cabin and were about to +turn away, when the old man opened it. + +"Sorry to bother you," Penny apologized. "I wanted to ask a few more +questions about Mr. Winters." + +Caleb looked ill at ease. "Questions!" he fumed. "Well, what is it you +want to know this time?" + +"Tell me, isn't there a pipe organ on the third floor of Mr. Winters' +house?" + +"Certainly. Jacob was a talented musician. He installed the organ nearly +fifteen years ago. But what of it may I ask?" + +"We'd like very much to see the organ." + +"Well, why don't you look at it then?" + +"We can't because the door is locked." + +"Locked?" Caleb seemed surprised. "That's funny. I didn't know Mr. +Winters ever locked up his conservatory." + +"Then you haven't a key?" Penny asked. + +"Why should I have a key?" Caleb snorted. "You act as if I'm the +caretaker of that house. It's nothing to me what goes on there, except +that I don't like to see folks overrun the place and steal Mr. Winters' +fine things." + +"You needn't look at us so accusingly," Rosanna said with surprising +spirit. "We wouldn't take or damage one single thing in that house." + +Caleb's face softened. + +"I didn't mean to suggest that you would. I believe you two girls aren't +like those others. But you were speaking of the organ. Why are you so +interested in it?" + +"Because we've been hearing music at night," Penny informed. "It seems to +come from that room on the third floor." + +Caleb regarded her in awe. "Then it's true, the things they say." + +"What things?" Rosanna asked impatiently. + +"That the house is haunted. If Mr. Winters really is dead it may be----" + +"Nonsense!" Penny cut in. "Rosanna and I don't believe in ghosts. And +what's more, I doubt if you do, Caleb Eckert! That so-called ghost is a +very live one. If you won't help me, I'll solve the mystery alone!" + +And with this declaration, Penny stalked from the cabin, followed by the +faithful Rosanna. + +"Perhaps you've antagonized him now," the latter said as they went back +to the house on the cliff. + +"I don't care if I have! Caleb knows a great deal more than he pretends. +He could help us if he wanted to!" + +No one was stirring on the lower floor of the Winters' house when the +girls entered. To Penny it seemed an admirable time to institute a search +of the premises. + +"We'll let Mrs. Leeds hunt for the will," Penny declared, "but we'll look +for something which may prove equally valuable." + +"What?" Rosanna asked curiously. + +"A picture of Jacob Winters." + +"I can't see what good it will do to find one except that I'd like to +have a photo of my uncle as a keepsake." + +"If my plans work out I'll have a more important use for it," Penny +smiled mysteriously. + +"I should think we could find one somewhere in the house," Rosanna +declared. "Most people have old photographs stuck around in odd places." + +For nearly an hour the girls poked about in drawers and clothes closets +until Rosanna protested that she felt as prying and sneaking as Mrs. +Leeds. + +"This is in a better cause," Penny laughed. + +"It looks that way to us because it's my cause," Rosanna smiled. "Still, +I'd never examine private papers or locked drawers." + +Penny made no response for in a lower table drawer she had come upon an +old album. She displayed her discovery and page by page the girls went +through it, laughing a little at the strange old-fashioned costumes and +the stiff poses of the subjects. Names were written under a few of the +photographs but Rosanna recognized only one or two as relatives. + +"I never knew many of my relation," she admitted. "If Mrs. Leeds and her +daughter are samples, perhaps it's just as well." + +"The people in this album look nice, Rosanna. I suppose most of them are +dead by this time." + +Penny turned a page and stared blankly down at an empty folder. + +"Why, here is your uncle's name," she cried, indicating a signature at +the bottom of the page. "But the photo is gone!" + +"Oh, how disappointing." + +"Someone removed the photo, Rosanna. Perhaps deliberately too." + +"What makes you think that?" + +"I only said it. I have no evidence of course. Oh, all my plans will be +upset if I don't find the photograph!" + +The arrival of Mrs. Leeds cut short the conversation. The girls hastily +returned the album to the table drawer but not quickly enough to avoid +being detected. Mrs. Leeds triumphantly pounced on the leather bound +book. + +"Only an old-fashioned album," she said in disappointment, tossing it +aside. + +"Did you think it was the will?" Penny chuckled as she and Rosanna +departed. + +The girls impatiently awaited the coming of night. Penny had determined +to make a supreme effort to discover the cause of the mysterious organ +music. At first Rosanna had been enthusiastic over the plan but as +nightfall approached she tried to dissuade her friend. + +"It's too dangerous," she insisted. "Please give up the scheme." + +Penny shook her head. She had made up her mind to spend the night on the +third floor. Soon after the household retired she intended to steal +upstairs and establish herself by the door of the conservatory. + +Evening came. At nine Mrs. Leeds and her daughter shut themselves into +the bedroom which they had selected since their upsetting experience with +bats. At eleven Penny heard Max Laponi's door close. + +She looked out into the hall. It was dark and deserted. + +"Please don't attempt it," Rosanna shivered. "What if something should +happen?" + +"I hope it does," Penny said grimly. "It won't be any fun to sit up half +the night without any purpose. I'll be disappointed if our ghost fails to +provide his usual midnight concert." + +"If anything goes wrong scream for help," Rosanna urged. "I'll run for +assistance." + +Penny promised. While Rosanna stood at the bedroom door watching, she +tiptoed down the hall, past Mrs. Leeds' room, past Laponi's chamber to +the third floor stairs. + +There she hesitated. Without a light the region above looked even more +dark and awe-inspiring than she had remembered it. + +"Coward!" she accused herself, and quietly went up, leaving the door +unlocked behind her. + +All was quiet on the third floor. Penny tried the door to the +conservatory expecting to find it locked. To her astonishment it opened. +The discovery disconcerted her for an instant. A minute later she +mustered her courage and stepped inside the room. + +In the darkness she could make out objects only vaguely. The organ with +its huge pipes occupied one end of the room. Sheet-draped chairs gave +everything a ghostly atmosphere not at all conducive to a peaceful state +of mind. + +After making a brief inspection of her quarters Penny sat down on the +floor with her back against the outside door. She riveted her eyes upon +the organ. + +Time dragged slowly. When it seemed to Penny that several hours must have +passed, she heard a clock downstairs striking eleven-thirty. + +"At least another half hour to wait," Penny thought, shifting into a more +comfortable position. + +She grew drowsy. Several times she caught herself on the verge of +napping. She aroused herself only to find her eyes growing heavy again. +It became increasingly difficult to watch the organ. + +"I wish that ghost would hurry up and come," she mused impatiently. +"Perhaps after all my trouble this won't be one of his working nights!" + +That was the last thought of which she was aware. Suddenly she heard soft +organ music rolling and swelling about her. With a start she aroused +herself. She had been sleeping. + +It took an instant for Penny to gather her wits. She was still sitting +with her back to the conservatory door. Yet at the far end of the great +room, she distinctly could see a shadowy figure seated at the organ. + +Penny scrambled to her feet, starting forward. The floor creaked +alarmingly. + +Penny halted, but too late. She had given warning of her presence. + +The shadowy figure at the organ jerked into alert attention. There was a +discordant crash of chords, then silence. + +Penny blinked. She thought she had heard a sharp click as if a secret +panel had opened and closed. That was all. + +And the organist had disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + A Suspicious Act + + +Penny caught herself shivering. She decided that she had seen quite +enough for one night. + +She turned toward the door, but with her hand on the brass knob, stood +tensely listening. Someone was tiptoeing along the hall. It occurred to +her that the mysterious organist might have escaped from the music room +by means of a secret panel which opened directly into the adjoining +corridor. Even now he could be effecting his escape to the lower floor. + +Crouching against the wall, Penny waited. She was startled to hear the +footsteps coming closer. Then the door opened a tiny crack and the beam +of a flashlight slowly circled the room. + +"Penny!" an anxious voice whispered. "Where are you?" + +Penny laughed in relief as she reached out to grip Rosanna's hand. + +"Oh! How you startled me!" the girl gasped. "I'm so glad you're safe, +Penny. You stayed up here so long that I was frightened." + +"I had to wait for the ghost." + +"I heard the music," Rosanna said in awe. "It broke off so suddenly." + +"That was because I frightened the ghost away. At first I thought perhaps +I had dreamed it all, but if you heard the music too then it must have +been real." + +"It was real enough. But it lasted only a minute or two." + +"When the organist saw me I suspect he slipped out of the room by means +of a secret panel," Penny reported. "But where he went is a mystery. You +didn't see anyone as you came up the stairs to find me?" + +"No, I'm sure no one was in the hall, Penny." + +"I'm as certain as anything that this room has a secret entrance. Give me +your flashlight and we'll see what we can discover." + +"Not tonight," Rosanna shivered, pulling her friend toward the door. "We +can come back in the morning." + +"The room may be locked again then." + +"That's so." + +"Let's take advantage of the opportunity while we have it." + +Rosanna handed over the flashlight and together they crossed the room to +the big organ. They inspected it with interest and Penny ran her fingers +lightly over the keys. However, no sound came forth. + +"That's queer," Rosanna whispered. + +"I think someone has to pump air," Penny said. "It's probably shut off." + +She next turned her attention to the walls in the immediate vicinity of +the organ. She could locate no hidden panel although in one place it +seemed to her that when she rapped on a certain sector it emitted a +hollow sound. + +"It's too dark to see anything tonight," Rosanna protested nervously. + +"I guess we may as well give it up until morning," Penny agreed. + +The girls stole quietly down the stairs to the lower floor. However, an +unpleasant surprise awaited them. As they opened the door into the main +passageway they found themselves face to face with Mrs. Leeds and Alicia. + +"So I find you here again!" the woman exclaimed. "I suspected before that +you girls were at the bottom of these nightly disturbances. Now I have +the proof." + +Penny was too annoyed to even try to explain why she had visited the +third floor. She would have ignored the woman and passed on to her own +room had not Rosanna been so distressed by the ridiculous accusation. + +"We've had absolutely nothing to do with the queer things which have been +going on in this house," the orphan maintained indignantly. + +"Then why were you upstairs at this time of night? Only a minute or two +ago Alicia and I heard music." + +"We were trying to learn what caused it, Mrs. Leeds." + +"A likely story!" Alicia said with a toss of her head. + +"You may believe it or not, just as you wish," Penny returned coldly. + +"It seems to me, Miss Nichols, that you are taking it upon yourself to do +entirely too much investigating," Mrs. Leeds said cuttingly. "This isn't +your home and you're not a relative of Jacob Winters." + +"And unless I'm sadly mistaken there are others here who are similarly +situated!" Penny retorted. + +"Do you mean to suggest that Alicia and I are not related to Jacob +Winters?" + +"I'm not suggesting anything," Penny replied evenly. "However, since you +brought up the matter of an investigation, I might ask you about that +paper which I saw you burn in the living room fireplace." + +Mrs. Leeds' face changed color and she grew confused. + +"Why, I don't know what you're talking about." + +"You know well enough, but we'll let it pass for the time being. Come on, +Rosanna." + +The two girls walked down the hall and entered their own room, closing +the door firmly behind them. + +"You held your own with her that time," Rosanna chuckled. "My, I wish I +could talk up to people the way you can." + +"I talk entirely too much. But she made me provoked when she accused us +of causing all the disturbance in this house." + +"What did you mean by asking about a paper she had burned?" Rosanna asked +curiously. + +"Oh, I just wanted to throw a scare into her," Penny responded evasively +as she snapped out the light and crept into bed. "I really have no proof +of anything." + +Long after Rosanna had fallen asleep she lay awake thinking. Proof! The +word seared itself into her brain. If only she could secure some evidence +which would aid Rosanna! + +"The entire affair seems unreal," she mused. "Almost like a movie. It's +obvious that someone is playing at being a ghost, trying to frighten the +occupants of this house. But what can be the purpose behind it all?" + +Although Penny had been careful to make no such admission to Rosanna, she +was becoming increasingly troubled. Nor were her worries confined solely +to the hide-and-seek organist. She feared that the time was fast +approaching when Mrs. Leeds or Max Laponi would make a legal claim to the +Winters' property. + +"The chances are that Mrs. Leeds destroyed the will," she reasoned. "In +that event, Rosanna may lose everything." + +Penny felt baffled, yet she was unwilling to admit defeat. Certainly not +until Mrs. Leeds had thrown all her cards on the table. Events were fast +approaching a crisis. Penny sensed that from the woman's attitude of +increasing hostility and assurance. + +"I'm not defeated yet," she thought grimly as she closed her eyes and +tried to sleep. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve!" + +When Rosanna and Penny descended the stairs the next morning they heard a +murmur of voices in the library. The door was closed. + +"I imagine Laponi and Mrs. Leeds are having another one of their secret +conferences," Penny commented. "They're up to some mischief." + +"Why not leave this place today?" Rosanna demanded, "I don't care about +the fortune any more. I'm so tired of all this plotting and scheming. I'd +rather just go away and let them have it." + +"Now don't look so distressed," Penny smiled. "The battle of wits has +only begun." + +"But I don't like to battle. It isn't my nature." + +"I'm your appointed gladiator, Rosanna. You have no idea how much +pleasure it would give me to see these grasping imposters exposed." + +"We haven't any proof they're imposters," Rosanna said soberly. "After +all, they had letters and keys to the house. I haven't even that much." + +"It's too bad they were lost, but you mustn't let it worry you," Penny +chided. "Right now I'm more concerned over another matter." + +"The mysterious ghost?" + +"Yes, although I wasn't thinking of that at the moment. It's Mr. Winters' +photograph. Who tore it out of the album?" + +"For all we know it may have been removed years ago." + +"Yes, that's so, but somehow I have a hunch it disappeared at a far more +recent date. If I don't find a picture of Jacob Winters, I'm afraid my +little plan will fall through." + +"You haven't told me much about this secret plan of yours, Penny." + +"That's because I haven't worked it out clearly in my own mind yet. But +unless I find the photograph there simply won't be any." + +"We might search the house again." + +"I intend to do that if we can ever find a time when Mrs. Leeds and Max +Laponi are both gone. Just now I'm eager to make another inspection of +the organ room upstairs. This is our chance while those two are closeted +in the library." + +Rosanna was not especially anxious to visit the third floor again, but +she offered no objection to the suggestion. Penny led the way up the +creaking stairs. + +The door of the music room was unlocked as they had left it the previous +evening. However, the window shades were all drawn and the room was dark. +Penny raised the blinds to admit light. + +Curiously, the girls gazed about them. Everything was covered with a +thick coating of dust and cobwebs hung in misty veils from the corners of +the room. Penny crossed over to the organ. She indicated the bench in +front of it. + +"I guess that proves whether or not our ghost was real." + +"You mean the imprint on the dusty surface of the organ bench?" Rosanna +asked doubtfully. + +"Yes, you can see where the organist sat." + +"Perhaps one of us brushed off the dust without realizing it. You tried +to play a few notes on the organ, you know." + +"Yes, but I didn't sit down on the bench, Rosanna." + +Losing interest in the organ, Penny began to search for the secret panel +through which she was firmly convinced that the "ghost" had disappeared. +As her eyes moved swiftly over the smooth wall, she suddenly uttered a +low exclamation. + +"See, Rosanna! The imprint of a man's hand!" + +The marking upon the wall was so faint that at first the other girl did +not see it. But she too became excited as Penny pointed it out. + +"How do you suppose it came to be there?" she asked in awe. + +"I suspect our friend the organist was groping about in the dark +searching for the secret panel. No doubt his hand was dusty and when he +pressed it against the wall it left a faint imprint." + +"If you're right, we have a valuable clue as to the location of the +panel!" + +Penny nodded eagerly. Already she was exploring the wall with her hand. + +"It's funny," she murmured impatiently. "I'm as sure as anything that the +panel is here----" + +She broke off suddenly as her fingers touched a tiny round object which +was hidden under the wall paper. + +"I believe I've found it!" she exclaimed gleefully pressing the button. + +The girls heard a faint click. But the panel did not open. + +"The stubborn thing!" Penny cried impatiently. "Why doesn't it open?" + +She pushed with both hands against the section of wall where she felt +convinced the panel was located. To her own surprise and the horror of +her companion, it suddenly gave way. + +Penny plunged headlong through the opening. And before Rosanna could +recover from the shock of seeing her friend disappear, the panel fell +back into place. + +"Penny, Penny," she cried anxiously, pounding upon the wall. "Are you +hurt?" + +For several minutes there was no answer. Then Rosanna heard a smothered +little giggle. + +"All my bones are still together I guess. But I seem to have tumbled down +a flight of stairs. Come on in." + +"I don't know how to get in. The panel slammed shut when you fell +through." + +"It's hinged at the top I think. Find the little button and press on it. +Then when you hear a click push on the panel. Only push easy or you'll +take a tumble the way I did." + +In a minute Rosanna had located the button. She pressed upon it as she +had seen Penny do. Then as the lock clicked, she cautiously pushed +against the panel. Light as was her touch the sector of wall swung +instantly back and she stepped through the opening. So concerned was she +over Penny that she failed to hear the panel close behind her. + +At first Rosanna could see nothing. Then as her eyes became accustomed to +the gloomy interior she made out a long flight of stone steps leading +downward into inky blackness. + +She felt reassured when Penny grasped her hand. + +"Come on, Rosanna! Isn't it exciting? Let's explore!" + +"Oh, it's too dark!" Rosanna whispered nervously. "What if we should run +into that dreadful man--the organist?" + +"Well, perhaps it would be wiser to go back for a flashlight," Penny +conceded. "Only we mustn't let Mrs. Leeds or Max Laponi suspect what +we're up to. We must keep this discovery strictly to ourselves." + +She returned to the head of the stairs but although she groped her hand +carefully along the wall she could find no hidden button or spring which +controlled the panel. By this time Rosanna had grown frightened. + +"Don't tell me we're locked in!" + +Penny forced herself to speak calmly. She knew that it would never do to +let Rosanna realize that she too was alarmed. + +"For the moment I'm afraid we are," she admitted quietly. "But don't give +up hope. We'll get out of here somehow." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + The Secret Stairs + + +Ten minutes of unrewarded search convinced Penny that they were only +wasting their time in attempting to locate the hidden spring without a +light. + +"Let's follow the steps down and see where they lead," she suggested. +"Surely there must be another exit." + +Rosanna permitted Penny to lead her down the steep flight of stairs. They +presently reached the bottom. It was too dark to see very much but by +feeling along the damp stone wall they discovered that they were in a +narrow passageway. As they moved cautiously forward a breath of cold air +struck Penny's face. + +"This must be the way to the exit," she declared cheerfully. "We'll soon +be out of here now." + +"It can't be too soon for me," Rosanna chattered. + +Hand in hand they groped their way along the subterranean passage. Soon +they came to the end of it but instead of an exit they found another +flight of steps leading downward at a steep angle. + +"Careful or you'll fall," Penny warned as they began the treacherous +descent. "Some of the stones are loose." + +"I wish we had a light," Rosanna complained. "Where do you suppose we're +going anyway?" + +"Maybe to the center of the earth," Penny chuckled. "It seems like it +anyway." + +"Unless I'm mixed up in my directions we're moving toward the lake." + +"It seems that way to me too," Penny readily agreed. "But we've twisted +and turned so many times I couldn't be sure of anything." + +By this time the girls were convinced that they were underground for they +had made a long, straight descent. The walls were moist and damp; the air +chilly. Yet one thing puzzled them. If they actually were traveling +toward the lake that meant that the tunnel had been bored into the side +of the cliff. But such a feat obviously was nothing less than an +engineering enterprise. + +At length the girls reached the bottom of the second flight of stairs +only to find themselves in another passageway. It was much larger than +the other and lighter. + +"Do you think we could be in an abandoned ore mine?" Penny suddenly +demanded, pausing to inspect the walls. + +"It does look a little like it. Only I never heard of stone steps in a +mine." + +"No, they have shafts. But it strikes me that the steps may have been +added later, if you noticed, the upper passage was much smaller than this +one." + +"As if it had been dug out to join with this one," Rosanna added eagerly. + +"Exactly. It's my theory that some person knew about this old mine and +decided to connect it with a smaller tunnel which would lead up into the +house." + +"But who do you suppose conceived such a plan?" + +"I can't answer that one," Penny laughed. "But come on, let's see if we +aren't approaching the exit." + +Eagerly they moved forward, guided by the streak of light. A minute later +Penny who was in the lead, gave a joyous shout. + +"We've come to the end of it! I can see trees!" + +"Thank goodness," Rosanna sighed in relief. "I was afraid we'd never get +out alive." + +Penny parted the bushes which barred the exit and they peered out. + +"You were right, Rosanna. We did travel toward the lake. We're almost in +it for that matter!" + +The water came within a few yards of the entrance and during a storm the +girls imagined that it must flood the lower passageway. Penny noticed a +rowboat tied up in a clump of bushes. + +"I suppose that's how our ghost makes his quick get-away," Penny remarked +dryly. + +"We might take a ride on the lake," Rosanna proposed. + +"Don't you think it might advertise that we've discovered this tunnel? +Especially if the ghost should happen to see us using his boat." + +"Of course, I didn't stop to think. Oh, Penny if only we knew the +identity of this person who annoys the household!" + +"It shouldn't be so hard to learn it now," Penny declared in +satisfaction. "At night we'll station ourselves here by the mouth of the +tunnel and watch." + +"It wouldn't surprise me if it should turn out to be Max Laponi," Rosanna +remarked. "He never seems to be in his room at night." + +Penny offered no response. + +Fearing that their long absence from the house might