“How long will it be before you’ll have a final report, Dad?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I expected to get it long before this.”
In the flurry of preparing for the camp dedication, Penny had no opportunity to give much thought to other affairs. She did not see Seth McGuire, the sheriff had nothing to disclose concerning Clem Davis’disappearance, and the Black Hoods seemed to have become an extinct organization.
On the morning of the designated date, Penny was abroad early. She and Louise planned to drive to the dedication exercises together, and wished to arrive before the grounds were congested. Eating breakfast hurriedly, Penny scarcely noticed when her father was called to the telephone. He absented himself from the dining room nearly fifteen minutes. As he returned to the table, Penny pushed back her chair, ready to leave.
“Well, I’ll see you at the camp grounds, Dad,” she said lightly.
“I don’t know what to do about the dedication,” responded Mr. Parker in a sober tone. “By rights there should be none.”
Penny stared at him.
“I’ve just heard from my lawyers,” Mr. Parker explained.
“Then, there is a flaw in the title as you suspected!”
“Decidedly. It’s a very mixed-up mess, and as yet we’re not sure what it may mean.”
“Tell me about it, Dad,” Penny pleaded, sliding back into her chair.
“Benjamin Bowman—whoever he may be—doesn’t own the camp property.”
“Then in whose name is it?”
“The property doesn’t belong to anyone.”
“Why, how ridiculous!” Penny exclaimed. “Doesn’t every piece of land in the world belong to someone?”
“Actually the heirs of Rosanna and Joseph Schulta own this particular property. But there are no heirs.”
“What you say doesn’t make sense to me, Dad.”
“The whole affair is very involved,” Mr. Parker explained. “In tracing back the history of the land, my lawyers found that originally it was owned by Rosanna and Joseph Schulta, an elderly couple, who had no known relatives. They sailed for Germany more than fifty years ago. The ship sank, and presumably they were lost. Their land was never claimed, and somehow the state overlooked the case.”
“But I thought the property had changed hands many times in recent years!”
“Only theoretically. All those records have been falsified.”
“By whom, Dad? Ben Bowman?”
“My lawyers are inclined to think Blake may be at the bottom of it. He is a very shrewd real estate man, and in examining records at the court house, he may have learned about this floating property.”
“Then he deliberately tried to cheat the Camp Fund board!”
“It looks that way. Neither Ben Bowman nor anyone else owns the property. Had you not noticed his name on the abstract, it’s unlikely the fraud would have been uncovered for quite a few years to come.”
“What will you do, Dad?” Penny inquired, deeply distressed. “The dedication is scheduled to start within an hour.”
“I don’t see how it can be postponed,” Mr. Parker said soberly. “It will have to go on according to schedule.”
“Afterwards you’ll ask for Blake’s arrest?”
“There’s no real evidence against him.”
“No evidence!”
“He claims to be a mere agent of Ben Bowman. All of the deeds and legal papers were drawn up by some other person. If any accusation is made against him, he can escape by maintaining that he knew nothing of the back records.”
“There’s one person who might be able to implicate him!” Penny exclaimed. “Ben Bowman!”
“Bowman should have it in his power to clear up some of the mystery,” Mr. Parker agreed. “But how are we to find him?”
“I don’t know,” Penny admitted. “It looks rather hopeless unless the police just present him to us wrapped in pink ribbon.”
The clock struck nine. Daring not to linger any longer, Penny hastily bade her father goodbye and left the house.
Driving to the camp site with Louise Sidell, she told her chum of the latest complications.
“Mr. Blake is one of the worst hypocrites in the world,” she declared feelingly. “He pretends he wants to help the orphans, and all the while he intends to trick the Board and make a nice profit for himself.”
“Your father won’t let him get away with it,” Louise returned confidently. “So long as the money hasn’t been paid over there’s no need to worry.”
Arriving at the camp site, the girls went at once to the official tent. To their surprise, Mr. Blake, Mrs. Van Cleve, and all members of the Board save Mr. Parker, were there. On the table lay various legal papers which bore signatures still moist with ink.
