The Wishing Well

by Mildred A. Wirt

  CHAPTER 22 _THE MISSING NECKLACE_

  Penny tried to quiet the old lady by assuring her that the pearl necklacemust be somewhere in the house.

  "No--no, it is gone," Mrs. Marborough insisted. "A thief entered thehouse during the night. The shock of it brought on this attack."

  Spent by the effort required to speak, the widow closed her eyes, andrelaxed. Thinking that she had gone to sleep, Penny left the bedside fora moment. A quick glance assured her that the kitchen window was open,and far more alarming, the screen had been neatly cut from its frame. Anempty China teapot stood on the kitchen table.

  "It must be true!" Penny thought with a sinking heart. "The pearls havebeen stolen, and the shock of it nearly killed Mrs. Marborough! But whocould have known that she had the necklace here in the house?"

  Louise and Rhoda were beyond suspicion, and for a moment she could thinkof no others who had knowledge of the pearls. Then, with a start, it cameto her that the story had been told the previous night at the Breens.

  "Ted knew about it and he was interested!" she thought. "But I can'tbelieve he would do such a contemptible thing--even if he did once steala chicken."

  Penny's unhappy reflections were broken by the arrival of Rhoda withDoctor Hamilton. For the next half hour the girls were kept more thanbusy carrying out his instructions.

  "Mrs. Marborough, in a way you have been very fortunate," the doctor saidas he finally prepared to leave the house. "Your attack has been a lightone and with proper care you should be on your feet again within a weekor two. I'll arrange to have you taken to the hospital at once."

  The widow tried to raise up in bed. "I won't go!" she announced."Hospitals cost money--more than I have to spend."

  "It won't cost you anything, Mrs. Marborough. I'll arrange everything."

  "I refuse to be a charity patient," the widow declared defiantly. "I'lldie first! Go away and take your pills with you!"

  "Then if you refuse hospital care, I must arrange for a nurse."

  "I can't afford that either," the old lady snapped. "Just go away andI'll get along by myself. I'm feeling better. If I could only have a cupof tea--"

  "I'll make it for you," Rhoda offered eagerly.

  Penny signaled to the doctor, indicating that she wished him to followher into another room. Once beyond the hearing of the old lady, sheoutlined a plan.

  "Mrs. Marborough likes Rhoda very much," she said to the doctor. "I thinkshe might be perfectly satisfied to be looked after by her."

  "The girl seems sensible and efficient," Doctor Hamilton replied. "Butwould she be willing to stay?"

  "I think she might for she has no home of her own."

  Relieved to have the problem solved so easily, the doctor declared thatthe plan could be tried for a few days at least.

  "I'll drop in again late tonight," he promised, picking up his bag.

  Consulted by Penny, Rhoda said at once that she would be happy indeed toremain with Mrs. Marborough as long as her services were required. Thewidow too seemed pleased by the arrangement.

  "It's very good of you," she murmured to Rhoda. "I can't pay you though.Not unless my pearls are recovered."

  "Your pearls?" the girl echoed in astonishment.

  Penny drew her friend aside, explaining what had occurred. Rhoda wasshocked to learn that the necklace had been stolen.

  "How dreadful!" she gasped. "Who could have taken the pearls?"

  Apparently it did not occur to her that her own brother Ted might beregarded with suspicion. Penny was much too kind to drop such a hint, andkept her thoughts strictly to herself.

  However, later in the day, with Mrs. Marborough's permission, she made afull report of the theft to local police. An officer visited Rose Acres,but aside from establishing exactly how the house had been entered,obtained few useful clues. Questioned at considerable length, Pennydisclosed that so far as she knew only Louise Sidell, the trailer campfamily, Ted, Rhoda and herself had known that the pearls were in themansion.

  "We'll keep that Breen family under surveillance," the officer promised."I'll let you know if anything develops."

  Another problem immediately confronted Penny. An inspection of thecupboards of the Marborough home had revealed that there was barelyenough food to last a day.

  "Buy whatever you need," the widow instructed. "You'll find money in thetop bureau drawer."

  By diligent search, the girls found four dollars and twenty-four centswhich they felt certain was all the money the old lady possessed.

  "Why, the medicines Doctor Hamilton ordered will take almost this much!"Penny said in dismay. "Something must be done."

  Both girls respected Mrs. Marborough's desire for secrecy, but they knewit would not be possible to help her and, at the same time, prevent thetownspeople from learning of her dire poverty. Deeply troubled, Pennyplaced the problem in Mrs. Weems' hands.

  "Why, that poor woman!" the housekeeper explained. "To think that she issick and hasn't the things that she needs. I'll send a basket of food atonce. I am sure many people will be eager to help."

  Mrs. Weems busied herself at the telephone, and within a few hours, allmanner of useful gifts began to arrive at Rose Acres. Neighbors came tohelp Rhoda with the housework and to care for the widow.

  As was inevitable, the entire story of Mrs. Marborough's poverty,including the loss of the pearl necklace, circulated throughoutRiverview. Since there no longer was any excuse for secrecy, Pennydisclosed to members of the Pilgrimage Committee what had become of theold lady's furniture and why she had refused to open her house duringFestival Week. To her delight, a fund immediately was raised for thepurpose of re-purchasing the valuable antiques. Mr. Butterworth, pleasedto cooperate, agreed to sell the furniture for exactly the price he hadpaid.