have aroused +suspicion, the girls hurriedly left the scene. They found a trail which +wound along the base of the cliff and which presently took them toward +the house on the hill. + +As they passed the Eckert cabin they saw the old man cleaning fish by the +back door. They greeted him perfunctorily and would have walked on had he +not seemed in a mood to talk. + +"Out early this morning, aren't you?" he questioned. + +"Yes, we were down by the lake," Penny answered. + +"You must have crawled out of bed before the sun was up. I've been +cleaning fish here all morning and I didn't see you go past." + +"We went around a different way," Penny answered, and then before he +could ask another question, interposed one of her own. "By the way, do +you know where I could get a picture of Jacob Winters?" + +Old Caleb dropped his fish knife. It took him a long time to recover it +from the ground. + +"What do you want of a picture?" he questioned gruffly. + +"Oh, I just need it," Penny said evasively. + +"I'd like to have one myself," Rosanna added sincerely. "I never had a +photo of my uncle." + +"If you find he's cut you out of all his property I guess you probably +won't be so anxious to have a picture of the old cod," Caleb observed. + +Rosanna drew herself up proudly. + +"It wouldn't make the slightest difference, Mr. Eckert. After all, my +uncle never saw me so why should he have left me any of his money? You +say such disagreeable things!" + +"I'm a disagreeable old man," Caleb admitted cheerfully, "but my bark is +worse than my bite." + +"Well, please don't call my uncle names," Rosanna went on with spirit. + +"Names?" + +"You spoke of Uncle Jacob as an old cod. I don't like it a bit." + +Old Caleb was startled by the outburst. But his eyes twinkled as he +replied soberly: + +"Well, now, Miss Rosanna, I didn't mean to offend you or to speak +disrespectfully of Jacob either. It was just my way of talking." + +"Then I'll forgive you," Rosanna smiled. + +The girls were on the verge of moving off when Caleb checked them with a +question. + +"You haven't heard Mrs. Leeds or that Laponi fellow say anything about +leaving have you?" + +"I don't believe they intend to go unless they're put out," Penny +responded. "I heard Mrs. Leeds say the other day that she had sent for +her lawyer." + +"They stick tighter than cockle burs," Caleb commented. "If only I had +the right, I would send them both packing. Especially that Max Laponi. I +don't trust him." + +"Neither do I," Penny agreed promptly. "That's why I think you should try +to help me clear up this dreadful muddle." + +"What can I do? I have no authority." + +"It will help if you can find me a photograph of Mr. Winters." + +Caleb's face puckered into troubled wrinkles. + +"It's too late," he muttered under his breath. "It wouldn't do any good." + +"What was that you said?" Penny questioned sharply. + +"Nothing. I was just talking to myself. About the picture. I'll see what +I can do. Don't count much on getting it though because I doubt if I can +locate one for you." + +The girls chatted a few minutes longer but Caleb was not very good +company. He responded briefly if at all to their conversational sallies +and for the most part seemed lost in thought. They soon left him to his +fish cleaning and went on toward the house. + +"I wonder what got into him all at once?" Rosanna mused. "Perhaps he was +offended at the way I spoke to him." + +"I don't think he gave it a second thought," Penny responded. "I suspect +Caleb rather likes to have folks talk up to him. No, I'm sure it wasn't +anything you said that annoyed him. Likely enough it was my request for +Mr. Winters' photograph." + +"Why should that bother him?" + +"That's what I'd like to know. Caleb is a queer one to say the least." + +"Do you think he'll ever produce the photo?" + +Penny laughed shortly. + +"It would be a great surprise to me if he did. And yet from the way he +acted, I'm convinced he could get me one if he chose. Like as not he has +one in his cabin now." + +Penny lapsed into a moody silence. From the day of her arrival at Raven +Ridge she had sensed old Caleb's reluctance to help her. While she could +not say that he was exactly unfriendly he had made no positive move of +assistance. She had believed for a long time that he knew a great deal +more than he would tell regarding Jacob Winters' absence. + +The girls entered the house by a side door. They noticed that Mrs. Leeds' +car no longer stood on the driveway and took it for granted that she and +her daughter had driven to Andover as was their daily custom. + +They glanced casually into the library and noticed that it was empty. +However, Penny's keen eyes traveled to the desk. She observed that the +ink bottle had been left uncorked and that a pen had been removed from +its holder. + +"I wonder what Mrs. Leeds and Laponi were up to?" she speculated. "Oh, +well, I'll probably find out soon enough." + +"I believe I'll go upstairs for a few minutes," Rosanna excused herself. +"I haven't straightened my things yet this morning." + +Left alone, Penny crossed over to the desk and examined the paper in the +wastebasket. She looked closely at the blotter, even holding it to the +mirror, but it had been used so many times that the words which appeared +upon it could not be read. There was not a scrap of evidence to show what +Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi had been writing. + +In disappointment Penny picked up a book and sat down to read. Presently +she heard soft steps in the hallway but paid slight attention thinking +that it was Rosanna. + +She was on the verge of calling her friend's name when she thought better +of it. The sound of the footsteps told her that the person had gone into +the living room. And by this time she was convinced that it was not +Rosanna. + +She waited, listening. She heard a faint metallic click which caused her +to lay aside her book and quietly steal to the doorway of the living +room. + +Max Laponi stood with his back toward her, so absorbed in what he was +about that he had not the slightest suspicion that he was being observed. + +Penny saw him carefully remove the oil painting from the wall. He deftly +opened the panel, exposing the safe. Then, with a sureness of touch which +amazed Penny, he began to spin the dials. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + A Diamond Ring + + +"Mr. Laponi, kindly move away from that safe!" + +Penny spoke sharply as she quietly stepped into the living room. The man +whirled and saw her. Taken by surprise, his hand fell away from the dials +and he looked confused. + +"You seem to be very much interested in Mr. Winters' valuables," Penny +said sternly. + +By this time Max Laponi had recovered his composure. + +"Why shouldn't I be?" he retorted. "After all, I am Mr. Winters' heir." + +"That remains to be seen, Mr. Laponi. You appear to be very handy at +opening safes, I notice." Penny crossed the room and after turning the +handle to make certain that Laponi had not succeeded in his purpose, +closed the panel and returned the oil painting to its former position. + +"I suppose you think I was trying to steal," Laponi began after a minute +of dead silence. "Nothing was further from my intention." + +"No?" + +"Ever since I caught Caleb Eckert trying to break into this safe I've +been worried. Last night I saw him prowling around the house after dark +and it made me uneasy. I was afraid he would make another attempt to +steal Mr. Winters' valuables." + +"So you thought you would just beat him to it!" Penny retorted +sarcastically. + +"Certainly not. When you entered the room I was merely inspecting the +safe to make certain that it was securely locked." + +Penny could not refrain from smiling. She did not believe a word of what +Max Laponi was telling her. + +"That safe seems to be the real attraction of this house," she remarked. +"I've suspected for some time that it contains Mr. Winters' ivory +collection." + +If Max Laponi were taken aback he did not disclose it. But he eyed Penny +shrewdly. + +"You're a smart little girl. Too smart to go around making trouble for +yourself. Now if you're wise you'll team up with me and I'll promise you +that you'll come out at the top of the heap." + +"Just what is your proposition?" Penny asked quickly. + +Max Laponi was too alert to place himself in any trap. + +"If you're willing to follow my orders I'll promise you that when I come +into my fortune you'll be well paid." + +"And what are your orders?" + +"I'll tell you after you give me your promise." + +Penny regarded him coldly. + +"I'll promise nothing, Mr. Laponi, except that I intend to see justice +done to Rosanna Winters! You and Mrs. Leeds are trying to cheat her out +of her rightful inheritance." + +"She'll never get a cent. If you had an ounce of sense you'd ditch her +and come in with us. It's all fixed--" + +"Fixed!" Penny tripped him. "And by 'us' I imagine you mean Mrs. Leeds. +You're both hatching some scheme to defraud Rosanna." + +Laponi smiled impudently. + +"Well, don't say I didn't give you your choice, Miss Nichols. It is your +decision to have no share in the spoils?" + +"It is." + +Laponi's face darkened slightly. "As you wish, Miss Nichols. But let me +give you a little warning. Keep your nose out of my affairs or it will be +the worse for you!" + +He turned and walked from the room. A minute later Penny saw him leave +the house by the side door. + +"If he thinks he can frighten me with a threat he has another guess +coming!" she thought indignantly. "For two cents I'd call in the police." + +Upon second consideration she decided that such a move would not be wise. +After all she had no real evidence against Laponi. While she was +convinced in her own mind that his motives were dishonest the police +might take a more conservative attitude. Then too, she would be forced to +offer a satisfactory explanation for her own presence in the house. + +"Laponi is after something more valuable than a will," Penny mused as she +stood at the window watching his car vanish down the driveway. + +Her eye wandered to the oil painting on the wall. She felt certain that +the safe which was screened beneath it guarded Mr. Winters' collection of +ivory. And from the expression of Laponi's face when she had mentioned +her belief, she was sure that he shared the same conviction. + +"He practically admitted he was involved in some scheme to defraud +Rosanna," she thought. "I can't help feeling he's a crook even if he is a +relative of Mr. Winters. I wish I dared search his room for evidence!" + +The more she considered the idea, the greater became its appeal. Probably +Laponi would not return to the house for at least an hour. She would have +ample time. Still, the undertaking would be a risky one and not at all to +her liking. + +"I suppose a professional detective wouldn't feel squeamish about +entering another person's room if the case demanded it," she encouraged +herself. "Laponi practically admitted his guilt--that was because he +thought I couldn't do anything about it. Maybe I'll show him!" + +By this time Penny's mind was made up. Quietly she stole up the stairway. +In the upper corridor she paused to listen for a minute. Everything was +still. + +Penny tiptoed down the hall to Max Laponi's room. She tried the door. It +was locked. + +"That's funny," she thought. "He must keep something inside that he's +afraid to have folks see." + +She was more eager than before to search the room. But with the key gone +it seemed out of the question. Then Penny's face lighted as she recalled +the empty bedroom adjoining the one occupied by Laponi. It was possible +that they might have a connecting door. + +Looking carefully about to make certain that she was not under +observation, she moved on down the hall and tried the next door. To her +delight it opened. She entered the dusty chamber, gazing quickly about. +She was disappointed to see that the two bedrooms had no connecting door. + +However, when she walked to the window and raised it, she noted a wide +ledge which ran the length of the building. + +"If only I dared lower myself to it I could reach Max Laponi's room, for +the ledge is only a few feet below from his window!" she reasoned. + +Penny decided that the chance was worth taking. She naturally was +athletic and had confidence that she could maintain a foothold. Lowering +herself to the ledge she flattened herself to the wall of the house and +moved an