The Girl Detective Megapack: 25 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls

by Mildred A. Wirt

  “I suppose you think I was trying to steal,” Laponi began after a minute of dead silence. “Nothing was further from my intention.”

  “No?”

  “Ever since I caught Caleb Eckert trying to break into this safe I’ve been worried. Last night I saw him prowling around the house after dark and it made me uneasy. I was afraid he would make another attempt to steal Mr. Winters’ valuables.”

  “So you thought you would just beat him to it!” Penny retorted sarcastically.

  “Certainly not. When you entered the room I was merely inspecting the safe to make certain that it was securely locked.”

  Penny could not refrain from smiling. She did not believe a word of what Max Laponi was telling her.

  “That safe seems to be the real attraction of this house,” she remarked. “I’ve suspected for some time that it contains Mr. Winters’ ivory collection.”

  If Max Laponi were taken aback he did not disclose it. But he eyed Penny shrewdly.

  “You’re a smart little girl. Too smart to go around making trouble for yourself. Now if you’re wise you’ll team up with me and I’ll promise you that you’ll come out at the top of the heap.”

  “Just what is your proposition?” Penny asked quickly.

  Max Laponi was too alert to place himself in any trap.

  “If you’re willing to follow my orders I’ll promise you that when I come into my fortune you’ll be well paid.”

  “And what are your orders?”

  “I’ll tell you after you give me your promise.”

  Penny regarded him coldly.

  “I’ll promise nothing, Mr. Laponi, except that I intend to see justice done to Rosanna Winters! You and Mrs. Leeds are trying to cheat her out of her rightful inheritance.”

  “She’ll never get a cent. If you had an ounce of sense you’d ditch her and come in with us. It’s all fixed—”

  “Fixed!” Penny tripped him. “And by ‘us’ I imagine you mean Mrs. Leeds. You’re both hatching some scheme to defraud Rosanna.”

  Laponi smiled impudently.

  “Well, don’t say I didn’t give you your choice, Miss Nichols. It is your decision to have no share in the spoils?”

  “It is.”

  Laponi’s face darkened slightly. “As you wish, Miss Nichols. But let me give you a little warning. Keep your nose out of my affairs or it will be the worse for you!”

  He turned and walked from the room. A minute later Penny saw him leave the house by the side door.

  “If he thinks he can frighten me with a threat he has another guess coming!” she thought indignantly. “For two cents I’d call in the police.”

  Upon second consideration she decided that such a move would not be wise. After all she had no real evidence against Laponi. While she was convinced in her own mind that his motives were dishonest the police might take a more conservative attitude. Then too, she would be forced to offer a satisfactory explanation for her own presence in the house.

  “Laponi is after something more valuable than a will,” Penny mused as she stood at the window watching his car vanish down the driveway.

  Her eye wandered to the oil painting on the wall. She felt certain that the safe which was screened beneath it guarded Mr. Winters’ collection of ivory. And from the expression of Laponi’s face when she had mentioned her belief, she was sure that he shared the same conviction.

  “He practically admitted he was involved in some scheme to defraud Rosanna,” she thought. “I can’t help feeling he’s a crook even if he is a relative of Mr. Winters. I wish I dared search his room for evidence!”

  The more she considered the idea, the greater became its appeal. Probably Laponi would not return to the house for at least an hour. She would have ample time. Still, the undertaking would be a risky one and not at all to her liking.

  “I suppose a professional detective wouldn’t feel squeamish about entering another person’s room if the case demanded it,” she encouraged herself. “Laponi practically admitted his guilt—that was because he thought I couldn’t do anything about it. Maybe I’ll show him!”

  By this time Penny’s mind was made up. Quietly she stole up the stairway. In the upper corridor she paused to listen for a minute. Everything was still.

  Penny tiptoed down the hall to Max Laponi’s room. She tried the door. It was locked.

  “That’s funny,” she thought. “He must keep something inside that he’s afraid to have folks see.”