Penny gazed from one person to another, slowly comprehending the scene.
“You’re not buying this property!” she exclaimed in protest.
Mrs. Van Cleve’s reply stunned her.
“It seemed unreasonable to keep Mr. Blake waiting,” the woman said quietly. “The transaction has just been completed.”
CHAPTER 18
ADELLE’S ACCUSATION
“Oh, Mrs. Van Cleve! You’ve been cheated!”
The signing of the papers had taken Penny so by surprise that she did not weigh her words before speaking. Too late, she realized that her father never would approve of revealing the facts in such blunt fashion. However, having said so much, she was determined to go on.
“My dear, what do you mean?” inquired Mrs. Van Cleve, troubled by the unexpected accusation.
“Any money paid for this land will be lost! My father has just learned—”
“I resent such loose talk!” Mr. Blake broke in irritably. “Mr. Bowman, whom I represent, has taken a substantial loss on the property.”
“And who is Ben Bowman?” Penny challenged. “You can’t produce him, nor prove that he owns the land. The title is faulty. Neither you nor Ben Bowman has any right to sell it!”
“This isn’t true?” Mrs. Van Cleve asked the real estate man.
“Certainly not! You may be sure that if there is the slightest flaw in the title, I shall return your cheque.”
“Perhaps, considering the uncertainty, it might be wise to postpone payment until I have talked again with Mr. Parker,” Mrs. Van Cleve said diffidently.
The real estate man made no attempt to hide his annoyance. “My dear Mrs. Van Cleve,” he said, “the deal already has been completed. I have tried to remain patient, but really this is too much.”
On the table lay several typewritten papers. Clipped neatly to the uppermost one, was the cheque endorsed by Mrs. Van Cleve. Mr. Blake reached to take possession of it, but his move was deliberate. Acting impulsively, Penny darted forward and seized the bit of paper. To the horror of everyone in the tent, she tore the cheque into a dozen pieces and tossed them into the air.
“There!” she announced, a trifle stunned by her own act.
“Penelope, you shouldn’t have done that,” Mrs. Van Cleve reproved, but she smiled faintly.
“You are an outrageous child!” Mr. Blake exclaimed, losing his temper. “What do you expect to accomplish by such a stupid trick? Mrs. Van Cleve will merely write out another cheque.”
“Well, under the circumstance, it might be better to wait,” the club woman demurred. “I really shouldn’t have acted without consulting Mr. Parker.”
“Unless the transaction is completed now I shall have nothing to do with the dedication,” Mr. Blake declared. “I shall decline to make my speech.”
Penny’s broad grin made it clear that she thought the loss would not be a great one.
“Furthermore, I shall ask that my recent donation be returned,” Mr. Blake resumed severely. “I shall withdraw this property for sale—”
“You will withdraw it!” Penny caught him up. “I thought you merely were acting as the agent for Benjamin Bowman!”
“I mean I shall make such a suggestion t
o him,” the real estate man amended.
Penny waited anxiously for Mrs. Van Cleve’s decision. To her relief, the society woman seemed annoyed by the attitude Mr. Blake had taken.
“I am sorry,” she said coldly. “If you don’t wish to make the dedication speech, we will manage to do without your services. As for the cheque, I cannot make out another until I have discussed the situation with Mr. Parker.”
The argument went on, but Penny did not remain to hear it. Louise took her forcibly by the arm, fairly pulling her outside the tent.
“Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” she demanded disapprovingly. “Such a mess as everything is in now!”
“I don’t care,” Penny replied. “I saved the Camp Fund money. Mrs. Van Cleve was glad I tore up the cheque too! She just didn’t dare say so.”
“There will be no dedication. What will everyone think?”
Disconsolately, Louise gazed toward the area which had been roped off for cars. Although it was half an hour before the formal program was to start, hundreds of persons had arrived. On a platform, built especially for the occasion, an orchestra played spritely selections. There were picnic tables and a stone fireplace for outdoor cooking.