inch at a time toward the next window. It was a long fall to the +ground. Penny did not dare glance downward. Although the distance between +the two windows was not more than twelve feet it seemed an age until her +hands clutched the sill. + +As she pried at the window a sudden fear assailed her. What if it too +were locked? + +The window had only stuck a little. A quick jerk brought it up. By sheer +strength of muscle, Penny raised herself to the level of the sill, +swinging her feet through the opening. + +"I must work fast," she told herself, glancing appraisingly about. "I'd +not care to be caught here." + +Her attention was drawn to Max Laponi's open suitcase which had been left +carelessly on the bed. Crossing over to it she began to explore the +contents systematically. + +"My hunch about Laponi may have been wrong," she thought uncomfortably as +the search revealed nothing of interest. + +Just then her hand touched something hard and cold. Penny knew instantly +that it was a revolver. She was not afraid of firearms for her father had +taught her to shoot. Carefully she inspected the weapon. + +"All this heavy artillery must have been brought here for a purpose," she +reflected grimly. "It's clear Laponi is out to get what he wants by one +means or another." + +After an instant's hesitation Penny placed the revolver on the table. She +had decided to take it with her when she left. + +"Things in this house are fast approaching a crisis," she reasoned. +"Before I get through I may need that weapon myself." + +Save for an inner pocket in the suitcase, Penny had completed her +inspection. She ran her hand into the cloth pouch and brought to light +several papers. Rapidly she went through them. + +Suddenly she uttered a cry of delight. She had discovered the letter +which Max Laponi claimed had been sent him by the same lawyer who had +notified Rosanna of her newly inherited fortune. + +Although Laponi, upon his arrival at Raven Ridge, had flourished the +document, he had permitted no one to inspect it closely. + +Now as Penny read the letter carefully she recalled that the wording was +identical with the message which Rosanna had received. Closely she +studied the salutation, holding the paper to the light. + +"I believe the name has been changed!" she exclaimed. "Max Laponi has +cleverly removed Rosanna's name and substituted his own. This must be the +letter which Rosanna lost!" + +It occurred to her that the man doubtlessly had found the missing key as +well. She again ran her hand into the cloth pocket and triumphantly +brought it forth. + +"He's nothing but a rank impostor!" she told herself. "I'll keep this +letter as evidence against him and the key will come in handy too!" + +Penny hastily rearranged the suitcase as she had found it and prepared to +depart. The search had well repaid her for her efforts, but it had taken +longer than she had intended. + +However, as she crossed the room toward the window she noticed a number +of small objects spread out over the dresser and could not resist pausing +to inspect them. They held her interest only briefly. + +She turned away again but as she moved off a button on her sleeve caught +in the lace work of the runner which covered the dresser top. It pulled +awry and Penny paused to straighten it. + +As she rearranged the piece, her fingers touched a small hard object on +the under side. Her curiosity aroused she turned back the runner and +looked beneath it. + +There lay a diamond ring. + +"A diamond!" she exclaimed. "As big as a house too. It's evidently been +hidden here by Max Laponi!" + +She picked it up and examined it, reflecting that somewhere she had seen +a similar piece of jewelry. She was certain the diamond was not an +imitation for it sparkled brightly. However, she had no opportunity to +give it more than a hasty glance for she was startled to hear footsteps +coming down the hall. + +"Max Laponi may be coming back," she thought nervously. + +Leaving the diamond ring where she had discovered it she hastily +rearranged the dresser cover. With her newly acquired evidence, she +darted to the window and lowered herself to the outside ledge. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + Penny's Evidence + + +The bedroom door opened and Max Laponi entered. + +Penny Nichols had lowered herself to the narrow ledge not an instant too +soon. There had been no time to pull the window down after her. + +As she heard the man walk across the room she huddled fearfully against +the wall, feeling certain that he would notice the open window +immediately. Her position was a precarious one. She dared not move lest +even a slight sound betray her to the man inside. On the other hand, it +was doubtful how long she could remain where she was without losing her +footing. She knew that if she once glanced downward her courage would +fail her. + +Penny could hear Laponi muttering to himself. + +"I thought I left that window down," she heard him say. "If anyone has +been in here--" + +He crossed to the bed and ran his hand under the pillow. Penny peeped +through the window just as he removed a shiny object. + +"Another revolver!" she gasped. "That's one I missed." + +The sight of the weapon seemed to reassure Laponi for he appeared +relieved. He next crossed over to the bureau and searched for the diamond +ring. Penny was very glad that she had not touched it. + +"I guess everything is the same as I left it," the man muttered to +himself. "Still, I'd have sworn I left that window down." + +As Penny huddled flat against the wall, he moved over toward it. She held +her breath, waiting. Would he look out? If he did, then all was lost. + +Laponi stood for some minutes at the open window, seemingly absorbed in +his thoughts. Then he abruptly slammed it down and turned away. + +"That was a narrow escape!" Penny congratulated herself. "If I ever get +out of this mess I'll take care not to get myself into another position +like it!" + +She cautiously crept along the ledge until at last she was able to +stretch out her hand and grasp the sill of the next window. After pulling +herself through she quietly closed it behind her. Then she tiptoed to the +bedroom door and looked out. No one was in sight. + +Carefully secreting the articles which she had taken from Laponi's room, +she darted past his door and safely on to the bedroom which she shared +with Rosanna. The latter arose as she burst in upon her. + +"How you startled me, Penny." + +She was due for another shock as Penny dropped the revolver upon the +dresser. + +"Penny, where did you get that thing?" she demanded nervously. + +"Not so loud or someone may hear you," Penny warned. "It came from +Laponi's room, and that's not all I found either." + +She drew forth the letter and the missing key. Rosanna stared +incredulously. + +"Surely they can't be mine, Penny." + +"I suspect they are. Take a look at this letter and tell me if you notice +anything wrong." + +Rosanna studied the letter briefly, then shook her head. + +"It reads just like the one I received." + +"That's the point. Notice the name at the top." + +"Why, it looks as if it might have been changed!" Rosanna cried. + +"And I think it has been. It's my opinion that Max Laponi found your +letter and the missing key. He's a rank impostor." + +"Then you believe he is the one who has been frightening the household by +playing on the pipe organ?" + +"I haven't made up my mind about that yet," Penny returned thoughtfully. +"But one thing I'm certain about. Laponi is a dangerous man." + +"Let's get away from here right away." + +Penny laughed shortly. "I should say not! This mystery is growing more +exciting every minute. I mean to discover Max Laponi's little game!" + +"But he may harm us," Rosanna protested. "Especially if he suspects +you've searched his room." + +"Laponi is armed," Penny admitted with a frown. "But for that matter so +are we." + +"You wouldn't dare to carry that revolver!" + +"I most certainly would. Not that I'd care to use it, but it might serve +as protection." + +"It seems to me we should call in the police." + +Penny shook her head. "Not yet. But I do intend to wire my father. I'm +going to ask him to learn all he can about Laponi. It may turn out that +the man has a prison record." + +"You suspect that because you found the revolver in his room?" + +"Well, honest citizens don't carry weapons without permits." + +"You're thinking of doing it," Rosanna challenged. + +Penny laughed. "This is an extra special emergency. But I have another +reason for believing that Laponi is a crook. I suspect he has a stolen +ring in his possession." + +She then told of finding the diamond ring under the dresser scarf. + +"All diamonds look somewhat alike," she acknowledged, "but I'm sure I've +seen that ring before." + +"Where?" + +"In Bresham's Department Store. I think it's the same ring that was +stolen the afternoon I met you there." + +"Laponi does bear a slight resemblance to the shoplifter," Rosanna +admitted thoughtfully. "Only the store thief was a much older man." + +"Disguised perhaps. Oh, I may be wrong, but at least it will do no harm +to have Father look into the matter." + +"When he gets your wire, Penny, he'll probably be so alarmed that he'll +send word for you to start back to Mt. Ashland at once." + +"Not Dad. He'd rather catch a crook than eat. I'm sure he'll help me." + +"When will you send the wire?" + +"Right away. I'd like to leave the house before Laponi sees me." + +However, as the girls stepped out into the hall a few minutes later they +heard loud voices coming up from the living room. Penny instantly +recognized Laponi's sharp tones and paused at the top of the stairs to +peer down. + +"It's Max and Caleb Eckert," she reported in a whisper. "My, what a +quarrel they're having!" + +The girls listened for a minute but the voices of the two men died to a +low murmur and they could distinguish only an occasional word. + +"Unless you want Laponi to see you we'd better slip down the back way," +Rosanna suggested. + +Using the rear stairs the girls were able to leave the house without +being observed. They drove directly to Andover where Penny dispatched a +lengthy wire to her father. She requested him to learn all he could +concerning Max Laponi and if possible to send her a complete description +of the diamond ring which had been stolen from the department store. + +"I wonder why Caleb and Max Laponi were going at each other in such +dreadful fashion?" Rosanna mused as they drove back toward the Winters' +mansion. + +Penny had been pondering over the same question. + +"I suppose Caleb may be suspicious of him," Rosanna went on when Penny +did not answer. + +"Possibly. Old Caleb hasn't acted too honestly himself, Rosanna." + +"I know he hasn't. He doesn't like to answer questions and his interest +in Mr. Winters' safe is rather puzzling. It seems to me that everyone at +Raven Ridge acts queerly." + +"Including me?" Penny teased. + +Rosanna laughed and squeezed her arm affectionately. "Of course I don't +mean you. You've been wonderful and I'll never never be able to repay you +for all you've done." + +"Nonsense, so far I've accomplished exactly nothing. But I have a feeling +that before another twenty-four hours elapse things are going to start +breaking for us." + +"I hope so," Rosanna sighed. + +Neither Max Laponi nor Caleb Eckert were in the living room when the +girls returned to the house. Alicia was reading a book by the fireplace +but at sight of Penny and Rosanna she coldly withdrew. + +"I'm glad she's gone," Penny smiled. "It clears the atmosphere." + +"Must we stay here tonight?" Rosanna asked. "Couldn't we go to a hotel +and come back in the morning? Since I know that Max Laponi----" + +She broke off as Penny shot her a warning glance. + +"Even the walls seem to have ears in this house, Rosanna. Come outside +and we'll do our planning there." + +They went out into the yard and sat down on a stone bench. + +"I know I'm a dreadful coward," Rosanna acknowledged. "Only I'm so afraid +something terrible is about to happen." + +"Now don't let your nerves get the best of you," Penny advised kindly. "I +shouldn't have shown you that revolver I found in Laponi's room. You +haven't been the same since." + +"It wasn't just the revolver. It's everything." + +Penny was silent for a moment. Then she said quietly: + +"I don't blame you for feeling the way you do. Perhaps we are taking a +chance to remain here tonight. I shouldn't do it