  She was more eager than before to search the room. But with the key gone it seemed out of the question. Then Penny’s face lighted as she recalled the empty bedroom adjoining the one occupied by Laponi. It was possible that they might have a connecting door.

  Looking carefully about to make certain that she was not under observation, she moved on down the hall and tried the next door. To her delight it opened. She entered the dusty chamber, gazing quickly about. She was disappointed to see that the two bedrooms had no connecting door.

  However, when she walked to the window and raised it, she noted a wide ledge which ran the length of the building.

  “If only I dared lower myself to it I could reach Max Laponi’s room, for the ledge is only a few feet below from his window!” she reasoned.

  Penny decided that the chance was worth taking. She naturally was athletic and had confidence that she could maintain a foothold. Lowering herself to the ledge she flattened herself to the wall of the house and moved an inch at a time toward the next window. It was a long fall to the ground. Penny did not dare glance downward. Although the distance between the two windows was not more than twelve feet it seemed an age until her hands clutched the sill.

  As she pried at the window a sudden fear assailed her. What if it too were locked?

  The window had only stuck a little. A quick jerk brought it up. By sheer strength of muscle, Penny raised herself to the level of the sill, swinging her feet through the opening.

  “I must work fast,” she told herself, glancing appraisingly about. “I’d not care to be caught here.”

  Her attention was drawn to Max Laponi’s open suitcase which had been left carelessly on the bed. Crossing over to it she began to explore the contents systematically.

  “My hunch about Laponi may have been wrong,” she thought uncomfortably as the search revealed nothing of interest.

  Just then her hand touched something hard and cold. Penny knew instantly that it was a revolver. She was not afraid of firearms for her father had taught her to shoot. Carefully she inspected the weapon.

  “All this heavy artillery must have been brought here for a purpose,” she reflected grimly. “It’s clear Laponi is out to get what he wants by one means or another.”

  After an instant’s hesitation Penny placed the revolver on the table. She had decided to take it with her when she left.

  “Things in this house are fast approaching a crisis,” she reasoned. “Before I get through I may need that weapon myself.”

  Save for an inner pocket in the suitcase, Penny had completed her inspection. She ran her hand into the cloth pouch and brought to light several papers. Rapidly she went through them.

  Suddenly she uttered a cry of delight. She had discovered the letter which Max Laponi claimed had been sent him by the same lawyer who had notified Rosanna of her newly inherited fortune.

  Although Laponi, upon his arrival at Raven Ridge, had flourished the document, he had permitted no one to inspect it closely.

  Now as Penny read the letter carefully she recalled that the wording was identical with the message which Rosanna had received. Closely she studied the salutation, holding the paper to the light.

  “I believe the name has been changed!” she exclaimed. “Max Laponi has cleverly removed Rosanna’s name and substituted his own. This must be the letter which Rosanna lost!”

  It occurred to her that the man doubtlessly had found the missing key as well. She again ran her hand into the cloth pocket and triumphantly brought it forth.
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br />   “He’s nothing but a rank impostor!” she told herself. “I’ll keep this letter as evidence against him and the key will come in handy too!”

  Penny hastily rearranged the suitcase as she had found it and prepared to depart. The search had well repaid her for her efforts, but it had taken longer than she had intended.

  However, as she crossed the room toward the window she noticed a number of small objects spread out over the dresser and could not resist pausing to inspect them. They held her interest only briefly.

  She turned away again but as she moved off a button on her sleeve caught in the lace work of the runner which covered the dresser top. It pulled awry and Penny paused to straighten it.

  As she rearranged the piece, her fingers touched a small hard object on the under side. Her curiosity aroused she turned back the runner and looked beneath it.

  There lay a diamond ring.

  “A diamond!” she exclaimed. “As big as a house too. It’s evidently been hidden here by Max Laponi!”

