Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER V The Lost Key

  Penny turned quickly toward the window. She saw nothing save the raintrickling 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. Aman in oilskins confronted her. His face was half hidden by the felt hatwhich he wore low over his eyes.

  "What do you want?" Penny asked nervously.

  Without answering, the man stepped into the room. Under the electriclight he did not look as terrifying as he had at first glance. Penny sawwhen he swept off his dripping hat that he was an elderly man althoughspry for his years. She felt slightly reassured.

  "I came to find out what you mean by entering Mr. Winters' house whenhe's away?" the man demanded curtly. "Don't stand there staring like ablind owl! Answer."

  Rosanna had completely lost her power of speech, so Penny tried toexplain the situation. She told how they had been caught by the storm andmentioned Rosanna's key and letter which gave her right to investigatethe property.

  "So you're old Jacob Winters' niece?" the man questioned gruffly, peeringintently at Rosanna. "At least that's what you say."

  "Of course he's my uncle, although I never saw him," Rosanna defended. "Ican 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 newcomeranswered a few questions of his own. "Are you the caretaker of thishouse?"

  "Yes, and no. I'm a neighbor of Mr. Winters and he asked me to keep aneye on his house while he was away. I saw the light in the windows andcame 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 lastweek. Mailed from some place down in Africa. Let me see that letter youclaim to have."

  Rosanna opened her pocketbook and searched for it. A troubled look cameover her face. She was certain she had placed both the letter and the keyin 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. Youremember the letter don't you, Penny?"

  "Of course. You had it in your pocketbook the last time I saw it. We'retelling you the absolute truth Mr.----"

  "Caleb Eckert," he supplied. "If you didn't have a key how did you getinto 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 ifshe were speaking the truth. Rosanna, who by this time had emptied herpurse out upon the table, was growing more upset every minute.

  "Oh, let's leave this house, Penny," she burst out. "I've lost the letterand the key and so we've no right to be here at all. I didn't mean totrespass. I wish we'd never have come at all. That letter has caused meso 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'mconcerned 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 bethat 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 splatteredwindows.

  "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," Rosannaprotested weakly.

  "You're his niece, aren't you?" Caleb demanded. "Jacob Winters wouldn'tturn anyone out in a storm, much less one of his own kin folks. Have youhad supper?"

  The girls admitted that they had not had any food since lunch time. Calebled 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," hedeclared.

  The girls thanked him for his trouble. Rosanna timidly ventured a fewquestions concerning her uncle.

  "Did you never see him?" Caleb asked.

  "No, once I wrote him a letter but he never answered. I've heard UncleJacob was very eccentric."

  "Some might call him that. He liked to live alone and mind his ownbusiness which is more than most folks do. He traveled a lot too. I guesshe must have visited every country in the world." He added slyly: "IfJacob _is_ dead, you'll come into possession of some valuable things."

  "I hope that nothing has happened to him," Rosanna said sincerely. "Idon'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 myletter."

  "You counted a lot on the inheritance, didn't you?" Caleb questionedshrewdly.

  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 toanother. But even if I don't come into the inheritance, I'll be glad thatmy uncle is still alive."

  "I don't know that he is," Caleb Eckert said hastily. "He was alive whenhe sent that postcard from Africa. Since then we've had no word from himhere at Raven Ridge."

  While the girls prepared food for themselves, Caleb sat by the kitchenstove watching. He showed them how to start a fire in the range but wouldnot partake of supper when it was cooked.

  "Had mine four hours ago. I'll show you where you can sleep and begetting on home."

  "Do you live near here?" Penny asked curiously.

  "Not far. If the rain would let up you could see my cabin through thedining room window. It's perched on the edge of the cliff, overlookingLake Chippewa."

  Rosanna remarked that the scenery around Raven Ridge must be beautiful.

  "'Tis," Caleb agreed enthusiastically. "You'll have to walk down to thelake 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 turnedback the coverlet of the bed and found that it was equipped with cleansheets 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 toleave. 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 queernoises 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 insuch stories myself. I just thought I'd warn you."

  And before the girls could recover from their astonishment, he firmlyclosed the door, disappearing into the rain.