“Don’t take it so hard,” Penny advised. “He may have a reason for what he is doing.”
The light had disappeared. The girls hurriedly moved on, fearing that they might lose sight of the old man entirely. With nothing to guide them it was difficult to find their way.
“It’s lucky we explored in the daytime or we’d have trouble following,” Rosanna declared. “The ground is so rough.”
Even as she spoke she stubbed her toe on a rock and would have fallen had not Penny caught her by the arm.
They came presently to the first flight of stairs and were relieved to glimpse the lantern far above them. Taking care to keep out of range of the beam, they followed through the narrower passage to the second flight of steps.
By this time the girls were positive that Caleb intended to enter the house by means of the secret panel. At the risk of detection they drew a little closer.
Caleb paused at the head of the stairs to listen for a moment. Then he blew out his lantern.
Sensing that the old man would unlock the panel, Penny stole forward. She was just in time to see a section of the wall drop down. Caleb passed through the opening and with a click the panel closed behind him.
“Now what shall we do?” Rosanna demanded. “We’re locked in here the same as we were before.”
“I think I saw the place where he pressed the wall,” Penny whispered. “I was watching closely.”
For several minutes she groped about in the dark. At last her fingers touched a small knob.
“I believe I’ve found it,” she proclaimed triumphantly.
As she was on the verge of turning the knob, she stayed her hand. With Caleb in the organ room he would be certain to see the panel open. There was danger too that he might return at any instant to find them crouching at the head of the stairs.
“Shouldn’t we turn back?” Rosanna whispered nervously.
“Let’s wait until he begins to play the organ.”
They listened expectantly. Minutes passed but not a strain of music did they hear.
“That’s queer,” Penny murmured. “I’m sure Caleb is the one who has been disturbing the household with his ghost music. Why doesn’t he play as he’s always done before?”
They both knew that the wall was not soundproof. For that matter they could hear old Caleb walking about in the room.
“He must be up to new tricks tonight,” Penny whispered.
“He’ll be coming back here any minute. Let’s get away before he catches us.”
Penny was reluctant to leave, for it struck her that Caleb Eckert had come to the Winters’ house for a different purpose than that of his usual nightly visit. She was curious to learn what it was.
“Listen!” she warned, as they heard a strange noise from within.
“It sounded like a door closing,” Rosanna declared.
“That’s exactly what I think it was. Caleb must have gone out of the room. We’ll be safe in entering now.”
To make certain she listened for a few minutes but there was no sound of movement from within. Convinced that the coast was clear, she groped about for the knob which opened the panel.
It turned in her hand. She heard a sharp metallic click, and almost before she was prepared for it, the panel swung open. It closed again before either of the girls could recover from their surprise.
However, Penny turned the knob a second time and as the section of wall swung back, both girls stepped through into the room.
As they had expected, it was deserted.
“Where do you suppose he went?” Rosanna murmured.
They tiptoed to the outside door and softly opened it. The hall was dark. At first they could distinguish nothing. Then Penny noticed that the door opening upon the second floor corridor was ajar.
“He went downstairs,” she whispered. “Let’s find out what he’s up to.”
The stairs creaked alarmingly as they crept down to the second floor. On the landing they hesitated an instant and were relieved to hear no unusual sound.
They peered into the long corridor and saw that it was empty. Caleb was nowhere to be seen.
“Perhaps he brought another bat for Mrs. Leeds’ room,” Rosanna suggested, glancing toward the chamber which the woman shared with her daughter.
The door, however, was tightly closed. The one at the other end of the hall which opened into Max Laponi’s room was slightly ajar. Rosanna and Penny failed to notice.
Somewhere on the lower floor a board creaked. The two girls moved noiselessly to the stairway and looked down over the banister.
Even Penny was unprepared for the sight which greeted her eyes. Caleb Eckert was working at the dials of the living room safe!
CHAPTER XVIII
A Daring Theft
Old Caleb had relit his lantern and in its dim yellow glow the girls could make out every detail of the center hall and living room. In astonishment they watched the man spin the tiny dials of the safe. He manipulated them with a speed and skill which was amazing.
“Why, I do believe the scoundrel intends to steal Mr. Winters’ valuables,” Rosanna whispered with growing anger. “We can’t let him do that.”
With one accord they tiptoed down the long spiral stairway to the center hall. For a minute they were exposed to view but Caleb was so absorbed in what he was doing that he did not even glance up.
Hiding behind a heavy velvet curtain which partially screened the arched door of the living room, the girls watched.
Twice Caleb tried without success to open the safe. Although his movements were deft and sure it was obvious that he had made some slight mistake in the combination. Each time he failed he grew more impatient. They could see his hand shake.
“Drat it all!” they heard him mutter to himself. “That’s the right combination. It ought to open.”
At length the old man’s efforts were rewarded. As he manipulated the dials for the third time there was a significant click from within the safe.
Chuckling to himself, Caleb turned the handle and swung open the steel door.
Save for a long metal box, the safe was empty. In the act of reaching for the container, Caleb suddenly wheeled.
The girls were startled at the action for they had heard nothing.