  She picked it up and examined it, reflecting that somewhere she had seen a similar piece of jewelry. She was certain the diamond was not an imitation for it sparkled brightly. However, she had no opportunity to give it more than a hasty glance for she was startled to hear footsteps coming down the hall.

  “Max Laponi may be coming back,” she thought nervously.

  Leaving the diamond ring where she had discovered it she hastily rearranged the dresser cover. With her newly acquired evidence, she darted to the window and lowered herself to the outside ledge.

  CHAPTER XV

  Penny’s Evidence

  The bedroom door opened and Max Laponi entered.

  Penny Nichols had lowered herself to the narrow ledge not an instant too soon. There had been no time to pull the window down after her.

  As she heard the man walk across the room she huddled fearfully against the wall, feeling certain that he would notice the open window immediately. Her position was a precarious one. She dared not move lest even a slight sound betray her to the man inside. On the other hand, it was doubtful how long she could remain where she was without losing her footing. She knew that if she once glanced downward her courage would fail her.

  Penny could hear Laponi muttering to himself.

  “I thought I left that window down,” she heard him say. “If anyone has been in here—”

  He crossed to the bed and ran his hand under the pillow. Penny peeped through the window just as he removed a shiny object.

  “Another revolver!” she gasped. “That’s one I missed.”

  The sight of the weapon seemed to reassure Laponi for he appeared relieved. He next crossed over to the bureau and searched for the diamond ring. Penny was very glad that she had not touched it.

  “I guess everything is the same as I left it,” the man muttered to himself. “Still, I’d have sworn I left that window down.”

  As Penny huddled flat against the wall, he moved over toward it. She held her breath, waiting. Would he look out? If he did, then all was lost.

  Laponi stood for some minutes at the open window, seemingly absorbed in his thoughts. Then he abruptly slammed it down and turned away.

  “That was a narrow escape!” Penny congratulated herself. “If I ever get out of this mess I’ll take care not to get myself into another position like it!”

  She cautiously crept along the ledge until at last she was able to stretch out her hand and grasp the sill of the next window. After pulling herself through she quietly closed it behind her. Then she tiptoed to the bedroom door and looked out. No one was in sight.

  Carefully secreting the articles which she had taken from Laponi’s room, she darted past his door and safely on to the bedroom which she shared with Rosanna. The latter arose as she burst in upon her.

  “How you startled me, Penny.”

  She was due for another shock as Penny dropped the revolver upon the dresser.

  “Penny, where did you get that thing?” she demanded nervously.

  “Not so loud or someone may hear you,” Penny warned. “It came from Laponi’s room, and that’s not all I found either.”

  She drew forth the letter and the missing key. Rosanna stared incredulously.

  “Surely they can’t be mine, Penny.”

  “I suspect they are. Take a look at this letter and tell me if you notice anything wrong.”

  Rosanna studied the letter briefly, then shook her head.

  “It reads just like the one I received.”

  “That’s the point. Notice the name at the top.”

  “Why, it looks as if it might have been changed!” Rosanna cried.

  “And I think it has been. It’s my opinion that Max Laponi found your letter and the missing key. He’s a rank impostor.”

  “Then you believe he is the one who has been frightening the household by playing on the pipe organ?”

  “I haven’t made up my mind about that yet,” Penny returned thoughtfully. “But one thing I’m certain about. Laponi is a dangerous man.”

  “Let’s get away from here right away.”

  Penny laughed shortly. “I should say not! This mystery is growing more exciting every minute. I mean to discover Max Laponi’s little game!”

  “But he may harm us,” Rosanna protested. “Especially if he suspects you’ve searched his room.”

  “Laponi is armed,” Penny admitted with a frown. “But for that matter so are we.”

  “You wouldn’t dare to carry that revolver!”

  “I most certainly would. Not that I’d care to use it, but it might serve as protection.”

  “It seems to me we should call in the police.”