only I feel that it will +give me an opportunity to clear up the mystery." + +"But if you suspect Max----" + +"I do suspect him of a great many things, but I'm not certain of his game +yet, Rosanna. Besides, I must have absolute proof before I dare notify +the police. Tonight I intend to watch the mouth of the tunnel." + +"I can't permit you to do it by yourself. If you insist on taking such a +chance I'll go with you!" + +Penny remonstrated but at length it was agreed that shortly after +nightfall the two would steal down to the lake's edge and lie in wait at +the mouth of the tunnel for the mysterious ghost to appear. + +For a long time the two girls sat staring out across the lake, each +absorbed with her own thoughts. What would the night bring forth? + +"I believe I'll walk down to Caleb Eckert's cabin and chat with him for a +few minutes," Penny remarked a little later as her companion arose from +the bench. "Want to come along?" + +"No, I think I'll go inside. The air is growing chilly and my sweater is +upstairs." + +"I'll be glad to wait for you." + +"If you don't mind, I believe I'll just rest. You go on alone." + +"You really don't mind?" + +"Of course not. But I doubt if you'll find Caleb at home. He usually goes +fishing about this time of day." + +"Well, I may as well see anyhow. I want to ask him about that picture of +Jacob Winters. I intend to keep annoying him until he gives me a +satisfactory answer." + +As Rosanna returned to the house, Penny walked swiftly in the direction +of the cabin. + +"I'm only wasting my time," she thought. "Caleb has no intention of ever +producing that photograph." + +Penny rapped on the door, noticing that it was partly ajar. There was no +response. She knocked a second time. + +Far out on the lake she could see a small rowboat with one lone +fisherman. No doubt it was Caleb, she decided. + +She started away from the cabin, then abruptly halted as she was struck +with a sudden thought. With Caleb out on the lake she would have an +excellent opportunity to search his shack for the photograph of Jacob +Winters. She felt convinced she would find it there. + +"Entering people's private quarters seems to be a bad habit of mine," she +chuckled. "Still, it's all in a good cause." + +Penny surveyed the lake again. The rowboat was nearly out of sight. + +After a moment of indecision, she pushed open the cabin door and entered. +Caleb had left everything in a clutter and she scarcely knew where to +begin her search. + +She looked in the desk and in several table drawers. She searched in the +magazine rack and even in the kitchen cupboard. She was growing +discouraged when she finally opened a closet and peered up at the high +shelves. Far above her head was a stack of old papers. + +Although Penny had given up hope of finding the picture, she brought a +chair and climbing up on it, took down the papers. + +As she lifted the stack, an object which had been lying on the shelf was +brushed to the floor. She bent down to pick it up. To her amazement and +delight it was a photograph. + +She stared in disbelief at the man's face and then turned the photo over +to read what had been written on the back. + +"_Jacob Winters._" + +"And Caleb told me he didn't know where he could get a photograph!" Penny +thought indignantly. "All the time he had this one hidden here on the +shelf. Why, I'm positive this picture came out of the album Rosanna and I +found. Very likely Caleb tore it out himself!" + +Hastily replacing the papers on the shelf, Penny tucked the photograph +into her pocket and prepared to leave the cabin. She was highly elated +over her discovery. + +"This will prove quite a valuable addition to my collection of evidence," +she chuckled. "No wonder Caleb was afraid to have me see it." + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + Mrs. Leeds' Strategy + + +Penny was highly jubilant as she walked rapidly toward the house on the +hill. The day had been an unusually successful one for her and with the +photograph of Jacob Winters in her possession she felt that it would only +be a matter of time until the mystery was solved. + +"But I must act quickly or it may be too late," she thought. + +Drawing near the house she saw Rosanna hurrying to meet her. Penny +quickened her step as she observed that the girl appeared greatly +agitated. + +"Oh, Penny," Rosanna gasped, "Mrs. Leeds has locked me out of the house!" + +"What?" + +"When I tried to get in after leaving you a few minutes ago she met me at +the front door. She said I couldn't come in because the house and +everything surrounding it belongs to her now." + +Penny laughed shortly. "She's been saying that ever since she came here." + +"I know, but this is different, Penny. She has the will to prove it." + +"The will?" + +"Yes, she showed it to me. And it's true. My uncle left all his property +to her." + +"And where did she claim to have found this document?" Penny asked. + +"Why, somewhere in the house. I was so upset I didn't think to inquire. +Now that I know Uncle Jacob left everything to her, I shall leave at +once." + +Penny caught Rosanna by the arm. "Don't be in too much of a hurry to get +away," she advised. "It may be that Mrs. Leeds' claims are false." + +"But I saw the will for myself." + +"Perhaps it was forged." + +"I never thought of that," Rosanna gasped. "Do you think she would resort +to such a trick?" + +"I believe she'd do almost anything to gain a fortune." + +Penny had been thinking swiftly. She recalled the secretive actions of +Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi when they were closeted together in the +library. They had been engrossed in writing a document of some sort. +Doubtless it was the will which Mrs. Leeds now claimed to have found. + +Penny's face puckered into a worried frown. Mrs. Leeds' unexpected action +might complicate the entire situation and ruin her own plans. She feared +too that the woman actually had destroyed Jacob Winters' true will. + +"She was burning it in the fireplace that day when I came upon her," +Penny thought. "That's why she feels so safe about forging another one in +her own favor." + +"What were you saying?" Rosanna inquired. + +Penny had not realized that she was speaking aloud. + +"Only thinking," she responded. "We'll go in and talk with Mrs. Leeds." + +"But we can't get in for she has locked all the doors. Our luggage is +sitting out on the porch." + +"Very considerate of her I must say," Penny grinned. "But we can get in +all right." She produced the key which she had found in Max Laponi's +room. + +"Weren't you smart to keep it!" Rosanna cried. + +"That remains to be seen. But come on, let's beard Mrs. Leeds in her +den." + +Penny boldly walked up to the front door. It was locked as Rosanna had +said, so inserting her key she opened it. + +As the girls entered, they heard Alicia calling shrilly to her mother and +an instant later Mrs. Leeds came storming into the hall. + +"What is the meaning of this outrage?" she demanded furiously. + +"That is what we should like to know," Penny retorted. "Why did you lock +us out?" + +"Because this is my house. Jacob Winters left everything to me and I have +the will to prove it." + +"May I ask where you found it?" Penny inquired. + +The question confused Mrs. Leeds. She began to stammer. + +"Why, I--that is, it's none of your affair, Miss Nichols!" + +"I disagree with you there. I am interested in seeing Rosanna treated +fairly. May I examine the will?" + +Mrs. Leeds hesitated and the girls thought that she would refuse the +request. However, the woman said: + +"I will permit you to read it if you promise not to destroy it." + +"Destroying wills isn't in my line," Penny returned pointedly. + +Mrs. Leeds tossed her head angrily. An expression of bitter hatred which +she made no attempt to hide, came into her eyes. She went to the living +room desk and from a pigeon hole removed a document which she offered +Penny. + +"There, read it for yourself." + +Penny inspected the will briefly. Since neither she nor Rosanna had ever +seen Jacob Winters' handwriting it was impossible to tell if the document +had been forged. + +To Rosanna's astonishment, she suddenly seemed to experience a change of +attitude regarding Mrs. Leeds' claim to the property. + +"I may have made a mistake," Penny acknowledged. "This paper seems to +give everything to you, Mrs. Leeds." + +"I am glad you are coming to your senses at last, Miss Nichols." + +"I suppose Rosanna and I may as well take our things and leave," she went +on. + +"Your luggage is ready," the woman said with satisfaction. "Alicia and I +packed for you." + +"Very thoughtful," Penny murmured ironically. "However, I think I'll just +run upstairs and see if anything was missed." + +"Why, yes, you may do that if you like." Now that she was assured of +victory, Mrs. Leeds felt that she could afford to make slight +concessions. + +No sooner had the bedroom door closed behind the two girls than Rosanna +faced Penny with a puzzled look. + +"Did you really think the will was genuine, Penny?" + +"No, of course not, but I decided that probably we could gain our ends +best by appearing to give in to Mrs. Leeds." + +As she spoke, Penny ran her hand under the pillow of the bed and brought +forth the revolver which she had taken from Max Laponi's room. + +"Penny, what do you intend to do with that weapon?" Rosanna demanded +anxiously. + +"Don't worry, I'm not planning on committing any murders. But it may come +in handy tonight." + +"You just told Mrs. Leeds that we would leave the house immediately," +Rosanna reminded her in bewilderment. + +"I know, but that doesn't mean we'll leave the grounds. We'll appear to +go away, but after dark we'll sneak back to the entrance of the tunnel." + +"To watch for the ghost?" + +"Yes, that's my plan. You'll not be afraid to go with me, will you?" + +"No," Rosanna returned quietly. "Only I can't see what good it will do +now. Mrs. Leeds definitely has the property and anything we learn about +the ghost can't alter the situation." + +"I'm not so sure of that," Penny smiled. + +She was so jubilant as they prepared to take their luggage and leave the +house that Mrs. Leeds regarded her slightly with suspicion. However, the +woman was reassured to see the girls drive away in their car. + +Rosanna and Penny dined early at Andover but the former ate little. +Although she made every effort to carry on a cheerful conversation it was +obvious to her companion that she was completely discouraged. + +"Cheer up," Penny advised optimistically. "I tell you everything will +come out right yet. Even if my own plan fails, there are still lawyers to +be hired. Mrs. Leeds can't take over the property legally until the court +approves." + +"She'll have things fixed up her way," Rosanna maintained gloomily. "I'll +have no money to hire a lawyer. I must try to find myself a job." + +"Father will help you get one if you need it." + +"I've accepted so many favors from you already," Rosanna protested. + +"You have not!" Penny cut in. "This trip to Raven Ridge has been sheer +fun for me. And unless I'm mistaken tonight will prove the most exciting +of all." + +"I'm afraid so," Rosanna shuddered. + +She glanced curiously at her companion. She could not understand Penny's +eagerness to return to the mouth of the tunnel. In her own opinion the +mysterious ghost was none other than Max Laponi and she had no desire to +encounter him again. + +"Do you still want to go through with the plan?" she inquired doubtfully. + +"I certainly do. I'd never feel satisfied if I left Raven Ridge without +solving the mystery. It's about time we start for the tunnel too." + +They left the restaurant, returning to Penny's car which had been parked +outside. + +"Probably our friend the ghost won't put in an appearance much before +midnight," Penny remarked as they drove slowly toward Raven Ridge, "but +it will be wise I think to allow ourselves plenty of time to find a good +hiding place." + +It had grown dark and the girls were pleased to note that heavy clouds +would hide the moon and stars. + +Some distance from the Winters' house they parked in a dense thicket near +the road. Before alighting, Penny removed a small package from the side +pocket of the car. + +"What's that?" Rosanna asked curiously. + +"Dynamite," Penny chuckled. + +"Dynamite!" + +"In the form of evidence. Unless I'm mistaken, this little package will +produce some startling results!" + +"You're talking in absolute riddles." + +"Just be patient and you'll soon know what I mean," Penny declared +teasingly. "I'd tell you now only it would ruin the surprise." + +She locked the automobile and afoot they quietly stole down a steep +winding trail which led to the entrance of the old mine. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + The Man in the Boat + + +Penny and Rosanna approached the mine entrance cautiously, fearing that +someone in the vicinity might observe their movements. However, the place +seemed deserted. + +"The rowboat is gone," Penny commented as she pulled aside a clump of +bushes to survey the spot where it had been hidden. + +"Why, it is! Perhaps the ghost has come and left." + +"I certainly hope not. That would ruin everything. Anyway, we'll wait and +see. It's early yet." + +After investigating the shore line thoroughly, they found an excellent +hiding place in a dense thicket not far from the entrance to the mine. +Then they settled themselves to wait. + +"What time is it?" Rosanna yawned. + +"Only a little after nine. We'll have a long siege of it." + +The night was cold and damp. Although both girls had worn sweaters they +soon grew uncomfortable and huddled close together for warmth. Rosanna +tried not to show her nervousness but even the screech of an owl startled +her. She was aware of every sound and any unusual movement caused her to +grow tense. + +"You'll be a wreck long before midnight," Penny declared. "We're armed +and there's nothing to fear." + +Rosanna made a supreme effort to relax but it was not until several hours +had elapsed that she began to grow accustomed to her surroundings. Penny, +on the other hand, found it difficult to remain awake. + +At first she riveted her attention upon the lake but as there was no +evidence of a boat, soon lost interest. For a time she watched the +twinkling lights at Raven Ridge but one by one they disappeared until the +old mansion on the hill was cloaked in darkness. + +"Now that the household has gone to bed our ghost should be starting in +on his night's work," she remarked hopefully to Rosanna. + +Another half hour dragged by. Still no one came. Even Rosanna found it +increasingly difficult to fight off drowsiness. + +"I don't believe the ghost is coming tonight," she declared. + +"It begins to look that way. But perhaps it's still too early. Surely it +can't be any more than midnight." + +"It seems later than that," Rosanna sighed. "My back is nearly broken." + +A few minutes later, from far over the hills, the girls heard the faint +chiming of a town clock. They counted twelve strokes. + +Minutes passed and still there was no sign of any visitor. At length, +Penny arose to stretch her cramped limbs. + +"I thought I heard something just then!" Rosanna whispered tensely. + +Penny stood listening. + +"You're right. I can hear oars dipping in and out of the water. It must +be a boat coming this way." + +Peering out through the bushes, the girls surveyed the lake. It was too +dark to distinguish objects but they distinctly could hear the rhythmical +splash made by the moving oars. + +"See anything?" Penny demanded. + +"Not yet--oh, yes, now I do. It is a boat, Penny." + +"And it's heading right for this spot! Let's creep a little closer to the +opening of the tunnel." + +Stealthily they changed positions but remained well hidden by a screen of +bushes. + +The boat by this time had drawn into the tiny cove. However, the night +was so dark that neither of the girls was able to distinguish the +features of the man who crouched in the stern. + +He beached the boat and carefully drew it up into the bushes. Next he +lighted a lantern, but his back was toward the girls and they did not see +his face. + +"Who can it be?" Rosanna whispered. + +Penny gripped her companion's hand as a warning to remain silent. + +The man with the lantern looked quickly about and then moved swiftly into +the mouth of the tunnel. + +"We must follow him," Penny urged. + +They waited a minute, then noiselessly stole from their hiding place. As +they peered into the dark mine tunnel they could see a moving light far +ahead. + +Fearing that they might lose sight of the man, the girls hastened their +steps. They did not walk as quietly as they imagined, for soon the man +ahead paused. + +With one accord Penny and Rosanna froze against the tunnel wall. + +As the man turned to look back, the light from the lantern shone full +upon his face. + +It was Caleb Eckert. + +Rosanna and Penny remained flat against the wall scarcely daring to +breathe. Would they be seen? + +Apparently satisfied that no one was behind him in the tunnel, Caleb +turned and walked slowly on. + +"That was a narrow escape," Penny whispered. "He nearly saw us." + +Rosanna was a trifle shaken. She had not expected to see Caleb Eckert. + +"I suspected it several days ago but I wasn't absolutely certain," Penny +told her. + +"But what purpose can he have in playing such pranks?" Rosanna asked in +bewilderment. "Caleb seemed rather nice even if he was gruff and +outspoken. I never dreamed he'd resort to anything like this." + +"Don't take it so hard," Penny advised. "He may have a reason for what he +is doing." + +The light had disappeared. The girls hurriedly moved on, fearing that +they might lose sight of the old man entirely. With nothing to guide them +it was difficult to find their way. + +"It's lucky we explored in the daytime or we'd have trouble following," +Rosanna declared. "The ground is so rough." + +Even as she spoke she stubbed her toe on a rock and would have fallen had +not Penny caught her by the arm. + +They came presently to the first flight of stairs and were relieved to +glimpse the lantern far above them. Taking care to keep out of range of +the beam, they followed through the narrower passage to the second flight +of steps. + +By this time the girls were positive that Caleb intended to enter the +house by means of the secret panel. At the risk of detection they drew a +little closer. + +Caleb paused at the head of the stairs to listen for a moment. Then he +blew out his lantern. + +Sensing that the old man would unlock the panel, Penny stole forward. She +was just in time to see a section of the wall drop down. Caleb passed +through the opening and with a click the panel closed behind him. + +"Now what shall we do?" Rosanna demanded. "We're locked in here the same +as we were before." + +"I think I saw the place where he pressed the wall," Penny whispered. "I +was watching closely." + +For several minutes she groped about in the dark. At last her fingers +touched a small knob. + +"I believe I've found it," she proclaimed triumphantly. + +As she was on the verge of turning the knob, she stayed her hand. With +Caleb in the organ room he would be certain to see the panel open. There +was danger too that he might return at any instant to find them crouching +at the head of the stairs. + +"Shouldn't we turn back?" Rosanna whispered nervously. + +"Let's wait until he begins to play the organ." + +They listened expectantly. Minutes passed but not a strain of music did +they hear. + +"That's queer," Penny murmured. "I'm sure Caleb is the one who has been +disturbing the household with his ghost music. Why doesn't he play as +he's always done before?" + +They both knew that the wall was not soundproof. For that matter they +could hear old Caleb walking about in the room. + +"He must be up to new tricks tonight," Penny whispered. + +"He'll be coming back here any minute. Let's get away before he catches +us." + +Penny was reluctant to leave, for it struck her that Caleb Eckert had +come to the Winters' house for a different purpose than that of his usual +nightly visit. She was curious to learn what it was. + +"Listen!" she warned, as they heard a strange noise from within. + +"It sounded like a door closing," Rosanna declared. + +"That's exactly what I think it was. Caleb must have gone out of the +room. We'll be safe in entering now." + +To make certain she listened for a few minutes but there was no sound of +movement from within. Convinced that the coast was clear, she groped +about for the knob which opened the panel. + +It turned in her hand. She heard a sharp metallic click, and almost +before she was prepared for it, the panel swung open. It closed again +before either of the girls could recover from their surprise. + +However, Penny turned the knob a second time and as the section of wall +swung back, both girls stepped through into the room. + +As they had expected, it was deserted. + +"Where do you suppose he went?" Rosanna murmured. + +They tiptoed to the outside door and softly opened it. The hall was dark. +At first they could distinguish nothing. Then Penny noticed that the door +opening upon the second floor corridor was ajar. + +"He went downstairs," she whispered. "Let's find out what he's up to." + +The stairs creaked alarmingly as they crept down to the second floor. On +the landing they hesitated an instant and were relieved to hear no +unusual sound. + +They peered into the long corridor and saw that it was empty. Caleb was +nowhere to be seen. + +"Perhaps he brought another bat for Mrs. Leeds' room," Rosanna suggested, +glancing toward the chamber which the woman shared with her daughter. + +The door, however, was tightly closed. The one at the other end of the +hall which opened into Max Laponi's room was slightly ajar. Rosanna and +Penny failed to notice. + +Somewhere on the lower floor a board creaked. The two girls moved +noiselessly to the stairway and looked down over the banister. + +Even Penny was unprepared for the sight which greeted her eyes. Caleb +Eckert was working at the dials of the living room safe! + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + A Daring Theft + + +Old Caleb had relighted his lantern and in its dim yellow glow the girls +could make out every detail of the center hall and living room. In +astonishment they watched the man spin the tiny dials of the safe. He +manipulated them with a speed and skill which was amazing. + +"Why, I do believe the scoundrel intends to steal Mr. Winters' +valuables," Rosanna whispered with growing anger. "We can't let him do +that." + +With one accord they tiptoed down the long spiral stairway to the center +hall. For a minute they were exposed to view but Caleb was so absorbed in +what he was doing that he did not even glance up. + +Hiding behind a heavy velvet curtain which partially screened the arched +door of the living room, the girls watched. + +Twice Caleb tried without success to open the safe. Although his +movements were deft and sure it was obvious that he had made some slight +mistake in the combination. Each time he failed he grew more impatient. +They could see his hand shake. + +"Drat it all!" they heard him mutter to himself. "That's the right +combination. It ought to open." + +At length the old man's efforts were rewarded. As he manipulated the +dials for the third time there was a significant click from within the +safe. + +Chuckling to himself, Caleb turned the handle and swung open the steel +door. + +Save for a long metal box, the safe was empty. In the act of reaching for +the container, Caleb suddenly wheeled. + +The girls were startled at the action for they had heard nothing. + +After looking searchingly about the room the old man apparently was +satisfied that he was alone. With an uneasy laugh he again turned his +attention to the safe. + +"Guess I'm getting a mite jittery," he muttered. "I was positive I heard +someone behind me just then." + +He thrust his hand into the safe and drew out the box. With fumbling +fingers he unfastened the lid. A smile illuminated his wrinkled face as +he regarded the contents. + +"Still here, safe and sound. I was a little afraid----" + +Without finishing, he lifted an object from the box and held it in the +light. It was a tiny figure made of purest ivory. + +Penny and Rosanna exchanged a swift glance. They knew now that the box +contained Jacob Winters' priceless collection of ivory pieces! + +After staring at the little figure for a minute Caleb carefully replaced +it and closed the box. He then locked the safe and returned the oil +painting to its former position on the wall. + +"Stop him now or it will be too late," Rosanna whispered tensely. + +Before Penny could act, there was a slight movement at the opposite end +of the living room. The girls were horrified to see a closet door slowly +open. + +Caleb's back was turned. Oblivious of