As the girls wandered slowly toward the river, a bus loaded with orphans arrived from the Riverview Home. With shrieks of laughter, the children swarmed over the grounds, taking possession of swings, sand pile, and slides.
“It seems a pity,” Louise remarked again.
By ten o’clock the grounds were jammed with visitors. Penny knew that her father must have arrived for the exercises, but although she searched everywhere, she could not find him. In roving about, she did meet Mr. Blake, who pretended not to see her.
How matters had been arranged, the girls did not know. However, promptly at ten-thirty, the dedication exercises began, exactly as scheduled. Mr. Blake occupied the platform with other members of the board, and at the proper time made a brief and rather curt speech.
“Everything seems to have turned out rather well,”Louise remarked in relief. “Mr. Blake may not be such a bad sort after all.”
“Don’t you believe it,” Penny returned. “He’s just clever enough never to put himself in a bad light if he can help it. I only hope Mrs. Van Cleve didn’t give in to him and sign another cheque.”
Following the dedication exercises, a portion of the crowd dispersed, but many persons remained to enjoy picnic lunches. Penny and Louise ate their own sandwiches, and then watched the orphans at play.
“The new camp director seems very efficient,”Louise remarked, her gaze upon a young man who supervised the children.
Presently, as the girls watched, the camp supervisor announced that he would take several boys and girls for a sail on the river. The boat, a twelve-foot dinghy, had been the gift of a well-to-do Riverview department store owner.
Immediately there was a great clamor from the children, for everyone wanted to take the first ride.
“Only six may go,” the director said, and called off the names.
Penny and Louise wandered down to the water’s edge to watch the loading of the boat. Adelle had been one of the orphans chosen, and they waved reassuringly to her.
The camp director shoved off, and quickly raised the sail. There were squeals of delight from the children as it filled, causing the craft to heel over slightly.
“The breeze is quite uncertain today,” Penny remarked anxiously. “I hope that young man knows what he is about.”
The boat sailed a diagonal course across the river, turned, and came back on another tack. Then as the breeze died, it seemed to make no progress at all. Losing interest, Penny and Louise started to walk on down the shore.
Scarcely had they turned away than they were startled to hear screams from the river. Whirling around, they saw that the camp director was in serious trouble. A sudden puff of wind had caught the boat when it did not have steerage way. Unable to drive ahead, it slowly tilted sideways.
“It’s going over!” Louise screamed.
Already Penny had kicked off her shoes. Without waiting for the inevitable result, she plunged into the river. When her head emerged from the water, she saw the boat on its side. Two children were clinging to it, the camp director was frantically trying to support two others, while another girl and boy struggled wildly to keep from sinking.
Swimming as rapidly as she could, Penny reached the overturned boat. Her first act was to help the camp director who was being strangled by the two children who clung to him. Drawing the trio to the craft, she then seized a struggling boy by the hair, and pulled him to safety.
“Adelle!” the camp director gasped. “Get her!”
The little girl had been carried a considerable distance from the boat. Penny started to swim toward her, but she saw that it would not be necessary. From the forest close by had emerged an unshaven man in rough, soiled clothing. Diving into the water, he seized Adelle, and swam with her to shore.
Penny did not return to the overturned boat for several men had waded out to tow it to land. Concerned regarding Adelle, she followed the child’s rescuer.
The man bore the orphan in his arms to a grassy spot on shore. Stretching her out there, he hesitated an instant, and then before the crowd could surround him, darted quickly away toward the woods.
“Wait!” Penny shouted, wading through the shallow water.
The man heard, but paid no heed. He entered the forest and was lost to view.
“That was Clem Davis!” Penny thought tensely. “I’m sure of it!”
Before she could reach Adelle, other persons had gathered around the child. Clyde Blake pushed through the crowd.
“What is this?” he inquired. “What has happened?”