  Penny shook her head. “Not yet. But I do intend to wire my father. I’m going to ask him to learn all he can about Laponi. It may turn out that the man has a prison record.”

  “You suspect that because you found the revolver in his room?”

  “Well, honest citizens don’t carry weapons without permits.”

  “You’re thinking of doing it,” Rosanna challenged.

  Penny laughed. “This is an extra special emergency. But I have another reason for believing that Laponi is a crook. I suspect he has a stolen ring in his possession.”

  She then told of finding the diamond ring under the dresser scarf.

  “All diamonds look somewhat alike,” she acknowledged, “but I’m sure I’ve seen that ring before.”

  “Where?”

  “In Bresham’s Department Store. I think it’s the same ring that was stolen the afternoon I met you there.”

  “Laponi does bear a slight resemblance to the shoplifter,” Rosanna admitted thoughtfully. “Only the store thief was a much older man.”

  “Disguised perhaps. Oh, I may be wrong, but at least it will do no harm to have Father look into the matter.”

  “When he gets your wire, Penny, he’ll probably be so alarmed that he’ll send word for you to start back to Mt. Ashland at once.”

  “Not Dad. He’d rather catch a crook than eat. I’m sure he’ll help me.”

  “When will you send the wire?”

  “Right away. I’d like to leave the house before Laponi sees me.”

  However, as the girls stepped out into the hall a few minutes later they heard loud voices coming up from the living room. Penny instantly recognized Laponi’s sharp tones and paused at the top of the stairs to peer down.

  “It’s Max and Caleb Eckert,” she reported in a whisper. “My, what a quarrel they’re having!”

  The girls listened for a minute but the voices of the two men died to a low murmur and they could distinguish only an occasional word.

  “Unless you want Laponi to see you we’d better slip down the back way,” Rosanna suggested.

  Using the rear stairs the girls were able to leave the house without being observed. They drove directly to Andover where Penny dispatched a lengthy wire to her father. She requested him to learn all he could concerning Max Laponi and if possible to
send her a complete description of the diamond ring which had been stolen from the department store.

  “I wonder why Caleb and Max Laponi were going at each other in such dreadful fashion?” Rosanna mused as they drove back toward the Winters’ mansion.

  Penny had been pondering over the same question.

  “I suppose Caleb may be suspicious of him,” Rosanna went on when Penny did not answer.

  “Possibly. Old Caleb hasn’t acted too honestly himself, Rosanna.”

  “I know he hasn’t. He doesn’t like to answer questions and his interest in Mr. Winters’ safe is rather puzzling. It seems to me that everyone at Raven Ridge acts queerly.”

  “Including me?” Penny teased.

  Rosanna laughed and squeezed her arm affectionately. “Of course I don’t mean you. You’ve been wonderful and I’ll never never be able to repay you for all you’ve done.”

  “Nonsense, so far I’ve accomplished exactly nothing. But I have a feeling that before another twenty-four hours elapse things are going to start breaking for us.”

  “I hope so,” Rosanna sighed.

  Neither Max Laponi nor Caleb Eckert were in the living room when the girls returned to the house. Alicia was reading a book by the fireplace but at sight of Penny and Rosanna she coldly withdrew.

  “I’m glad she’s gone,” Penny smiled. “It clears the atmosphere.”

  “Must we stay here tonight?” Rosanna asked. “Couldn’t we go to a hotel and come back in the morning? Since I know that Max Laponi—”

  She broke off as Penny shot her a warning glance.

  “Even the walls seem to have ears in this house, Rosanna. Come outside and we’ll do our planning there.”

  They went out into the yard and sat down on a stone bench.

  “I know I’m a dreadful coward,” Rosanna acknowledged. “Only I’m so afraid something terrible is about to happen.”

  “Now don’t let your nerves get the best of you,” Penny advised kindly. “I shouldn’t have shown you that revolver I found in Laponi’s room. You haven’t been the same since.”

  “It wasn’t just the revolver. It’s everything.”