danger he bent down to pick up his +lantern. + +From within the closet a man was regarding Caleb with cold intensity. He +held a revolver in his hand. + +Rosanna, terrified at the sight, would have cried out a warning, had not +Penny suddenly placed her hand over the girl's mouth. + +Max Laponi, a cynical, cruel smile upon his angular face, stepped out +into the living room, his revolver trained upon Caleb. + +"Much obliged to you for opening the safe, Mr. Eckert," he said coolly. +"You saved me the trouble." + +Caleb wheeled and instinctively thrust the metal box behind his back. The +gesture amused Laponi. He laughed harshly. + +"I guess you weren't quite as clever as you thought you were, Caleb! Hand +over the ivories and be quick about it." + +"You're nothing but a crook!" the old man cried furiously. + +"Hand over the ivories if you value your life." + +Instead of obeying the order, Caleb slowly retreated toward the door. Max +Laponi's eyes narrowed dangerously. + +"I don't want to shoot an old man but if you force me----" + +"Don't shoot," Caleb quavered. "I'll give up the ivory." + +"Good. Now you're acting sensibly. Drop the box on the table and raise +your hands above your head." + +Slowly, Caleb complied with the order. + +Laponi moved with cat-like tread across the floor and snatched up the +box. With his revolver still trained on the old man, he backed toward the +door. + +"Thank you for a very profitable evening," he smirked. "And when you +locate your friend Mr. Winters----" + +His words ended in a surprised gasp. Something had struck his right hand +a stunning blow. The weapon fell from his bruised fingers, clattering to +the floor. He felt a cold, hard object in the small of his back. + +"It's your turn now," said Penny Nichols. "I'll trouble you to hand over +the little box!" + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + The Tables Turn + + +Max Laponi whirled about and looked directly into the muzzle of Penny's +revolver. + +"Drop that box and put up your hands," she ordered crisply. + +Laponi gazed at her jeeringly. + +"The gun isn't loaded," he sneered. + +"You should know," Penny retorted. "It's your own revolver. I took it +from your room." + +The expression of the crook's face altered for he well remembered that +the weapon had been left in readiness for instant use. + +While keeping Laponi covered, Penny kicked the other revolver across the +floor in Caleb Eckert's direction. The old man hastily snatched it up. + +Laponi knew then that he did not have a chance. With a shrug of his +shoulders he admitted defeat. He dropped the metal box on the table. +Rosanna darted forward and snatched it up. + +"I might have known you'd be the one to ruin things," Laponi said +bitterly to Penny. "I was afraid of you from the first." + +"Thank you for the compliment," Penny smiled. "Kindly keep your hands up, +Mr. Laponi--if that's your true name." + +"He's nothing but an impostor," Caleb Eckert broke in angrily. "I knew +from the moment I set eyes on him that he was no relative of Jacob +Winters." + +"I can imagine that," Penny returned quietly. "But when explanations are +in order, I think you'll need to clear up a few points yourself." + +The old man looked confused. However, before he could answer, footsteps +were heard on the stairs. Mrs. Leeds, wrapped in her bath-robe, came +hurrying into the room. She had been disturbed by the sound of voices. + +"Penny Nichols!" she cried furiously. "What are you doing in my house?" + +Then she noticed the revolver and recoiled a step. + +"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded. "Mr. Laponi, has this girl +lost her senses?" + +"Apparently, she has," the man sneered. "She claims I came here to steal +that box while I was only trying to keep Caleb from making off with it." + +"Release Mr. Laponi at once," Mrs. Leeds ordered haughtily. She glared at +Caleb. "I always did distrust that man." + +"Our dislike was mutual," Caleb retorted. "You are a grasping, selfish +woman and your daughter is a chip of the old block!" + +"How dare you!" Mrs. Leeds choked in fury. "Get out of this house, you +meddlesome old man, or I'll have you arrested!" + +Penny was actually enjoying the scene but now she decided to put an end +to it. + +"This little farce has gone far enough," she announced, turning to Caleb. +"Tell them who you are, Mr. Eckert." + +The old man nodded. Eyeing Mrs. Leeds with keen satisfaction, he exploded +his bomb shell. + +"I am Jacob Winters!" + +Mrs. Leeds gasped in astonishment and even Max Laponi looked dazed. Of +the entire group only Rosanna appeared pleased. Yet she too recalled that +at times she had spoken with embarrassing frankness to the old man. + +"I don't believe it!" Mrs. Leeds snapped when she had recovered from the +first shock. "It's another one of your trumped up stories." + +"He has no proof," Max Laponi added. + +"If he hasn't, I have," Penny interposed. She took the small package from +her dress pocket, giving it to Rosanna to unwrap for her. + +"Why, it's a photograph!" the girl exclaimed. "It's of you, Mr. Eckert, +taken many years ago." + +"Look on the back," Penny directed. + +Rosanna turned the picture over and read the bold scrawl: + +"Jacob Winters--on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday." + +"That's all the proof I need," Rosanna cried, her eyes shining. "You are +my uncle, aren't you, Mr. Eckert? This isn't another of your jokes?" + +"No, it isn't a joke this time, Rosanna, although for a time it looked as +if the joke would be on me. And if it hadn't been for Penny Nichols this +scoundrel certainly would have made off with my ivory collection." + +"I didn't mean to pry into your private affairs," Penny apologized. "I +shouldn't have taken the photograph only I suspected the truth and needed +proof of it." + +"It's just as well that you did take matters into your own hands. I guess +I botched things up." + +The little package of evidence which Penny had produced contained not +only the photograph but the letter and key which she had found in Max +Laponi's room. + +Penny now directed attention to the signature appearing at the bottom of +the letter. + +"Compare it with the writing on the back of the photograph." + +"They're identical," Rosanna declared. + +"Then Caleb Eckert wrote those letters himself!" Mrs. Leeds cried +furiously. + +"Guilty," Caleb acknowledged with a grin. + +"You ought to be arrested!" Mrs. Leeds fairly screamed. "It was a cruel +joke to play. You led us all to believe that we had inherited a fortune." + +"Tell me, why did you write the letters?" Penny inquired. "That's one +thing I've not been able to figure out although I think I might make an +excellent guess." + +Caleb sank down in the nearest chair. + +"I may as well tell the entire story," he said. "Since my wife died some +years ago I have been a very lonely man. I longed for an agreeable +companion in my old age, someone who would enjoy traveling with me. My +friends were few for I had spent most of my time abroad. My only living +relatives were unknown to me. I felt ashamed because I had never looked +them up." + +"So you decided to become better acquainted," Penny prompted as Caleb +hesitated. + +"Yes, but I wanted to be liked for myself and not my fortune. I conceived +the plan of sending out letters inviting my relatives here. I thought I +would subject them to a series of tests and all the while I could be +studying their characters." + +"An insane plan!" Mrs. Leeds interposed. + +"The idea didn't work the way I expected," Caleb continued ruefully. "I +sent out four letters but two of them were returned unopened as the +individuals to whom they were addressed were no longer living. However, +as you know, three persons came to Raven Ridge claiming to have received +one of the communications." + +"Max Laponi must have found the letter and key which Rosanna lost," Penny +declared. "He was the impostor." + +"You have it all figured out very nicely," the crook sneered. + +"I suspected right off that he was the one," Caleb went on with his +story. "I knew I had no relative answering to his name." + +"Why didn't you send him away at once?" Rosanna questioned. + +"I couldn't very well do that without exposing my hand. If I admitted my +identity then my little plan would be ruined." + +"You were caught in an awkward position," Penny smiled. + +"It kept getting worse all the time. I soon suspected that Laponi was +nothing less than a crook. When I discovered that he knew the ivory +collection was in the house I decided to remove it from the safe." + +"That was the day I came upon you when you were trying to open it," Penny +recalled. + +"Yes, but Laponi was prowling about the house and it was my bad luck that +he happened in upon me at exactly the wrong time. Of course he guessed +instantly that the ivories were locked in the safe. + +"After that, I decided to get rid of him at any cost. I had a talk with +him but even threats did no good." + +"Why didn't you call in the police?" Penny asked. "Surely they would have +provided you with protection." + +"I thought I would make one more effort to get the ivories from the safe. +Then if I failed I intended to admit my identity and send for help. I +might have done it sooner only the police commissioner and I once had a +little trouble--nothing serious. It was an argument over a tract of land. +Still, I knew he'd enjoy making me look ridiculous if ever he learned +what I had done." + +"Your pride very nearly cost you a fortune," Penny commented. She +directed her gaze upon Max Laponi as she questioned: "How did you learn +that Mr. Winters kept the ivory collection in this house?" + +"That's for you to find out," the man jeered. "You'll have a hard time +proving anything against me." + +"This letter will be evidence enough," Penny retorted. "It's a plain case +of forgery with intent to defraud. And then there's the matter of the +will." + +"The will wasn't forged," Mrs. Leeds cut in although Penny had not made +such a claim. + +"There never was a will," Caleb informed. + +Mrs. Leeds stared at him. "What of the document I found in the drawer of +the desk?" she demanded. + +"You mean the one you discovered in the _locked_ drawer," Caleb corrected +with a chuckle. "The one that was made out in Rosanna's favor. That was +just another of my little jokes. If you had examined the will closely you +would have noticed that the signature was never witnessed. It was a +fake." + +"That was the document which I saw you burn in the fireplace," Penny +accused. + +Mrs. Leeds flushed angrily. She realized that she had trapped herself. + +"By the way, how do you explain the will made out in your favor?" Penny +probed maliciously. + +Mrs. Leeds turned her gaze upon Laponi for an instant. Then she said +glibly: + +"I found the will just as I said." + +"You didn't find one made out in your favor," Caleb contradicted. +"Because I never wrote such a document." + +"Let's take a look at it," Penny suggested. "Where is the will, Mrs. +Leeds?" + +"I don't know what became of it. I misplaced it." + +"You're afraid to produce it," Penny challenged. + +Rosanna had been looking through the desk. She now triumphantly brought +to light the paper which Mrs. Leeds had claimed to be Jacob Winters' last +will and testament. + +"I never wrote a line of it," Caleb declared as he examined the document. +"It's a forgery." + +"Forgery is a serious offense, Mrs. Leeds," Penny remarked significantly. + +"I didn't do it!" the woman cried nervously. + +"I expect we'll have to send you to jail along with Laponi here," Caleb +cackled. + +Mrs. Leeds did not realize that he was only baiting her. She began to +tremble with fright. + +"Don't send me to jail," she pleaded. "I'll tell everything." + +"Hold your tongue," Laponi cut in sharply. + +Mrs. Leeds whirled upon him. + +"You say that because you want me to take all the blame! Well, I won't do +it. You forged that will yourself." + +"At your suggestion, Mrs. Leeds." + +"It wasn't my suggestion. I'd never have considered such a thing if you +hadn't put the idea into my head." + +"You burned the first will which you believed to be genuine." + +"Perhaps I did. But I never forged anything in my life." + +"That was because you were afraid you'd be caught," Laponi sneered. "You +wanted someone else to take the rap for you." + +"You tricked me," Mrs. Leeds accused. "If I had known you intended to rob +Mr. Winters of his ivories I should have had nothing to do with you." + +"I suppose you thought it wasn't robbery when you decided to cheat +Rosanna Winters out of her inheritance?" + +"She had no inheritance." + +"But you thought she did. No, Mrs. Leeds you paid me well to forge the +will in your favor. You're involved every bit as deeply as I." + +Mrs. Leeds collapsed into a chair and burying her face in her hands began +to sob. + +Penny felt a little sorry for her, realizing that at heart the woman was +not a criminal. She had been goaded on by an overpowering ambition to +improve her social position by gaining Jacob Winters' fortune. + +"We may as well call the police," Penny said after a slight hesitation. +She had noticed that Laponi was casting cunning glances about the room +and guessed that he was hoping for an opportunity to escape. + +Mrs. Leeds sprang to her feet. She darted over to Jacob Winters, grasping +him by the arm. + +"Oh, please, please don't have me arrested. I didn't mean to do wrong. +For the sake of my daughter let me go free. After all, we are relatives." + +"Unfortunately, we are," he agreed. Turning to Rosanna, he said quietly: +"It is for you to decide, my dear." + +"Let her go free," Rosanna urged instantly. + +"I think that is best," he nodded. "But as far as Max Laponi is concerned +we can't get him to the lock-up soon enough to please me." + +"If you'll guard him I'll telephone for the police," Penny offered. + +Leaving the old man with both revolvers she went into an adjoining room +to place the call. + +No sooner had she disappeared than Max Laponi saw his opportunity to +escape. For an instant Jacob Winters' attention wavered. + +That instant was enough for Laponi. Seizing the metal box which Rosanna +had replaced upon the table, he darted out through the doorway. