Penny Nichols and the Knob Hill Mystery

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER IV

  Inside Information

  "The garage may be slow in towing the car into town," replied Mr.Nichols. "I've noticed that things don't move at lightning speedaround Kendon."

  "I suppose that could be the reason," Penny admitted reluctantly. "Butwouldn't you think that Walter Crocker would want to find out how muchdamage had been done to his car before he left?"

  "Oh, he may have so much money that it doesn't matter."

  "I doubt that, Dad. You remember he told us he was coming here toclaim an inheritance. After meeting old Herman I'd guess that hedidn't get it. Would you think----"

  "I'm not thinking at all these days," chuckled Mr. Nichols. "I'vepadlocked my brain for two weeks. Please, Penny, don't try to stir upimaginary cases for me to solve."

  Penny made no reply, for just then they came within view of an oldfarmhouse which answered the description provided by Herman Crocker. Atin mailbox by the roadside bore the name Anna Masterbrook.

  "This is the right place," Mr. Nichols declared.

  They went up the front walk, observing that it had been swept thatmorning. The porch was freshly scrubbed, too, and clean curtains hungin the windows.

  "Mrs. Masterbrook must be a good housekeeper," the detective said. "Ithink we'll employ her if her price is right."

  He rapped on the door. After a moment it was opened by a tall,gaunt-looking woman of middle age. Her black hair had been drawn backtightly from her face, accentuating the high cheek bones.

  "Mrs. Masterbrook?" inquired the detective, lifting his hat.

  "That's my name," said the woman. Her voice was high pitched andunpleasant. "If you're selling anything----"

  "I am not a salesman," Mr. Nichols assured her. "Mr. Crocker sent usto you. I understand that you do cleaning work."

  "I worked for Herman Crocker seven years," the woman said. "Preciouslittle pay or thanks I ever got for it too!"

  "We are staying in his cottage," Penny explained. "Mr. Crocker said wewere to have you clean it up for us, and he would pay the bill."

  "How do I know he'll keep his promise?"

  "Does Mr. Crocker usually break his word?" asked the detective.

  "Well, he's close," Mrs. Masterbrook replied. "A dollar looks as bigas a mountain to Herman."

  "If Mr. Crocker fails to settle the bill, I'll look after it myself,"Mr. Nichols promised. "And another thing. Would you be willing totake a position as housekeeper for a couple of weeks?"

  "What would it pay?" Mrs. Masterbrook demanded quickly.

  "Well, I might let you name your price."

  "Five dollars a week," the woman said firmly after a moment of thought."I wouldn't come for a cent less."

  Penny and Mr. Nichols glanced at each other. They had expected Mrs.Masterbrook to ask double the amount.

  "You are hired, Mrs. Masterbrook," said the detective gently.

  Penny and her father went back to the car to wait while the womancollected a few things to take with her.

  "I think we've found a jewel, Penny," the detective declaredenthusiastically. "If I'm any judge of character, she's a goodhousekeeper."

  "And if I'm a judge of it, she's a chronic grumbler and a gossip,"replied Penny. "But we're only paying five dollars, so we can't be tooparticular."

  Mrs. Masterbrook soon came down the walk with a small handbag. Shecrowded into the front seat of the car and even before they were wellon their way to Kendon, began to question her new employer. She askedhis name, his business, where he was from, why he had come to Kendonand how long he meant to stay.

  Penny glanced impishly at her father, who was growing slightly annoyed.She had warned him that Mrs. Masterbrook would prove to be a gossip.

  "I met Mr. Crocker's grandson this morning," she remarked, hoping toswitch the conversation to a less personal topic. "He seems like afine lad."

  "Yes, but it's a shame the way Herman brings him up," replied Mrs.Masterbrook, shaking her head sadly. "Perry has never had muchschooling and he's kept at home all the time."

  "I should think the school authorities would see that the boy attendedclasses," remarked Mr. Nichols.

  "They don't like to cross Herman," Mrs. Masterbrook explained. "Atleast that's how I figure it."

  "Mr. Crocker doesn't actually mistreat the boy?" Penny questioned.

  "Herman couldn't be very good to anyone even if he tried. Perry washis daughter Ella's son, and I guess old Herman thought more of Ellathan he did of any other member of his family. When she died he tookthe boy to raise."

  "I judge his own wife isn't living," remarked Mr. Nichols.

  "No, poor Ida went to her rest come twelve years ago this fall. Folkssaid she wouldn't have taken down with pneumonia if Herman had givenher enough to eat."

  Neither Penny nor her father encouraged Mrs. Masterbrook to talk, butall the way to the cottage she chattered about first one person andthen another. With no effort on her part, Penny gathered many items ofinteresting information concerning Herman Crocker.

  "Folks around here call him a miser," the woman revealed. "When hissister Jenny died, she left quite a tidy little fortune. Some peopledon't think Herman ever inherited very much of it, but I could tell 'ema few things about that matter if I were minded to do it."

  "I'm sorry," interrupted Mr. Nichols, "but the Crocker family isn't ofgreat interest to us. Suppose we forget about it."

  "I thought you wanted to hear," retorted Mrs. Masterbrook indignantly.She subsided into hurt silence.

  Penny felt sorry that her father had discouraged the woman fromtalking. Although she did not approve of idle gossip, she had beeneager to learn more about Herman Crocker and his queer relatives. Shewondered too if Mrs. Masterbrook could tell her anything about Mr.Crocker's nephew, Walter.