After looking searchingly about the room the old man apparently was satisfied that he was alone. With an uneasy laugh he again turned his attention to the safe.
“Guess I’m getting a mite jittery,” he muttered. “I was positive I heard someone behind me just then.”
He thrust his hand into the safe and drew out the box. With fumbling fingers he unfastened the lid. A smile illuminated his wrinkled face as he regarded the contents.
“Still here, safe and sound. I was a little afraid—”
Without finishing, he lifted an object from the box and held it in the light. It was a tiny figure made of purest ivory.
Penny and Rosanna exchanged a swift glance. They knew now that the box contained Jacob Winters’ priceless collection of ivory pieces!
After staring at the little figure for a minute Caleb carefully replaced it and closed the box. He then locked the safe and returned the oil painting to its former position on the wall.
“Stop him now or it will be too late,” Rosanna whispered tensely.
Before Penny could act, there was a slight movement at the opposite end of the living room. The girls were horrified to see a closet door slowly open.
Caleb’s back was turned. Oblivious of danger he bent down to pick up his lantern.
From within the closet a man was regarding Caleb with cold intensity. He held a revolver in his hand.
Rosanna, terrified at the sight, would have cried out a warning, had not Penny suddenly placed her hand over the girl’s mouth.
Max Laponi, a cynical, cruel smile upon his angular face, stepped out into the living room, his revolver trained upon Caleb.
“Much obliged to you for opening the safe, Mr. Eckert,” he said coolly. “You saved
me the trouble.”
Caleb wheeled and instinctively thrust the metal box behind his back. The gesture amused Laponi. He laughed harshly.
“I guess you weren’t quite as clever as you thought you were, Caleb! Hand over the ivories and be quick about it.”
“You’re nothing but a crook!” the old man cried furiously.
“Hand over the ivories if you value your life.”
Instead of obeying the order, Caleb slowly retreated toward the door. Max Laponi’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“I don’t want to shoot an old man but if you force me—”
“Don’t shoot,” Caleb quavered. “I’ll give up the ivory.”
“Good. Now you’re acting sensibly. Drop the box on the table and raise your hands above your head.”
Slowly, Caleb complied with the order.
Laponi moved with cat-like tread across the floor and snatched up the box. With his revolver still trained on the old man, he backed toward the door.
“Thank you for a very profitable evening,” he smirked. “And when you locate your friend Mr. Winters—”
His words ended in a surprised gasp. Something had struck his right hand a stunning blow. The weapon fell from his bruised fingers, clattering to the floor. He felt a cold, hard object in the small of his back.
“It’s your turn now,” said Penny Nichols. “I’ll trouble you to hand over the little box!”
CHAPTER XIX
The Tables Turn
Max Laponi whirled about and looked directly into the muzzle of Penny’s revolver.
“Drop that box and put up your hands,” she ordered crisply.
Laponi gazed at her jeeringly.
“The gun isn’t loaded,” he sneered.
“You should know,” Penny retorted. “It’s your own revolver. I took it from your room.”
The expression of the crook’s face altered for he well remembered that the weapon had been left in readiness for instant use.
While keeping Laponi covered, Penny kicked the other revolver across the floor in Caleb Eckert’s direction. The old man hastily snatched it up.
Laponi knew then that he did not have a chance. With a shrug of his shoulders he admitted defeat. He dropped the metal box on the table. Rosanna darted forward and snatched it up.
“I might have known you’d be the one to ruin things,” Laponi said bitterly to Penny. “I was afraid of you from the first.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” Penny smiled. “Kindly keep your hands up, Mr. Laponi—if that’s your true name.”
“He’s nothing but an impostor,” Caleb Eckert broke in angrily. “I knew from the moment I set eyes on him that he was no relative of Jacob Winters.”
“I can imagine that,” Penny returned quietly. “But when explanations are in order, I think you’ll need to clear up a few points yourself.”
The old man looked confused. However, before he could answer, footsteps were heard on the stairs. Mrs. Leeds, wrapped in her bath-robe, came hurrying into the room. She had been disturbed by the sound of voices.
“Penny Nichols!” she cried furiously. “What are you doing in my house?”
Then she noticed the revolver and recoiled a step.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded. “Mr. Laponi, has this girl lost her senses?”
“Apparently, she has,” the man sneered. “She claims I came here to steal that box while I was only trying to keep Caleb from making off with it.”
“Release Mr. Laponi at once,” Mrs. Leeds ordered haughtily. She glared at Caleb. “I always did distrust that man.”
“Our dislike was mutual,” Caleb retorted. “You are a grasping, selfish woman and your daughter is a chip of the old block!”
“How dare you!” Mrs. Leeds choked in fury. “Get out of this house, you meddlesome old man, or I’ll have you arrested!”
Penny was actually enjoying the scene but now she decided to put an end to it.
“This little farce has gone far enough,” she announced, turning to Caleb. “Tell them who you are, Mr. Eckert.”
The old man nodded. Eyeing Mrs. Leeds with keen satisfaction, he exploded his bomb shell.
“I am Jacob Winters!”