As the man bent over Adelle, the little girl opened her eyes, gazing directly into his face. For a moment she stared at him in a bewildered way. Then, struggling to a sitting position, she pointed an accusing finger.
“You are the one!” she whispered shakily. “You’re the man whose car killed my Mother and Daddy!”
CHAPTER 19
TRAILING A FUGITIVE
Adelle’s accusation brought a murmur of consternation and shocked surprise from the crowd. Mr. Blake, however, seemed undisturbed. Dropping on his knees, he supported Adelle and wrapped his coat about her trembling shoulders.
“There, there, my poor child,” he said soothingly. “You are quite upset, and for good reason.”
“Don’t touch me,” Adelle shivered, cringing away. “You’re mean and cruel!”
By this time, Miss Anderson and other officials of the Riverview Home had reached the scene. Somewhat sternly they tried to silence the child.
“She doesn’t know what she is saying,” Miss Anderson apologized to Mr. Blake. “Adelle has been very nervous since she was in an automobile accident.”
“I quite understand,” the real estate man responded. “The child must have a change of clothing, and no doubt, medical care. May I send her to the Home in my car?”
“Why, that is very kind of you, I am sure,” Miss Anderson said gratefully.
With every appearance of concern, Mr. Blake picked Adelle up in his arms and carried her away. Penny was kept busy helping bundle up the other children who had been rescued from the water. None the worse for the misadventure, they too were taken to Mr. Blake’s car.
“Here, put on my coat before you freeze,” Louise said anxiously to Penny after the automobile had sped away. “We must start home at once.”
“I don’t want to go now!” Penny protested. “Did you notice that man who pulled Adelle from the water?”
“He looked like a tramp. I wonder what made him run away?”
“Lou, I think that man was Clem Davis. By rights I should tell the sheriff, but I can’t bring myself to do it—not after the way he saved Adelle.”
“Never mind all that now,” Louise said, forcing Penny toward the car. “You must go home and change your wet clothes.”
“But I w
ant to find Clem Davis and talk with him!”
“That will have to wait. You’re going home!”Taking her chum firmly by the arm, Louise pushed her into the car.
At the Parker home, Penny changed her clothes, discussing the day’s events as she dried her hair. Adelle’s accusation had not escaped her, and she had taken it more seriously than did others in the crowd.
“Perhaps that child knew what she was talking about!” she declared to Louise. “Blake’s car may have been the one which killed her parents!”
“Oh, Penny, you’re so hopelessly prejudiced against the man,” her chum replied.
“Maybe I am, but Adelle is the only person who can identify the hit-run motorist.”
“Even so, you know she probably is not a reliable witness.”
“I’ll grant that her accident today may have upset her emotionally,” Penny conceded. “After she recovers, I’m curious to learn what she’ll have to say.”
The hour was so late that the girls did not return to the camp site. Louise soon went to her own home and Penny was left alone. She restlessly wandered about, polished the car, and fretted because neither her father nor Mrs. Weems came home. At length, for want of another occupation, she motored to the Riverview Home on the pretext of inquiring about the condition of the children rescued from the water.
“They’re doing just fine,” Miss Anderson assured her. “That is, all except Adelle. The child is very upset.”
“Has she said anything more about Mr. Blake?”Penny inquired.
“She doesn’t know his name, but she keeps insisting he was the man whose car killed her parents. I never was so mortified in my life as when she made the accusation. Fortunately, Mr. Blake did not take offense.”
Penny was eager to talk with Adelle, and Miss Anderson said that she might do so for a few minutes. The little girl had been put to bed but seemed quite content as she played with a new doll.
“Mr. McGuire sent me this,” she said, holding it up for Penny to see. “I’ve named her Imogene.”
Miss Anderson was called to the telephone. During the young woman’s absence, Penny discreetly questioned Adelle about the motor accident in which her parents had lost their lives. She was worried lest the child be upset again, but to her relief Adelle answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels Page 64