  Penny and her father left the housekeeper at the cottage and then droveback to the village for supplies.

  "I'm afraid I made a great mistake in hiring her," confessed thedetective. "She'll talk us crazy."

  "At least you must admit it's interesting to have all the insideinformation about our landlord."

  "I'm not concerned in Crocker's affairs," Mr. Nichols rejoined."Anyway, I'd not believe a word that woman said about him. Obviously,she bears a grudge."

  Penny and her father made their purchases in one of the grocery stores,finding the owner a pleasant, genial individual. During the course ofthe conversation he remarked upon the automobile accident which hadoccurred the previous night.

  "It's a funny thing about it," he said. "The owner of the cardisappeared and no one seems to know the driver."

  "Why, my daughter and I brought him to town last night," declared Mr.Nichols quickly. "He was Herman Crocker's nephew, or so he told us."

  "You don't say! Well, that's the first time I ever heard that Hermanhad a living nephew. Shall I carry these packages out to the car foryou?"

  "Yes, please," requested the detective.

  The storekeeper deposited the grocery order in the automobile and thenwent back into his shop.

  "Dad, Mr. Crocker asked me not to tell anyone about his nephew's havingbeen here," Penny said as they started up Knob Hill.

  "Well, I didn't make any such promise," replied her father. "I can'tsee why there should be any mystery about it. Anyway, it will befairly easy for the police to learn the man's name by tracing thelicense plates of his abandoned car."

  "Yes, that's true," Penny agreed. "I can't for the life of meunderstand why Walter Crocker would go back to the city without tryingto salvage his car."

  "I'd not worry about it too much," smiled the detective. "For all weknow he may have left orders at one of the garages to have it hauled inand repaired."

  Upon arriving at their cottage, Mr. Nichols and Penny were pleasantlysurprised to find Mrs. Masterbrook hard at work. She had cleaned upall the rooms, and she came out to the car to help carry in thegroceries.

  "The electric company man was here while you were gone," she told Mr.Nichols.
"The lights are on now."

  "Fine," replied the detective. "And how about our supply of wood?"

  "Herman sent over enough for today and to-morrow. He said he'd getbusy and cut more. But I'd not count on it. Herman is as lazy as allget out."

  Mr. Nichols laughed and told the housekeeper that he and Penny weregoing for a little walk before lunch.

  "It will be ready at one o'clock sharp," Mrs. Masterbrook warned. "Ihope you'll be back on time, because I don't like to keep victualswaiting."

  "We'll be here," promised the detective. When he and Penny were beyondhearing, he added: "I'm afraid we made a big mistake in hiring thatwoman. I can see right now that she means to be the boss of the show."

  "Oh, well, if the weather is nice we can stay away from the cottagemost of the time," laughed Penny.

  After exploring the ravine, they went back to the cottage to find thatluncheon was nearly ready. In justice to Mrs. Masterbrook, thedetective admitted that the meal was excellent. She had made biscuits,cake, and gravy, besides preparing the usual vegetables and meat.

  However, without being requested to do so, the housekeeper seatedherself at the head of the table. Penny and her father had assumedthat she would take her meals alone, but neither of them had thecourage to make the suggestion. They were a little afraid of thewoman's sharp tongue.

  Conversation was difficult in Mrs. Masterbrook's presence. Penny andMr. Nichols did not wish to say anything of a personal nature lest thehousekeeper repeat it to her acquaintances. Mrs. Masterbrook talkedenough for everyone. She prattled on about the gossip of the townuntil Penny and her father were thoroughly bored. They were relievedwhen the meal was over.

  "I believe I'll drive back to town this afternoon," the detectiveannounced. "I want to buy a newspaper, and I'll order a telephoneinstalled."

  "I thought you were eager to lose contact with the world," laughedPenny.

  "To a certain extent--yes," replied Mr. Nichols. "Bui I also like tokeep informed."

  "You don't need to worry about that part," chuckled Penny. "Mrs.Masterbrook will see to it that you're up to date on all the news."

  "She'll probably appropriate the telephone too," said the detectiveruefully. "But I think I'll put one in anyway. Coming with me, Penny?"

  "No, I'd rather stay here, Dad. I thought I'd write a letter to Susan."

  After her father had driven away, Penny unpacked her suitcase. Thenshe carried her writing materials to a pleasant nook not far from theravine, finding a flat rock which served as a desk.

  The letter was soon finished. Penny sealed it and then sat for a longtime gazing at the distant trees which were waving gently in the breeze.

  "It's nice here," she thought dreamily, "but rather dull. I wish Susancould visit me. Together we might stir up a little excitement."

  After a while Penny dozed off. When she awoke she gathered up herwriting things and walked back to the house. She chanced to be wearingtennis shoes and so made very little noise as she entered.

  Penny had no intention of trying to spy upon Mrs. Masterbrook. Infact, she had forgotten all about the housekeeper as she made her waytoward her own bedroom.

  The kitchen and living rooms were in order but quite deserted. Thesignificance of this did not dawn upon Penny.

  Then she came to the doorway of her father's bedroom. She might havepassed it without a glance had she not heard a startled cry.

  "Oh, I didn't hear you come in!" muttered Mrs. Masterbrook in confusion.

  The woman had been caught in the act of examining letters and paperscontained in Mr. Nichols' suitcase. She straightened up quickly, adeep flush spreading over her cheeks.

  "Mrs. Masterbrook!" said Penny sternly. "Kindly explain the meaning ofthis! Why are you prying into my father's private papers?"