Mrs. Leeds gasped in astonishment and even Max Laponi looked dazed. Of the entire group only Rosanna appeared pleased. Yet she too recalled that at times she had spoken with embarrassing frankness to the old man.
“I don’t believe it!” Mrs. Leeds snapped when she had recovered from the first shock. “It’s another one of your trumped up stories.”
“He has no proof,” Max Laponi added.
“If he hasn’t, I have,” Penny interposed. She took the small package from her dress pocket, giving it to Rosanna to unwrap for her.
“Why, it’s a photograph!” the girl exclaimed. “It’s of you, Mr. Eckert, taken many years ago.”
“Look on the back,” Penny directed.
Rosanna turned the picture over and read the bold scrawl:
“Jacob Winters—on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday.”
“That’s all the proof I need,” Rosanna cried, her eyes shining. “You are my uncle, aren’t you, Mr. Eckert? This isn’t another of your jokes?”
“No, it isn’t a joke this time, Rosanna, although for a time it looked as if the joke would be on me. And if it hadn’t been for Penny Nichols this scoundrel certainly would have made off with my ivory collection.”
“I didn’t mean to pry into your private affairs,” Penny apologized. “I shouldn’t have taken the photograph only I suspected the truth and needed proof of it.”
“It’s just as well that you did take matters into your own hands. I guess I botched things up.”
The little package of evidence which Penny had produced contained not only the photograph but the letter and key which she had found in Max Laponi’s room.
Penny now directed attention to the signature appearing at the bottom of the letter.
“Compare it with the writing on the back of the photograph.”
“They’re identical,” Rosanna declared.
“Then Caleb Eckert wrote those letters himself!” Mrs. Leeds cried furiously.
“Guilty,” Caleb acknowledged with a grin.
“You ought to be arrested!” Mrs. Leeds fairly screamed. “It was a cruel joke to play. You led us all to believe that we had inherited a fortune.”
“Tell me, why did you write the letters?” Penny inquired. “That’s one thing I’ve not been able to figure out although I think I might make an excellent guess.”
Caleb sank down in the nearest chair.
“I may as well tell the entire story,” he said. “Since my wife died some years ago I have been a very lonely man. I longed for an agreeable companion in my old age, someone who would enjoy traveling with me. My friends were few for I had spent most of my time abroad. My only living relatives were unknown to me. I felt ashamed because I had never looked them up.”
“So you decided to become better acquainted,” Penny prompted as Caleb hesitated.
“Yes, but I wanted to be liked for myself and not my fortune. I conceived the plan of sending out letters inviting my relatives here. I thought I would subject them to a series of tests and all the while I could be studying their characters.”
“An insane plan!” Mrs. Leeds interposed.
“The idea didn’t work the way I expected,” Caleb continued ruefully. “I sent out four letters but two of them were returned unopened as the individuals to whom they were addressed were no longer living. However, as you know, three persons came to Raven Ridge claiming to have received one of the communications.”
“Max Laponi must have found the letter and key which Rosanna lost,” Penny declared. “He was the impostor.”
“You have it all figured out very nicely,” the crook sneered.
“I suspected right off that he was the one,” Caleb went on with his story. “I knew I had no relative answering to his name.”
“Why
didn’t you send him away at once?” Rosanna questioned.
“I couldn’t very well do that without exposing my hand. If I admitted my identity then my little plan would be ruined.”
“You were caught in an awkward position,” Penny smiled.
“It kept getting worse all the time. I soon suspected that Laponi was nothing less than a crook. When I discovered that he knew the ivory collection was in the house I decided to remove it from the safe.”
“That was the day I came upon you when you were trying to open it,” Penny recalled.
“Yes, but Laponi was prowling about the house and it was my bad luck that he happened in upon me at exactly the wrong time. Of course he guessed instantly that the ivories were locked in the safe.
“After that, I decided to get rid of him at any cost. I had a talk with him but even threats did no good.”
“Why didn’t you call in the police?” Penny asked. “Surely they would have provided you with protection.”
“I thought I would make one more effort to get the ivories from the safe. Then if I failed I intended to admit my identity and send for help. I might have done it sooner only the police commissioner and I once had a little trouble—nothing serious. It was an argument over a tract of land. Still, I knew he’d enjoy making me look ridiculous if ever he learned what I had done.”
“Your pride very nearly cost you a fortune,” Penny commented. She directed her gaze upon Max Laponi as she questioned: “How did you learn that Mr. Winters kept the ivory collection in this house?”
“That’s for you to find out,” the man jeered. “You’ll have a hard time proving anything against me.”
“This letter will be evidence enough,” Penny retorted. “It’s a plain case of forgery with intent to defraud. And then there’s the matter of the will.”
“The will wasn’t forged,” Mrs. Leeds cut in although Penny had not made such a claim.
“There never was a will,” Caleb informed.
Mrs. Leeds stared at him. “What of the document I found in the drawer of the desk?” she demanded.
“You mean the one you discovered in the locked drawer,” Caleb corrected with a chuckle. “The one that was made out in Rosanna’s favor. That was just another of my little jokes. If you had examined the will closely you would have noticed that the signature was never witnessed. It was a fake.”
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