“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.”