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + A Break for Freedom + + +Max Laponi bolted across the center hall, flinging open the outside door. +He looked directly into the face of Christopher Nichols. + +"Hello, what's the big hurry?" the detective demanded, grasping him +firmly by the arm. + +Laponi tried to jerk free but he was no match for the detective. + +By this time Penny and the others had come streaming into the hall. + +"Don't let him get away!" Penny cried. + +As the crook struggled to escape, Mr. Nichols slipped a pair of handcuffs +over the man's wrists. Recovering the metal box he handed it to his +daughter. + +"Dad, how did you get here?" she asked eagerly. + +The detective did not hear for he was regarding Laponi with keen +interest. + +"Well, well, if it isn't my old friend Leo Corley. Or possibly you have a +new alias by this time." + +"He calls himself Max Laponi," Penny informed. "Is he a known criminal?" + +"Very well known, Penny. He's wanted in three states for forgery, +blackmail and robbery. His latest escapade was to steal a diamond ring +from the Bresham Department Store." + +"Then you did get my wire?" Penny cried. + +"Yes, that's what brought me here. After I received it I got busy right +off and with the information you furnished it was easy to look up this +man's record. The police have been after him for months." + +"You didn't waste any time coming here," Penny smiled. + +"I was afraid you girls might be in more danger than you realized. Max +here isn't such a nice companion. By the way what's in the box?" + +Penny opened it to reveal Mr. Winters' fine collection of ivory. The +detective whistled in awe. + +"That would have been a nice haul, Max," he said. "Too bad we had to +spoil your little game." + +"If it hadn't been for that kid of yours I'd have gotten away with it," +the crook growled. "I was dumb not to suspect she was the daughter of a +detective." + +"You may as well cough up the diamond ring," Mr. Nichols advised. "It +will save an unpleasant search." + +With a shrug of his shoulders, Laponi took the gem from an inner pocket +and gave it to the detective. + +"When do we start for the station?" he asked. "We may as well get going." + +"I've already called the police," Penny told her father. + +"Then we won't have long to wait." He shoved Laponi toward a chair. "May +as well make yourself comfortable until the wagon gets here." + +"Your kindness overwhelms me," the crook returned with exaggerated +politeness. + +"How did you get wind that Mr. Winters' ivories were kept in the house?" +the detective inquired curiously. + +Although the crook had refused to answer the same questions a few minutes +before, he was now willing to talk, knowing that his last chance for +escape had been cut off. + +"I read an item in the paper some months ago," he confessed. "It was a +little news story to the effect that Jacob Winters had recently purchased +several new pieces for his collection and that he intended to build +special exhibit cases in his house as a means of displaying them. I +clipped the item and forgot about it. + +"Then one day I chanced to pick up a letter which someone had dropped. It +contained a key to this house. I decided it was too good an opportunity +to miss. Posing as Jacob Winters' nephew I came here to look over the +situation." + +"I never had a nephew," Mr. Winters declared. + +"That was the first mistake I made. The second was in underestimating the +ability of Penny Nichols. I thought she was only a school girl." + +Penny smiled broadly as she inquired: "Didn't you enter into an agreement +with Mrs. Leeds to defraud Rosanna?" + +"I forged the will for her if that's what you mean. I wasn't interested +in getting any of the money myself." + +"That was because you knew it couldn't be done," the detective +interposed. "You considered the ivory collection more profitable." + +"Of course you forged the letter stating that Jacob Winters had been +buried at sea," Penny mentioned. + +With a nod of his head, the man acknowledged the charge. It was +Christopher Nichols' turn to ask a question. Penny's letters had +mentioned the mysterious mansion ghost and he was deeply interested in +the subject. + +"I suppose you were the ghost, Max?" + +Jacob Winters answered for him. + +"I was the ghost. It was part of my joke to frighten the occupants of +this house. Not a very good joke, I'll admit." + +"And you were the one who put bats in my room," Mrs. Leeds accused. + +"Yes, and a garter snake in your bed which you never found." + +"Oh!" + +"Of course, Mr. Eckert, your ghostly pranks included playing the organ," +Penny smiled. "I suspected it when I learned Jacob Winters had been a +talented musician." + +"I built the pipe organ into the house before my wife died," Mr. Winters +explained. "I haven't used it a great deal in recent years." + +"You haven't told us about the tunnel," Rosanna reminded him. "How did +you happen to construct it?" + +"I didn't. The lower branch of the passage was an old mine tunnel. The +mine closed down forty years or so ago. The upper passage which connects +with the house was built by my grandfather. This house, you know, has +been in the Winters' family for generations. And I hope, upon my death, +that it will pass on to another by the same name." + +He looked significantly at Rosanna as he spoke. + +Before the conversation could be continued, the police car drove up to +the door. Max Laponi was loaded in and taken away. Mr. Nichols went with +the police, promising to return to the Winters' house as soon as he +could. + +After the commotion had subsided, Jacob Winters turned severely to Mrs. +Leeds. + +"As for you, madam, kindly pack your things and leave this house at once. +I never want to see you again." + +"But it isn't even daylight yet. Alicia, poor child, is sleeping----" + +"Wake her up. I'll give you just an hour to get out of the house." + +"You're a hard, cruel, old man!" Mrs. Leeds cried bitterly, but she +hurried up the stairs to obey his command. + +After the woman had disappeared, Rosanna picked up her sweater which she +had dropped on a chair. She turned toward the door. + +"Hold on there," Jacob called. "Where are you going?" + +"I was just leaving. You told Mrs. Leeds----" + +"Well, you're not Mrs. Leeds, are you?" the old man snapped. "If you're +willing, I want you to stay here." + +"You mean--indefinitely?" + +"Yes, if you think you could stand to live with me. I'm cross and I like +things done my own way, but if you could put up with me----" + +"If I could put up with you!" Rosanna ran to him and flung her arms about +him. "Why, I think you're a darling! I was afraid to tell you so for fear +you'd believe I was after your money." + +"Money! Fiddlesticks!" Jacob sniffed. He wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm +going to try to make up to you for all that you've missed." + +The two had a great deal to say to each other, but presently they +remembered Penny. She had been watching the little scene with eager +delight. + +"I'll never be able to thank you," Rosanna declared happily. "You're +responsible for everything, Penny." + +"I wish you'd permit me to reward you in a substantial way," Mr. Winters +added. + +Penny smilingly shook her head. "It was fun coming here to Raven Ridge. +But it would ruin everything if I accepted pay for it." + +"At least you'll stay a few days longer," Mr. Winters urged. + +"If Father will agree to it." + +When Mr. Nichols returned from police headquarters another pleasant +surprise was in store for Penny. + +"It looks as if you've won the reward which the Bresham Store offered for +the capture of Laponi," he told her. "Five hundred dollars." + +"Don't turn it down," Rosanna urged. + +"I won't," Penny laughed. "In fact, I know just how I'll use that money +when I get it." + +"How?" her father inquired. + +"I'll buy myself a new car." + +"I thought perhaps you'd use it to go into business in competition with +me," he teased. + +"Some day I'll solve a mystery which will be so big and important that +you'll not be able to twit me about it," Penny announced. + +"I wasn't really teasing, my dear. I think you did a fine bit of work +this time and I'm proud of you." + +"Honestly?" + +"Honestly," Mr. Nichols repeated, smiling broadly. "And I predict that +you're only starting on this career of crime detection which you find so +very thrilling." + +"I wish I could be sure of that," Penny sighed. + +With all her heart she longed for another adventure as exciting as the +one she had experienced. Although she had no way of knowing what the +future held, she was destined soon to have her wish gratified. In the +third volume of the Penny Nichols' series, entitled, "The Secret of the +Black Imp," she encounters a mystery more baffling than any she has +previously solved. + +After Mrs. Leeds and her daughter left the house, the others took Mr. +Nichols for a tour of the secret passageway. Jacob Winters explained in +detail how the panel operated and entertained them by playing several +selections on the pipe organ. + +"I love music," Rosanna remarked wistfully. "I've never even had an +opportunity to learn to play the piano." + +"You'll have it now," he assured her. + +Mr. Nichols remained during the day but late in the afternoon he was +forced to start for home as his work had been neglected. He was very +willing, however, that Penny should remain as long as she wished at the +old mansion. + +The days were all too short for the two girls who enjoyed rambling +through the woods, rowing and swimming in the lake, and exploring every +nook and cranny of the interesting old house. But at length the time came +when Penny too was obliged to depart. + +"Come back and see us often, won't you?" Rosanna urged as they parted. + +"Whenever I can," Penny promised. "I've had a glorious time." + +She drove away, but at the bend in the road halted the car to glance +back. The house, cloaked in the shadows of evening, looked nearly as +mysterious as upon the occasion of her first visit. However, to her it +would never again have a fearful aspect. + +Jacob Winters and his niece stood framed in the doorway. They waved. + +Penny returned the salute. Then regretfully she turned her back upon +Raven Ridge and drove slowly down the mountain road which led home. + + M. W. + + THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the +Lost Key, by Joan Clark + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PENNY NICHOLS--MYSTERY OF LOST KEY *** + +***** This file should be named 34369-8.txt or 34369-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/6/34369/ + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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