  The days drifted slowly along. Under Rhoda's faithful care, Mrs.Marborough soon was able to sit up in a wheel chair. Much subdued sincethe heart attack, she had little to say even when a moving van arrivedwith her household furnishings. But one afternoon while Penny wasinserting new candles in the glass candelabrum she so much admired, theold lady watched her from her chair by the window.

  "You and Rhoda have fixed the house up so nicely," she said. "You've beenvery kind to me, and so have all the folks in Riverview."

  "You have a great many friends, Mrs. Marborough," Penny replied, smiling."You never gave them a chance to show it before."

  "Perhaps I have been unfriendly," the widow acknowledged. "I didn't meanto be. Now that I'd like to show my appreciation, there's no way to doit. If only the police would get busy and find the rascal who stole mynecklace--"

  Penny did not reply immediately, for she could think of nothingencouraging to say. She and Rhoda both believed that the thief who hadtaken the pearls never would be apprehended.

  "Mrs. Marborough," she said at length, "there is a way you could show thepeople of Riverview how you feel--but I'm sure you wouldn't care to doit."

  "By opening my home for the Pilgrimage?" the widow asked, smiling.

  "That's what I had in mind, but of course--"

  "When is the Festival?" Mrs. Marborough broke in. "I've lost track oftime since I've been sick."

  "It starts day after tomorrow." Penny drew a deep sigh. "I'm afraid theFestival may be a failure, for not half enough tickets have been sold."

  "Would it help to include this house in the Pilgrimage?"

  "It would save the Festival!" cried Penny. "You're not well enough to gothrough with it, though!"

  "Fiddlesticks!" Mrs. Marborough snapped, her spirits reviving. "I'd likenothing better than a big party. What pleasure is it sitting in a wheelchair staring at a cracked wall? Now you go ahead and plan it just theway you like."

  With time so short, Penny flew into action. She contacted members of theFestival Committee and immediately a new publicity campaign was launched.It was announced that Rose Acres would be included in the Pilgrimage andthat a grand
costume ball at the mansion would be open to the public.

  "The affair is certain to be a success," Penny told her fatherenthusiastically. "I wish though that the Indian Show wasn't playingRiverview at the same time. By the way, have you made any furtherprogress in proving that Jay Franklin's record stones are fakes?"

  "Not very much," Mr. Parker ruefully admitted. "A report came back onthat tool you picked up at Truman Crocker's shack."

  "What was the verdict, Dad?"

  "Professor Anjus, the expert who examined the chisel, says he believesthe stones could have been marked with it."

  "Then Truman Crocker may be the guilty person!"

  "It's not at all certain. In all events, I still hold to my originaltheory that the hoax was planned by Bill McJavins of the Indian Show."

  "I certainly hope Mr. Franklin fails in trying to sell the stones to themuseum."

  "So do I," agreed the editor. "Unfortunately, unless I dig up evidencevery quickly, the transaction will take place."

  Penny did not give a great deal of thought to the affair of the recordstones for Mrs. Marborough's illness had centered her interest at RoseAcres. In truth, she was far more concerned about the missing pearls. Thepolice had made no progress in tracing the necklace and held scant hopethe thief would be captured.

  As for Ted Wiegand, Penny was unable to make up her mind whether or nothe was the guilty person. Although he still worked for Judge Harlan, sheseldom saw him. Occasionally, reports of his progress were given to herby Rhoda.

  "Ted isn't provoked at me any more," she assured Penny. "He's beginningto think as I do that Mr. Coaten has been up to something crooked. I knowfor a fact that he gave Mrs. Breen money to force me out of the family."

  "Are those two men still in town?" Penny asked thoughtfully.

  Rhoda nodded. "They've been here to see me twice. Mrs. Marborough sentthem away the last time. She dislikes them both because they once camehere to ask if they could rent rooms."

  "That must have been the night I overheard them talking at the wishingwell," Penny returned.

  She remained silent a moment, thinking. Suddenly, she glanced up, hereyes dancing. "Rhoda, I have an idea!"

  "What is it, Penny?"

  "It might not work, but if it should, we'd learn why Mr. Coaten is soeager to adopt you and Ted."

  "Tell me what you have in mind."

  "It's like this, Rhoda! If we could induce Mr. Coaten and his friend tocome to Rose Acres on the night of the costume ball, I know how theymight be made to talk!"

  "Strong arm methods?" Rhoda asked, slightly amused.

  "Indeed not! The old wishing well will turn the trick."

  "You certainly have me puzzled, Penny."

  "Getting those men here will be the most difficult," Penny went on,thinking aloud. "But I can sell them a ticket to the ball. Failing that,I'll give them one free."

  "There's still no guarantee they would come."

  "I know how we can make sure of it! Rhoda, you can write Mr. Coaten anote, asking him to meet you here at ten o'clock. The ball will be infull sway by that time. If you hint you've decided to sign the adoptionpapers, he's certain to come."

  "And then how will I get out of it?"

  "Leave that part to me," Penny chuckled. "We'll get Mr. Coaten here, andyou're to talk with him beside the wishing well."

  "Why in that particular place?"

  "I can't tell you now," Penny said, smiling mysteriously. "Just accept myword for it that it's of utmost importance. As soon as you get the men atthe wishing well, make an excuse and run into the house, leaving themtogether."

  "And then what?" Rhoda asked, completely bewildered.

  "From that point the old well and I will take over!" Penny laughed. "Ican't tell you another thing. But if my scheme works--and I think itwill--Mr. Coaten's little game will be exposed in a most dramatic way!"